Routes

La Mancha is the infinite land, the land where the horizon is greatest with the deep blue sky. Tomelloso is its town, island of life, Manchego city nestled in a sea of vineyards and olive groves.

“Blanco y largo pañuelo tendido sobre la tierra parduzca y calcinada...”, (long and white scarf that covers the brown burnt land) as described by Francisco García Pavón. And as how it was painted by another universal dweller of Tomelloso, Antonio López Torres, who captured the reality of its landscape of vineyards, threshing floors of bluish remoteness, wells and waterwheels.

Tomelloso is deserving of a stop along the way. This is a land for lovers and scholars of wine, discovering right in the heart of La Mancha the reason why this is a privileged region for the production of extraordinary wines. An example of this are the cuevas (caves), excavations that hold all necessary utensils for artisan and family-run elaboration of wine, which even now conserve the charm of days gone by.

And for lovers of art and culture, for those amazed by the restlessness of its people and the legacy of its artists, nothing better than the Antonio López Torres Museum, master of realistic painting and uncle of the famed painter Antonio López, the artist’s complete pictorial work is here on display.

And yet the plateau continues, leaving behind Tomelloso’s characteristic profile, with its slender chimneys, remains of the ancient alcohol factories, to then reach fields and fields dotted with traditional bombos (huts), refuge of the farmers, to then reach Socuéllamos.

With its International Trade Fair the Homeland of La Mancha Wine puts on display all that represented by the culture of wine for the region. And as it could not be otherwise, it claims for itself the prominence of which it is worthy. During the first few days of September, none other than the prelude to the grape harvest, Socuéllamos turns into the key

center with its Plaza del Vino (Wine Square), its wine tasting sessions, gastronomy sessions and festivities.

Apart from all this, the Manchego town also holds historical vestiges that increase its lure even more: the Roman Bridge in Molino de la Torre, the highly visited Sanctuary of Loreto, the Church of the Assumption or the House-Palace of Don Antonio de Mendoza.

It is in Villarrobledo that the Albacete Mancha receives the traveler. And as could not be otherwise, it does so amongst luxuriant vineyards that completely surround this city, city with the greatest production of grapes and wine in the world. Fertile meadowland from which extensive vineyards sprout and clayey soil with which the artisan potters create their famous earthenware vats to store and improve the wine of La Mancha. Villarrobledo offers fine wines, excellent food and streets replete with charming noble houses where one can stroll and admire the influences of its centuries of history. All the streets reach the Ancient Square, where the Town Council and San Blas Church are to be found.

Visiting the Antonio López Torres Museum and the famous caves of Tomelloso, the Sanctuary of Loreto in Socuéllamos, and the Plaza de Villarrobledo, declared Historic-Artistic Treasure.

Enjoying the Procession of the Virgin of the Vines in Tomelloso, the traditional Mayos of Socuéllamos and, of course, the explosion of color, inventiveness and wonderful ambience of the Villarrobledo Carnivals.

Trying Manchego Cheese, fine, smooth flavored sheep milk cheese, aged or cured in oil, with rosemary..., or the earthenware oil-marinated loin strips and ribs and fried milk and grape must torts to round off the meal.