If you are looking for a unique experience, a mixture of tradition, architecture and magic, we open the doors of Alcaraz to you! An authentic treasure located within the province of Albacete with which we are sure you will fall in love.
This municipality of Albacete, apart from the beauty of its heritage, is accompanied by its location, in what is known as Cerro de San Cristóbal and with impressive views of the nature that spreads all over the Alcaraz mountain range. Ready to get into the city centre?
Almost 1,000 metres above sea level is the altitude at which this municipality is located, and we are going to draw you a travel guide so that you make sure to visit its main places of interest. First of all, in the centre, the Plaza Mayor awaits, considered a Historical-Artistic Heritage Site since the year 1945 and consisting in a typically Renaissance square with a series of large buildings of great cultural interest.
One of them is the Church of the Santísima Trinidad, which that stands out for its Gothic and Renaissance influence; the second one is the Torre del Tardón, next to the previous building. One of the most representative pictures of Alcaraz.
In the third place, next to the clock tower, we highlight the Lonja de Santo Domingo and also the Corregidor. Finally, and around the Plaza Mayor, you will also find the Town Hall building, of great historical interest too.
But here there are more places to visit. We recommend a walk through the Puerta de Morcil path, where you will be able to see, from the distance, the ruins of the Castillo de Alcaraz which despite being nowadays destroyed, still oozes a romantic halo thanks to the views you will get of the town from this spot.
On the outskirts of the town centre there are also surprises such as the Paraje del Santo, which still shelters some remains of ancient Iberian settlements. You can see the ruins of an old church and some tombs carved in the rock. Without a doubt, this is one of the most striking places of Alcaraz.
On the more natural part of this town and fusion with the architecture, the Aqueduct from the 15th century stands out, located very close to the hills of Santa Bárbara and San Cristóbal. Currently, only one of its arches remains standing.
For the more intrepid ones, exploring this part of the Cordilleras Béticas mountains in the Sierra de Alcaraz can be an ideal plan and, if you dare, you can also climb to the Pico Almenara or the Pico de la Sarga!
Although if you prefer, you can visit the Paraje de los Batanes, which is where the ancient city of Urcesa was located - a true marvel of nature! It is now a natural reserve where you can find one of its treasures: the Salto del Caballo waterfall.
Besides, water is one of the most important and main resources of Alcaraz as it is located right at the place where four hydrographic basins converge: those of the Guadalquivir, Guadiana, Júcar and Segura rivers.
Nothing to conclude your tour to discover this municipality in the best possible way than with a gastronomic route through its cuisine. If you want to find out how Alcaraz tastes, you must try its traditional dishes, all of them elaborated with oil produced in Alcaraz, and accompanied by other traditional elements such as cheese, lamb, game products, oh, and don't forget to try some of its wines!
