Alcalá de Henares

The University and the oldtown: a stroll through a World Heritage Site

One of the main attractions in this city is its university, which made Alcalá the first planned university town of the Modern Age and earned it the nickname ‘City of Knowledge’. Fortunately, travellers today can not only admire the façade of the Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso, but also visit areas such as several of its courtyards or its most iconic hall, the Paraninfo, beneath whose 16th-century Mudéjar coffered ceiling the King and Queen of Spain present the Cervantes Prize for Literature every 23 April.

On a tour of Alcalá de Henares, don’t miss a stop at the beautiful Plaza de Cervantes (the statue there pays tribute to the writer) or a leisurely stroll along the lively Calle Mayor, which is said to be the longest street with arcades in Spain. At number 48 there are two life-size sculptures sitting on a bench: they are none other than Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, the two main characters in Cervantes’s world-famous novel. Both welcome visitors to the writer’s Birthplace House Museum, where customs from the 16th and 17th centuries are brought to life. It has been more than 400 years since ‘Don Quixote’ was written, but one immediately realises that its relevance is as strong as ever.The Capilla del Oidor chapel even houses Cervantes’ baptismal font, and next to it stands the Santa María Tower, which, at 34 metres high, is one of the best places to view Alcalá from above. The other unmissable viewpoint is the one at the tower of the Magistral Cathedral.

A day of theatre and tapas

Going to see a play at one of Spain’s oldest open-air courtyard theatres is not something you get to experience every day. That’s why you should make the most of your visit to Alcalá to explore this venue, which opened in 1602, by attending a performance or booking a guided tour.When it comes to lunch, being in Alcalá is also an advantage, as it has a well-deserved reputation for the generous and delicious tapas served in its various bars when you order a drink. Those with a sweet tooth can also try the handmade sweets made at one of the city’s convents. How about the famous caramelised almonds from the Convent of San Diego?If you have a little more time, you could also explore the Palacio Laredo or the Alcalá of the ancient Roman Empire, visiting the ruins of Complutum and the Casa Hippolytus. In the evening, in Alcalá you can dine beneath the vaults of a 17th-century convent church or stay at its Parador, a beautiful convent dating from the same period. It’s like a journey back in time. What’s more, depending on the time of year, you’ll be able to experience Alcalá’s ‘Clásicos en Alcalá’ classical theatre festival (in summer), its Cervantino Market (in early autumn, when all the streets are decked out in period décor and filled with hundreds of stalls and activities) or its famous Christmas lights.