Authentic cities in Spain that are not Barcelona, Madrid, or Valencia

Everyone goes to Spain for Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia, but always overlooks these spots. Some of these are criminally underrated. I'm a travel agent and these are 5 places I'd send you for more in-depth immersive experience. Up in the Basque Country, Bilbao has the iconic Guggenheim Museum, incredible riverside architecture, and some of the best food you're gonna get in the country. It's a real working city with its own language and culture, so it really doesn't feel touristy. Plus, it's an easy jump to the coast. I also sent a client here and her and her 11-year-old loved it. Located on the Catalan coast, this place gives you Roman ruins right on the Mediterranean. While everyone's busy scrambling in Barcelona, an hour away, this place stays refreshingly local and walkable. Plus, you have the beach built right into the city. Cuenca is another beautiful option, famously known for the "casas colgadas" or hanging houses that are built right into the edge of the cliff. It's dramatic, it's medieval, and you're gonna go there thinking you discovered a whole new place. It's quiet, you can actually feel the culture once you're in the old town. Salamanca is an amazing, authentic alternative to Madrid. It's built entirely of golden sandstone, and that sunset, the entire city glows. It's home to one of the oldest universities on the entire continent. You're gonna get a really nice buzzing, youthful energy. Plus, the Plaza Mayor here is absolutely stunning. Extremadura is one of the most under-visited regions in all of Spain, and this place lives right in the heart of it. It's got some of the best Roman monuments in the country. It also has a 2,000-year-old theater that's still used for performances today. It has a stunning ancient bridge and a temple and aqueduct. Hardly any tourist and steeped in history. Out of this list, which place are you hitting first? And let me know what country I should do next.