Among
the main architectural constructions which the city offers to the visitor,
the following are particularly worthy of note: The Puerta de Toledo, which
is Mudejar style. The arch at the entrance to the
"Alcazar Real" was built in what was the last part of the jewish quarter. The
church of San Pedro is the oldest church in Ciudad Real, it is Romanesque
in form. The Iglesia de Santiago is a beautiful 14th and 15th century Gothic
building. The Cathedral of Nuestra Señora del Prado has just one very
large nave, outstanding is its marvellous Renaissance-style architecture. The
Jewish Quarter (Judería) was one of the biggest in Spain, at the present
time the only remains are in the Ciudad Real Provincial Museum (Museo
Provincial), which contains among its most important remains, the door of
a Jewish synagogue. Also worthy of note are remains from the Paleolithic,
late Bronze and Iron Ages. In the fine arts section, several valuable
works by Gregorio Prieto, Ubeda and Antonio López García are
outstanding. There is also a section devoted to new plastic styles.
Campos de Calatrava y Valdepeñas Via
the local road which crosses the Jabalón, you reach Aldea del Rey and
there you take the C410. In Calzada de Calatrava, a must is to make the trip
to the important ruins of Calatrava la Nueva, opposite the
historic castle of Salvatierra. You return to the C410 and continue as far
as Viso del Marqués, where you will find the National Archives of the
Spanish Navy (Archivo Nacional de la Marina Española). You go on to Santa
Cruz de Mudela, passing by the Santuario de las Virtudes, as well as its pretty
non-detached,
square shaped bullring. If you continue through the wine-producing lands of
Valdepeñas you will finally reach Almagro, head of the Order and Campo de
Calatrava, where you can admire its beautiful balconied square and
theatre, where every year the International Classical Theatre Festival
takes place. The traveller will no doubt be astonished by the delicate
lace bobbin work. Almagro has been declared an Area of Historical and
Artistic interest. La Solana is a town near Almagro which has a beautiful
Manchegan square and the 15th century Parish church of San Sebastiàn.
Los Ojos del Guadiana
Travelling
along these plains brings to mind the evocation of Cervantes' world of Don
Quixote and Sancho. But first let us begin with the surprise of the
lagoons called the eyes (ojos) of Guadiana. The Tablas de Daimiel, where
many birds emigrate stop on their migration. It is a national park of
undoubted ecological value. From Daimiel you go towards Villarrubia de los
Ojos, and from there to Puerto Lápice with its beautiful Manchegan
fortifications, its inns and windmills. From this small town you will go
to Campo de Criptana, which for many, is the most beautiful village in La Mancha. It is a village which spreads its white
dwellings on the slope of a hill topped by windmills. From Campo de
Criptana to Alcázar de San Juan, another landscape highlighted by its
windmills. It also has an archaeological museum with important Roman
mosaics and the tower of Don Juan de Austria.
In Pedro Muñoz we can see lagoons of great ecological interest.
Tomelloso, one of the wine centres of La Mancha, has a surrounding
countryside in which there is an abundance of the typical buildings of
this region called "bombos". You can see the Cart (Carro)
Museums and that of the artist Antonio López and the inn (Posada) de los
Portales, which is in the main square (Plaza Mayor). San Carlos del Valle
has a typical 18th century square.
Sierra Morena
This
route has the aim of making, direct contact with nature. For this purpose,
you take the N420 to Almodóvar del Campo, a town which has a beuatiful parish with a spendid Mudér ceiling. You continue towards the
Niefla pass, from where you have panoramic views of the Campo de Calatrava
and the Valle de Alcudia. It may be of interest to pay a visit to
Fuencaliente, with its spa and the caves of Peña Escrita and la Batanera
which have prehistoric diagram paintings.
Campo de Montiel
This is a region which historically was part of the Order of Santiago.
You begin the itinerary from Valdepe–as and make a leisurely stop in the
splendid town of Villanueva de los Infantes, a majestic town in the
Montiel countryside which originated in the Augustan antiquarian colony;
there Francisco de Quevedo died. It has an outstanding main square,
surrounded by neo Classical pillars. Afterwards you head for the lagoons (lagunas)
de Ruidera. This is surprising and beautiful scenery, stretching for
thirty kilometres, with a succession of lagoons linked by waterfalls, and
a Mediterranean tree-lined scenery. It is more than an oasis in La Mancha,
there you can practice all kinds of aquatic sporting activities such as
sailing, windsurfing and fishing.
Montes de Toledo
Leaving Ciudad Real by the N401, you come to Fernancaballero, the
gateway to the Gasset reservoir. This trip offers us three options for
venturing
further into the Montes de Toledo, the first will take you to
Navas de Estena, after going round the Torre de Abraham lake. The second
option leads you as far as Horcajo de los Montes, with a view of mountain
ranges and plains making up an outstanding natural landscape with its own
flora and fauna. You can also see the Cabañeros National Park. The third
possibility takes you to Puebla de Don Rodrigo, on the outskirts of which
the Guadiana, at this point full of water, can be seen.
Among
the main architectural constructions which the city offers to the visitor,
the following are particularly worthy of note: The Puerta de Toledo, which
is Mudejar style. The arch at the entrance to the
"Alcazar Real" was built in what was the last part of the jewish quarter. The
church of San Pedro is the oldest church in Ciudad Real, it is Romanesque
in form. The Iglesia de Santiago is a beautiful 14th and 15th century Gothic
building. The Cathedral of Nuestra Señora del Prado has just one very
large nave, outstanding is its marvellous Renaissance-style architecture. The
Jewish Quarter (Judería) was one of the biggest in Spain, at the present
time the only remains are in the Ciudad Real Provincial Museum (Museo
Provincial), which contains among 
its most important remains, the door of
a Jewish synagogue. Also worthy of note are remains from the Paleolithic,
late Bronze and Iron Ages. In the fine arts section, several valuable
works by Gregorio Prieto, Ubeda and Antonio López García are
outstanding. There is also a section devoted to new plastic styles.
you will find the National Archives of the
Spanish Navy (Archivo Nacional de la Marina Española). You go on to Santa
Cruz de Mudela, passing by the Santuario de las Virtudes, as well as its pretty
non-detached,
square shaped bullring. If you continue through the wine-producing lands of
Valdepeñas you will finally reach Almagro, head of the Order and Campo de
Calatrava, where you can admire its beautiful balconied square and
theatre, where every year the International Classical Theatre Festival
takes place. The traveller will no doubt be astonished by the delicate
lace bobbin work. Almagro has been declared an Area of Historical and
Artistic interest. La Solana is a town near Almagro which has a beautiful
Manchegan square and the 15th century Parish church of San Sebastiàn.
Los Ojos del Guadiana
beautiful village in La Mancha. It is a village which spreads its white
dwellings on the slope of a hill topped by windmills. From Campo de
Criptana to Alcázar de San Juan, another landscape highlighted by its
windmills. It also has an archaeological museum with important Roman
mosaics and the tower of Don Juan de Austria.
This
route has the aim of making, direct contact with nature. For this purpose,
you take the N420 to Almod
This is a region which historically was part of the Order of Santiago.
You begin the itinerary from Valdepe–as and make a leisurely stop in the
splendid town of Villanueva de los Infantes, a majestic town in the
Montiel countryside which originated in the Augustan antiquarian colony;
there Francisco de Quevedo died. It has an outstanding main square,
surrounded by neo Classical pillars. Afterwards you head for the lagoons (lagunas)
de Ruidera. This is surprising and beautiful scenery, stretching for
thirty kilometres, with a succession of lagoons linked by waterfalls, and
a Mediterranean tree-lined scenery. It is more than an oasis in La Mancha,
there you can practice all kinds of aquatic sporting activities such as
sailing, windsurfing and fishing.
