A quick overnight getaway was perfect to see Alcalá de Henares in the community of Madrid.
Why Alcalá de Henares?
It is very accessible in Cercanias or by car. It has a beautiful plaza, inviting main street and great ambience as it is home to the University of Alcalá. Its center is the home of one of the World Heritage Sites and was the home of the famous 16th century Spanish writer Cervantes.
How to get there?
This location is great for people who do not have cars as it is easily accessible through Cercanias Line 2 (direction Alcalá). This train stops through the Madrid center including: Chamartin, Nuevos Ministerios, Recoletos and Atoche.
What to see:
It is a beautiful old town with 16th century buildings, including the University of Alcalá, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alcalá de Henares and birthplace of Cervantes.
We were staying in the Parador Alcalá de Henares (Parador which typically is a converted historic building in this case a 17th-century monastery school that is now converted into a luxury hotel) so we were quite central (number 53).
We walked to the Plaza de Cervantes (20) which is a 5,549 m² open plaza lined with trees, town hall, Capilla del Oidor and the famous Corral de Comedias. Take note that halfway through you can enter on to University grounds and check out their plaza as it is a great place to sit on the lawn and chat amongst friends. (15)
When you make it to the top of the Plaza you are lead into Calle Mayor which is filled with panaderias and bars. We recommend El Gato Verde for both breakfast and drinks (odd combination I know but check out the post and you will understand why). It is more toward the Roman Catholic Diocese church (31). Halfway through Calle Mayor there will be another Plaza, the Plaza de los Irlandeses where it is said that over four centuries ago it was one of the most dangerous places in Alcalá due to the illegal dueling even known as the callejón del Peligro. Why is it called the Irish Plaza you may ask, is due to the original funding for the Colegio Menor de San Patricio that sits in the plaza which was from Irish man John O’Neill in 1630. Despite ultimately not being able to fund it due to lack of, well funds. The name had stuck and was further solidified in 1988 when the Ayudamiento, the University of Alcalá and the Embassy of Ireland helped restore the building.
Fun Facts:
Alcalá comes from the Arabic word القلعة al-qalʿa which means citadel which essentially means castle. 1
Cervantes, mainly known for his book Don Quixote, was a tax collector at one point of his life. 2
Additional Resources:
Official Tourism Guide for Alcalá de Henares
1 Link
2 Link
Looking for some drinks/breakfast recommendations? Check out my post on El Gato Verde launching tomorrow!
Have you been to Alcalá? How long did you spend there? Let me know your thoughts of the town.