Cadalso de los Vidrios is without a doubt a hidden gem of Sierra Oeste, a part of Madrid that you can take advantage of to disconnect, discover history and to live a rural tourism experience you won’t forget.
In this municipality, as well as its patrimony that you can get to know by walking through its centre, it also has a very hilly landscape adorned with extensive forests, pinewood and fields full of olives and vineyards. And all of which is accompanied by the Arroyo Tórtolas which is the river that passes by the local community.
There are only 80 kilometres between Cadalso de los Vidrios and Madrid, meaning you can see it in little time while still getting to enjoy the peacefulness. It is home to over 3000 habitants who are lucky enough to live in the perfect place to breathe the pure air and enjoy its history.
Talking about history, do you know where the name of the town originates from? In the past the word Cadalso traditionally was used to refer to a place that was high up where people could enjoy the view of its surroundings. In terms of the word Vidrios, the word is used to refer to the large industry dedicated to making the material that made the region famous from the 15th century onwards.
What is there to see in Cadalso de los Vidrios?
If there’s a point you should start your visit at, it’s the Villena Palace (Palacio de Villena) which is an official national cultural interest that was built in the 15th century and has been remodelled a few times since. The palace has some beautiful gardens where people go to walk and take photos of and during summer it’s the place where different performances take place.
In front of the palace there are also some references that date back to the period of Muslim rule like the Fuente de los Álamos which is gothic style fountain. It’s not the only fountain you’ll find, you can also enjoy the views of others like La Peluquera fountain and El Pilar fountain.
Right in the centre of the town you’ll find the Calle Real, which is a beautiful street where you can find the city council building and Las Cuevas del Pilar that is a cluster of around 10 caves from the Muslim rule era. Near this street you’ll also find the House of Los Salvajes.
In terms of the religious heritage, we must highlight the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción that is also a national cultural interest along with the Arch and the chapel of Santa Ana.
In its town centre and outskirts there does exist some remains of other communities like the Archaeological site of La Mezquita where you can find a church and a cemetery.
When do the festivities of Cadalso de los Vidrios take place? The patronal festivals are celebrated in the month of September and are a huge event for the community where bulls are the stars of the show kept in bullpens and released for the bullfights that take place throughout the week during the festival times. Without a doubt it will be the perfect time for you to visit the municipality and there’s nothing like renting accommodation with all of the commodities you need to have a relaxing week: there are rural houses that have their own gardens and airbnb style apartments you can spend a few nights at.
And if you travel out of peak season, you’ll be sure to find cheap accommodation for your stay.
Lastly, getting here is really easy, you can come on the motorway by car or bus.
