Alcalá de Henares
Alcalá de Henares, one of the most important towns in the history of Spain, is just 30km from Madrid. The Complutense University was founded here in 1499, and since then it has declared Spanish a language of culture. As a result, Alcalá de Henares is now part of the "Path of the Spanish Language", a route comprising all those places in Spain that have had a special influence on the Spanish language. In 1998, it was classified as a World Heritage Site.
Colegio Mayor San Ildefonso
Rodrigo Gil de Hontañon, the architect behind the Salamanca and Segovia cathedrals, started building this hall of residence in 1537 in the Mudejar style. Its construction was finished in 1553 under the quantity surveyor, Pedro de la Cotera. It boasts an elegant plateresque façade with interesting grilles. Inside, you can still see two of the Colegio Mayor's three original cloistered yards: the Patio de Santo Tomás and the Patio Trilingüe.
The building houses a real gem: the great hall or paraninfo of the University. It was here that graduation ceremonies and other important academic events took place. Now, it is home to the Miguel de Cervantes Prize gala, honouring the lifetime achievement of an outstanding writer in the Spanish language, held on 23 April every year. It also includes the Chapel of San Ildefonso, where leading figures associated with the University were buried, such as Pedro de Gumiel, Antonio de Nebrija and even Cisneros, whose Renaissance tomb in Carrara marble was designed by Domenico Fancelli, with motifs alluding to the military, the academic and the religious realms. (Today, Cisneros is buried in the Magisterial Cathedral, but the tomb is still at the Colegio Mayor.) The chapel’s stucco, with Gothic, Mudejar and Renaissance elements, and polychrome coffered ceiling, with interlaced decorative patterns, contribute to enhance its beauty.
Magisterial Cathedral
They say it was erected on the spot where the Santos Niños Justo and Pastor were buried. These holy children, whose saint’s day is celebrated on 6th August, are now the patron saints of the town, and their relics are kept in the crypt below. The cathedral is one of the only two churches in the world called ‘Magistral', meaning that all its canons are ‘magisters' or lecturers at the university.
Cervantes House Museum
In 1956, work was carried out to restore the home of Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, who was born back in 1547. The aim was to make it look just like it had done in the 16th century, adding painting collections, artefacts and decorative elements from that time. To learn more about Cervantes’s life and work, there’s a Cervantes Tour in Alcalá. It takes visitors to those places in town that are somehow related to the author of Don Quixote, like the Plaza de Cervantes or the publishing house that printed La Galatea.
Regional Archaeological and Paleontological Museum
Located in the Madre de Dios Dominican Convent, a building constructed between the 17th and 18th centuries, this museum brings together archaeological remains found in the Autonomous Region of Madrid.
Corral de Comedias
It is a unique building as it is the oldest documented open-air theatre in Spain and preserves different architectural elements as an indication of its long history. Nowadays, it continues to offer a full programme of theatre shows and is open for tourist visits.
Calle Mayor
A stroll along the Calle Mayor of this town is a must. The image of its porticos supported on pillars is one of the most typical of Alcalá and it has become one of the city’s main streets with its wide variety of shops.
There are various guided and dramatised routes that are organised to discover the city in an original way and which take visitors to Cisneros’ Alcalá, Alcalá World Heritage Site, historic Alcalá or Cervantes’ Alcalá.
The Romans founded a town they called Complutum, about 2km from today’s Alcalá de Henares. It was one of the most important Roman settlements in the Iberian Peninsula, as attested by the archaeological evidence that has come down to us. The town, enjoyed 400 years of splendour under the rule of the Empire, largely thanks to the good use they made of the Henares River, the new centres of communication and the exploitation of agricultural resources. The Moors came after the Romans and built the castle of A-Qalát de Nahar in 850, from which the town earned its name.
Its central role as a defensive bastion in the Tagus River valley during the time of Christian Reconquests, led to the construction of new edifices and turned it into a fortified area. It was home to Jews, Muslims and Christians, each with their own section within the fortified town. In the 18th century, Alcalá became a feudal estate of the Archbishops of Toledo, who built the Palacio Arzobispal and gave the town its reputation as a place of great importance with a thriving economy.
In 1293, Sancho IV gave permission to Alcalá to build the ‘Estudio de Escuelas Generales', its first step to becoming a university town. Nevertheless, Alcalá enjoyed its greatest splendour under Cardinal Cisneros who founded the Complutense University in 1499. Although at first the education provided was mainly of a religious nature in which theology and ecclesiastical subjects played a predominant role, the university soon opened up to the worlds of humanities, law and literature, welcoming such famous writers and thinkers as Quevedo, San Ignacio de Loyola and Santo Tomás de Villanueva. In 1836, however, the faculties moved to Madrid. After a period of decline, the university regained importance with industrialisation and the return of university life to the town.
In addition to an alluring variety of tapas, sweets are another of the city's charms thanks to the legacy left by the many convents which were established in Alcalá. Caramelized almonds (almendras garrapiñadas) can be bought in many stores, although the most delicious samples are those called ‘clarisas' made at the San Diego Convent (Calle Beatas, 5). You mustn't forget to try the 'rosquillas', similar to small doughnuts, or the tarta costrada, made by Salinas Confectioners, who were once royal pastry chefs but whose goods can now be purchased by one and all, any day of the year.
Every season has its traditional sweet, depending on the religious festival that is being celebrated. During Easter, the most popular sweets are the penitentes, cones dipped in chocolate and filled with cream, which resemble the pointed hoods worn by the religious fraternities during the religious processions.
In Alcalá de Henares you can learn about the tradition of Castilian food with typical dishes of La Mancha cuisine such as migas with chorizo or roast lamb with potatoes. Typical dishes offered by many restaurants in the city can be consulted in the restaurant guide provided by the official tourism website.
For its part, Alcalá de Henares has the Alcalá Marathon. This is a sporting event that runs through an incomparable setting, passing through the historic streets of the city of Alcalá de Henares, bringing together popular and professional runners to participate in the Marathon, Relay Marathon and 10K modalities.
An event that is becoming increasingly popular is the Zombie Walk that is held on the night of October 31st, Halloween. Night in which the living dead invade Alcalá de Henares thanks to an event that also carries out various activities such as costume contests, workshops, tastings, exhibitions and concerts.
- By Car: 30 minutes via the A-II Motorway.
- By Coach: 40 minutes from the Avenida de América Coach Station.
- By Train: 40 minutes by Cercanías suburban train from Atocha Station - including the Cervantes Train - and 45 minutes from Madrid - Chamartín - Clara Campoamor Station.
For further information: Turismo Alcalá
Not to be missed: In Madrid, you can also see the monument to Cervantes or his tomb in the Church and Convent of the Barefoot Trinitarian Nuns
Other Tourist Trains
The Strawberry Train
A period train running between Madrid and Aranjuez recreates the Region of Madrid’s first rail line. Spring Season: Sat & Sun, from 22 April to 25 June.
Cervantes Train
A unique way of travelling to and discovering Alcalá de Henares, the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes. Starting on 16 April!
The Philip II Train
Travel from Madrid to San Lorenzo de El Escorial on a vintage train and unveil the secrets of King Philip II’s empire. Every week-end till 10 December.
Arganda Train
Get on this vintage train whose steam locomotive pushes its way past stunning landscapes in southeast Madrid. Every Sunday, from 5 March to 28 May.