Routes

Campo de Calatrava, flatlands from where water arises from its bowels, land of lagoons and volcanoes, drained by the Guadiana and Jabalón Rivers, offers the traveler anything at all that is to be desired.

Almagro represents the crossroads and convergence of the main Manchego routes, ancient capital of the province of La Mancha and current referent in culture and theatre. Declared Historical-Artistic Treasure, it reached its zenith with the Military Order of Calatrava, which chose it as its residence in the 13^th century. It was the center of religious, commercial and artistic power, from which it has inherited an overwhelming and unique architectonic heritage.

To mention Almagro is to evoke the classical theatre, currently known worldwide by its International Festival and by the inimitable seat that holds the same, the Corral de Comedias (The Old Theatre), unique amongst the typical theatres of Spain’s Golden Century. The National Museum and Municipal Theatre complete the shortlist that identifies Almagro with this art. And its extensive streets are born from its magnificent Plaza Mayor, leading to an endless number of churches, convents, houses and palaces.

Parting from Almagro as the beginning of the route through this Land of Knights we reach Ciudad Real, city founded by Alfonso X to balance out the power emanating from the military orders and which conserves the majestic “Puerta de Toledo”, as reminiscence of its ancient walls. Very close on hand, barely a few kilometers away, we find the Archeological Park of Alarcos, with important Iberian and Roman findings.

Further north nature regales us with the National Park of Tablas de Daimiel, last trace remaining of an ecosystem that is characteristic to the peninsula’s central plateau. The continental wetlands, formed by inundation caused by overflowing of the Guadiana and Cigüela Rivers, have created an ideal and singular habitat for water birds and a unique place for man to continue feeling part of nature. Herons, Grebes, Night Herons all hibernate, rest and nest in this refuge of calm waters that reflect the Manchego sky.

Just southeast of this region, the Wine Capital, Valdepeñas, arises from amongst these landscapes of vineyards, lagoons and sierras dotted with thyme, rockrose and rosemary. Understanding this city without taking into account the influence of its greatest treasure, red wine, would be impossible. The National Museum of Wine and the Grape Harvest Festivities in September are magnificent examples of this fact.

Visiting the Plaza Mayor in Almagro, the Corral de Comedias, Fúcares Palace, its churches and convents and in particular the Convent of the Assumption of Calatrava and the Convent of Santa Catalina. And of course the Valdepeñas Museum of Wine, without forgetting the nearby Iberian city that was found in Cerro de las Cabezas.

Enjoying the classical theatre plays performed during the International Almagro Festival, in like manner to the inhabitants of the 17th century who also enjoyed them from the theatre’s typical patio, apart from a long walk immersed in nature along the wooden bridges that cross the Daimiel Wetlands, or a chat about wine in Valdepeñas.

Trying the typical Almagro eggplants, asadillo (roast), arrope (desert made with ripe grapes) or duelos y quebrantos, centuries old dish mentioned in El Quixote.