Two events would mark this period: firstly, the definitive spreading of the population beyond the city walls and its establishment on the flat territory below; and secondly, the loss of power experienced by the clergy in Cuenca, following the confiscation of church property by Mendizábal in 1836 and Pascual Madoz in 1856.

In the city of Cuenca and in the area in general, an interior or continental Mediterranean climate prevails. This is the largest area in Spain that enjoys a Mediterranean climate, in this case interior, not influenced by the sea. Local temperatures and precipitation conditions follow patterns influenced by the mountains. In summer, city weather is determined by the anticyclone of the Azores, but without excessive average temperatures, resulting in a climate which is quite pleasant.

Years ago, the evergreen oak dominated, but today the most common tree in the mountainous areas is the pine (albar, laricio and rodeno), while next to the Júcar and Huécar Rivers, a distinct belt of vegetation is found, featuring groves of poplars, cottonwoods, elms and willows. In some cases, humans have altered the natural vegetation, replacing native trees with hocinos, colorful gardens on the terraces lining the gorges that dominate Cuenca.