Ciudad Real capital in 1 day, the best things to see and do

Have you ever traveled to Ciudad Real capital? Or do you at least know what you can see in a tourist visit of this city of Castilla la Mancha?

Don't blush if your answer to both questions is no; The same thing happened to me during my most recent trip through La Mancha.

What's more, there are cities in Spain that we can consider very untouristy, and surely Ciudad Real It can be classified as one of the most notable and, therefore, least visited.

At the outset, it must be taken into account that Ciudad Real It is a city that is not located on any main highway axis, but rather you have to “deviate” from the route that connects Madrid with Andalusia.

And the truth is that it lacks a monument or event with sufficient tourist attraction or prestige that clearly justifies a trip to see the city.

But surely, despite this, you are curious to know what can you see on a visit to Ciudad Real capital, and what are its possible tourist attractions.

Below I will give you enough reasons to visit Ciudad Real.

This is the experience of visiting Ciudad Real capital in one day, what to see and do

To begin with, as I have already mentioned, although this city is not located on the main axis that links Madrid with Andalusia, the truth is that by car you can arrive in just over 2 hours from the capital.

But in this respect, its main advantage is that you can arrive by AVE in just 53 minutes, so Ciudad Real It is located “a stone’s throw” from Madrid.

What's more, the availability of the AVE means that, for example, in just three and a half hours you can get from Barcelona to this city of La Mancha.

In the tourist route by car through La Mancha, Ciudad Real capital It offers you the advantage of being an intermediate point between several of the places to visit.

With the addition that for the overnight stay it is a city with much more gastronomic and leisure atmosphere than any of the La Mancha towns on said route.

Under the pretext of overnight in Ciudad Real During your La Mancha route, I will tell you that in a short time you can see its main corners.

As you can imagine, don't expect to find a city with a defined historical center with buildings from centuries ago, or with great monuments.

History of Ciudad Real

Over the centuries, hardly any historic buildings have been preserved, not even any section of its medieval wall.

And that despite Ciudad Real was founded in the Middle Ages, specifically in 1255 by the King Alfonso.

Its initial population was transferred from the Alarcos Hill, a settlement whose origins date back to the time of the Iberians located in a nearby enclave, and which is now an archaeological enclave.

With the initial name of Royal Villa, this population occupied an old village, which was expanded with a medieval layout and surrounded by a wall with 130 towers and seven gates.

Of what could be Old City there's barely anything left.

In your walk through the current center of Ciudad Real You will see that it maintains many of the characteristics of that medieval layout, with narrow streets that surround the central square, but with buildings of relatively recent construction.

Of that medieval wall In the north of the city you can still see the Puerta de Toledo, completed in 1328.

And it is also worth noting the Alcazar Tower, the only remains of the old castle that the aforementioned castle had built Alfonso X.

Gothic churches in Ciudad Real

From the monumental point of view, without a doubt Ciudad Real capital the highlights are the three gothic churches around which the main neighborhoods of the city developed.

St. Peter's Church

Of them I highlight the St. Peter's Church, from the 14th century, which was the center of christian quarter.

With three naves and several chapels, the most notable corner is the Coca Chapel with its spectacular set of altarpiece and tomb made of alabaster.

Ciudad Real Cathedral

La cathedral of Santa María del Prado, from the 15th century, was the center of the “moreria“, and in its interior, with a single nave, its 17th century altarpiece stands out.

The third of the Gothic churches is that of Santiago, from the 13th century, which was the axis of the ancient Jewish neighborhood, and inside which a Mudejar coffered ceiling and a mural painting in the apse are shown.

In contrast to these historic buildings, in the Plaza Mayor of Ciudad Real you will find a headquarters Town Hall built in 1976.

You will surely be struck by its very controversial style architecture nordic neogothic, which has been replicated in some other modern building in the square.

I would like to highlight the great atmosphere that is always present in this square.

From a great Medieval market When I visited her, the curious chime with scenes of Quijote located on the façade of the small building of the old town hall, which works on the hour.

Museums in Ciudad Real

Y the Quijote He is also the protagonist in one of the city ​​museums, where a printing press is emulated and you can see an audiovisual every hour, as well as paintings by the master Palmero with portraits of characters from the work of Cervantes.

Other notable buildings are the old Convent of Mercy, from the 17th century, current headquarters of the Ciudad Real Museum where works of contemporary art are exhibited.

Also some building with a facade of modernist style that you can see during your walk through the city center, as well as the Grand Casino of the nineteenth century.

Eat tapas in Ciudad Real

Finally, I can assure you that the gastronomy if it is a good argument for visit Ciudad Real.

In a tapas route In the center you will find various places where you can taste the typical La Mancha gastronomy, as in the inn El Ventero, a classic of the Plaza Mayor.

Or gastronomy with more modern preparations, as in Latitude, where you can taste the free-range eggs with ratatouille, winner of a recent tapas competition held every year in this city in La Mancha.

And, of course, establishments where wine from La Mancha and other regions takes center stage, as in Vinalia, a typical wine cellar.

Map: how to get to Ciudad Real capital

Ciudad Real is located in Castilla-La Mancha, just over two hours by car south from Madrid.