Paris1972-Versailles2003

And another dandy road warrior tour of my beloved Spain. This time will remain close to the capital in the area known as the Comunidad de Madrid sort of a regional autonomous administrative area. In this area or community you have several important towns of historical significanse as I have several posts in my blog. This time , I will update for you and me the wonderful town of Colmenar de Oreja! Hope you enjoy it as I.

Again, this is on the sights of  Colmenar de Oreja ; feel obligated to tell you about some of its best gems such as the Plaza Mayor.  The town is only about 50 km from Madrid and you can only come here by car ,no train station. You come by the expressway A3 Madrid-Valencia and take the entry into the road M-404 by km 50 at Villarejo de Salvanés (see  post) until Belmonte de Tajo and here take the M-303 to Colmenar de Oreja.  There is another way from the A3 take the M307 at Km 21 before reaching Arganda del Rey, and by it follow continuously the M311 and before reaching Morata de Tajuña take the M313 to Colmenar de Oreja (also take you to Chinchon, see post).

As you come into town, can’t avoid cruising and walking the Calle de la Concepcion, where you will find stores, and the starting point to walks all over the town.

A bit of history I like is that between the years 1500 to 1700 the successive kings of the Habsburg (Austria) ordered the most important works in this town such as the enlargement of the Church of  Santa María la Mayor (1517),(see post)  repairs to the wall ramparts  (1517) the irrigation of the fields of Vega  (1572), and the foundation of the Franciscan Monastery of San Bernardino de Siena (1570) , and the founding of the Monastery of the Incarcanation of the Recollects Augustinians (1685).

One of the nice things to do and see here are the building of the Plaza Mayor in 1676, a wonderful example of Castilian squares , and on it you find the Casa Consistorial ( served as city hall)  and Posito (old food depot).  The Plaza Mayor was started building it in 1676, as one of the magnificent examples of the typical porticoed Castilian squares when it was finished in 1794. It comprises the city/town hall and the Pósito. Its south cloth gives to a majestic architectonic ensemble formed by the Gardens of Zacatín, the mouth of the tunnel of Stone of the same name (which crosses under the square of part to part), and, the troughs. It has been the framework of a multitude of films and television series. In the popular festivities both in May and September, a portable wooden square with tenders is installed, so that they can celebrate all kinds of bullfighting events, something that the people continue with great devotion and tradition.

The Colmenar de Oreja tourist office on things to see: http://colmenarte.colmenardeoreja.com/

The Comunidad de Madrid tourist board on Colmenar de Oreja: http://turismomadrid.es/en/discover/colmenar-de-oreja/202-colmenar-de-oreja.html

The Madrid city tourist office on Colmenar de Oreja: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/colmenar-oreja

There you go folks, another gem in the off the beaten path roads of the Comunidad de Madrid, again just south of the capital , Colmenar de Oreja , an easy ride by car all worth it for a pleasant afternoon away from the city. Hope you enjoy it as we did.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

Great pleasure in bringing you back to my beloved Spain! Again, this is an update on an older post, and what a thrill I am having reviving these wonderful memories! Thanks for those who have follow me thru the years , appreciated. Let me tell you a bit more about the sights of Chinchon!!! Hope you enjoy it as I.

My favorites areas since childhood, Comunidad de Madrid or old Castile, of which Madrid is part and also Chinchon. I have written before over the years in my blog on Chinchon of course. However, there are two spots I love the most ,and would like to tell you a bit more on them. These are the Plaza Mayor (main square) and monuments around it.

First a bit of Spanish geography and directions.  Chinchón is a town located in the southeast of the Comunidad de Madrid , in the region of Las Vegas, 44 km from Madrid. From Madrid you can reach Chinchón by the highway A-3 taking the detour of the M-307, shortly before reaching Arganda. From there take the roads M-311 and then the M-313 to Chinchón. It can also be reached by the A-4, taking the turnoff of the M-404, shortly after Valdemoro, which takes us through Ciempozuelos and Titulcia to Chinchón. From Conde de Casal (next to metro station same name) bus stop in Madrid you can take bus line 337, to Chinchon terminus Valdelaguna.

The Plaza Mayor of Chinchón is an example of popular architecture. The first houses with arcades and balconies were built in the 15C, and was completely closed in the 17C. It has a circular shape ,covered with sand, and a simple structure, clear, tidy and hierarchical. The buildings are of three floors, with white houses on arcades, wooden balconies painted in green and red-tiled roofs, it’s like the Middle Ages! And 234 wooden balconies called Claros or clear, supported by standing with shoes type columns offering a breathtaking view of the bullfights and other regularly-held shows on the square. Bars, restaurants and other taverns hide behind the arcades. Since its construction, the Plaza Mayor has hosted numerous activities such as Royal celebrations, proclamations, corral of comedies, games of canes, bullfights, executions, sacramental rites, religious, political and military acts, as well as serving as a set for the  Cinema such as the bullfighting scene of the film Around the World in 80 Days, circus show in The Fabulous World of the Circus.

Entering town you see the Convento de las Clarisas built in 1653. And to add, it is good to get lost in the labyrinth of cobbled streets that go up to the Church of Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion or Our Lady of the Assumption,  built in 1534 and finished in 1626; contains a painting by Goya, the Assumption of the Virgin, painted in 1812. Just next door is the superb theater of Lope de Vega, built in the 19C, which sometimes serves as a cinema. The village has thus inspired two great names of the arts: Lope de Vega and Francisco de Goya. See the great belltower without a church of the old Church of Nuestra Señora de Gracia, built in the 15C as well, now only see a clocktower or Torre del Reloj  over the plaza Mayor. Surrounded of a rampart, the esplanade flanked by its three monuments overlooks the Plaza Mayor and offers a splendid panorama on Chinchon. The village also houses a charming Parador de Turismo (lodging hotel), in the Convent of San Agustin, erected in the 17C.

The Comunidad de Madrid regional tourist office on the Plaza Mayor of Chinchon: https://turismomadrid.es/en/to-see-and-do/culture/villas/11414-chinch%C3%B3n-and-its-plaza-mayor.html

The city of Chinchon on things to see: http://www.ciudad-chinchon.com/turismo/en/conoce-chinchon/lugares-interes/edificios-historico-artisticos.php

The  Madrid city tourist office on Chinchon: https://www.esmadrid.com/chinchon

You have a nice day in Chinchon a typical Madrileno town not far from Madrid and yet in the countryside. There you go folks ,come on over, nice Chinchon  and waiting for you.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!