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Alcalá de Henares Guide
The historic town and campus (16th century) from Alcala de Henares was UNESCO World Heritage in 1998, which places it in a select club of only 13 cities in all Spain deserving of this special protection for its beauty. Is also the only of the community of Madrid that enjoy of such condition, all a warranty to enjoy of their history and culture.
Two thousand years of history covered at Alcala de Henares, with what the list of monuments and museums that can be visited this has left him over the centuries is very wide, suffice it to quote here the most famous of them:
-Cisneriana University (Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso): the monument most important and beautiful city, founded by Cardinal Cisneros in 1499. The whole forming its three patios, the Chapel and Auditorium (in the 16th century Mudéjar style) deserve a must-see. Each year SS. Mm. los Reyes of Spain visit him to deliver the Cervantes Prize in Spanish in April.
-Birthplace of Miguel de Carvantes (16th century): recreation of the birthplace of the writer in 1547, the most visited museum in the city, with free admission.
-Catedral-magistral of the children Santos Justo y Pastor (16th century): epicenter of the bishopric of Alcalá de Henares, built by the will of the Jiménez Cardinal Cisneros and late Gothic, is one of only two churches around the world with the title of master.
-Museum archaeological Regional of the community of Madrid: located in the old convent of Dominican (16th century) and of entry free, reviewed from the prehistory the becoming historical of the region of Madrid, including wonderful mosaics of the Complutum Roman.
-The Oidor Chapel - Center of the universes interpretation of Cervantes: dedicated to the place of baptism of Miguel de Cervantes, where you can visit for free its baptismal font and the temporary exhibitions that hosts around the figure of Cervantes and his literary work.
-Corral de Comedias (17th century): still in active and managed by the Abbey Theatre Foundation that endows him with programming throughout the year, is the oldest preserved in Spain. Your visit allows you to know the evolution of the theatre in Spain for 400 years until our days.
-Palace of Laredo (19th century): result of the invention of its multifaceted owner, D. Manuel Laredo, is a surprising Palace that brings together different styles artistic following the eclecticism.
-Square of Cervantes: meets them functions of Plaza more, and although has origin medieval as square of the market, their ornamentation concluded in the 19th century.
-Main street: possibly the longest Street in Spain with arcades on both sides (almost 400 meters), setting that maintains since he was Jewish quarter during the middle ages. Even today day continues being the Centre commercial traditional of Alcalá.
Thanks to this route we will discover how life was during the middle ages, touring the neighborhoods where the everyday life of Christians, Jews and Arabs, unfolded in an example of coexistence between cultures, which well serves as example for today. A series of panels installed in the streets in colours red, blue and green with the corresponding symbols of each of these religions detail us highlights. Highlights the wonderful conservation of the main street with its arcades as a meeting of the Jewish community center.
Not only Miguel of Cervantes is known by its link with Alcalá de Henares. Others many writers of different times left his footprint in the city, in many cases by their relationship with the University, to the have been students in she. A series of plates in red color and vertical format reminded them, along the old town.
The Foundation of the University by Cardinal Cisneros resulted in the arrival of virtually all religious orders in the city, to found monasteries throughout the 16th and 17TH centuries. Even today remain eight closing in effect, all of them female, even to visit their churches you have to wait to the weekly religious profession (or good Friday). Different is the case of them more beautiful and historical, that can visit is to daily beginning by the Cathedral master of them Santos children just and Pastor. Without forget the chapel of San Ildefonso within the University Cisneriana (16th century) or the of the Church of the old convent of San Bernardo (17th century), unique by its value artistic.
Holy week is a perfect time to visit Alcala de Henares and enjoy this festivity declared of regional tourist interest, when religious fervor blends with history and art complutenses.
Another way to discover Alcalá de Henares is done through tapas. It Center historic of Alcalá is plagued of bars that offer the price of the cover included in the price of the consumption. The area comprising the Victoria Street, Plaza de los Santos children, main street, street booksellers, Calle Santiago, Plaza Cervantes and the streets surrounding the Cisneriana University, offer numerous establishments for quality tapas. It is not strange therefore that only this is why many choose to visit the city.
Through its bars and restaurants, the city offers a wide gastronomic offer, which combines traditional Castilian food with the vanguard not to mention forced references to Cervantes kitchen and cuisine of Don Quixote. In addition, throughout the year the city becomes protagonist of Madrid thanks to the prestigious as gastronomy: the gastronomic week of February, the Cervantinas gastronomic held on holiday commemorative of the birth of Miguel de Cervantes in the city and the event celebrated every year environment to Easter gastronomic Alcalá and in which the town's restaurants offer dishes tasting of great quality. Comment apart deserves the tradition Shaper complutense, where stand out them traditional almonds "garapinyades" next to them doughnuts of Alcalá and to the costrada. Not to mention that the nuns some of the eight convents of closure that remain in the city produced delicious candy that can be directly purchased old style through their lathes.
Ideal to enjoy with children in the House, allows you to discover the most famous inhabitants of Alcalá. The White Stork has 111 nesting pairs counted in 2013, inhabiting with their large nests the towers and Belfries of churches and convents of the old town. Not is difficult listen your crotoreo (or "crush of garlic" as say them alcalainos) while is enjoys of a ride by the streets of the city, what facilitates to the same time know their places more historical.
February:
In Alcalá it culture is breathes them 365 days of the year, sufficient mention some of them events more important that is held in the city:
XXX week gastronomic restaurants of Fomentur offer menus of quality to prices special with them best proposals gastronomic. Carnival .
The Carnaval de Alcalá is a participatory Festival that brighten up the streets and squares of the historic centre of the city. Contests for costumes, parade of brass bands and street musicians, and the participation of children form a unique and festive programming.
March:
Holy week
Festival declared of Regional tourist interest. A perfect combination of fervor popular and beauty art that full of sensations and contrasts the Center historic of Alcalá. For more information.
Competition III gastronomic Alcalá
The city catering establishments offered their tasting dish presented in competition. April 28 held a gala awards ceremony and a jury of recognized prestige.
Market of the Aljama
Open market approaching the public trade of our city in the Alcala Aljama, whose main street is the main street, the old Jewish quarter of Alcalá
April:
Festival of the word
Month dedicated to pay homage to Miguel de Cervantes with an intense cultural programming related to the letters and the Cervantes Prize. Activities of street theatre, the book fair, conferences, music and exhibitions, are part of a broad program that culminates on April 23 with the delivery by the Kings of Spain of the Cervantes Prize for literature in Castilian language, which this year will be delivered to the writer Fernando del Paso.
Teatralia
Festival inter national children's theatre and youth of the community of Madrid. The best Theater of Spain aimed at young people.
Shows gastronomic literary in homage to the Premio Cervantes
Fomentur restaurants a week honored the writer Fernando del Paso, Premio Cervantes 2015.
May and june
Path of the Tapas ç
A perfect opportunity to enjoy even more and special prices for existing tapas all offer year-round in the city. With the participation of the city's most famous restaurants and bars.
June and july:
XVI classic in Alcalá
The arts and letters merge so the city regain the spirit of the golden age with a festival of performing arts that can enjoy the best Theater in unique as the Corral de Co¬medias scenarios or the Teatro Cervantes lounge, attached to a multitude of cultural Street activities.
July and august:
Summer in Alcalá
July and August. In summer Alcala also offers activities: performing arts, cinema of summer, jazz, dance, storytelling, theater... Enjoy in our city's best cultural tourism.
August :
Fiestas Patronales of the Santos children Justo y Pastor
6 August. The historic centre of Alcalá is dressed Gala to commemorate their patron saints. Culture, leisure and religion go hand in hand in this secular celebration.
Festivals and fairs in Alcalá Festivals and fairs in Alcalá de Henares are heirs of a long festive tradition that dates back to medieval times. Fair day, the open days, the best shows, penalties with his colorful and animated or closures are just one example of the unique experience that you can live in Alcala during the last week of August.
September:
Patron Saint festivities of Virgen del Val
3rd Sunday of September. The Virgin of the Val, patron saint of the city, form part of the consciousness religious, social and festive of them alcalainos. Celebrate the day of the Virgen del Val is a way of entering one of the most ancient traditions of Alcalá de Henares.
XX Cervantinas gastronomic days
Fomentur restaurants make Alcalá de Henares in the cervantine kitchen. Born Miguel de Cervantes literature, we can enjoy the best gastronomic tradition of the golden age. All of this, as a tribute to the author of Don Quixote.
October:
Cervantine week
Festival declared of Regional tourist interest. The great Cervantes in Alcala festa is celebrated around October 9, date in which his baptism is recalled. He has interest many cultural activities such as the public reading of Don Quixote, the delivery of the awards city of Alcalá to the fair of the antique book and occasion, the delivery of the Premios Cervantes guy, the Cervantino market, dance, music, exhibitions and theatre.
Cervantes's "Don Quixote" market
Market time in Europe during which the historic recovers for a few days the air and forms of the golden age, with theatrical performances by street, music, costumes and the vital atmosphere of a city and its people that go back to the past to pay tribute to the author of Don Quixote. Held on 9-12 October, feast of the pillar.
XXXII Don Juan at Alcala
Festival declared of Regional tourist. Theatrical manifestation outdoors most crowded of Spain, coinciding with the feast of all saints.
November
ALCINE
Film festival. He festival of cinema of Alcalá of Henares, Alcine, has consolidated its prestige to convert is in one of them contests of short films more important in the field national and in reference obliged for them experts and amateur.
December:
Holiday commemorative Alcalá heritage
Day 2 December 1998, Alcalá de Henares was declared a world heritage city by Unesco. Since then, the City celebrates this date with a wide range of activities and the delivery of the prize city of Alcalá of heritage.
