Let’s travel to Chinchón, one of the prettiest towns in Madrid where you can wind down from all the hustle and bustle and soak up the history through a vast collection of treasures of significant cultural importance that can be easily seen in one day along with the stunning nature the region of Las Vegas has on offer.
Its history goes back to prehistoric times, having been inhabited by neolithic communities, then the romans, followed by the Arabs which takes us to present time. Every time period has left their own traces in the town’s architecture which is definitely worth getting to know.
So, what is there to see and where should you eat when in Chinchón? This town in the capital has a great amount of points of interest.
If it’s famous for anything it has to be its spectacular picturesque Plaza Mayor which Is its main square and regular meeting point for the locals. The square dates back to medieval times and you can get to it in several different ways. It was built between the 15th and the 16th century and one of its most interesting features has to be its more than 230 green balconies. It’s in the square where you can also find lots of restaurants where you can also enjoy the best local food.
Furthermore, being 45km from the centre of the capital, it makes for a great couple’s trip. One of the best options is to enjoy its rooftops for a typical Spanish aperitivo (light afternoon snack) while taking in the views. In February the medieval market opens and there are lots of events that take place like dances and parades you can join in with.
During the religious festivals in August the main square becomes a bullring where its 5,000 habitants and hundreds of tourists get together to enjoy the festivities.
Chinchón is also home to the Castle of los Condes (Castillo de los Condes) sitting high up proudly watching over the city. Although it’s privately owned and for security reasons you can’t enter you can still make your way up to admire the view. It’s not the only castle and very nearby you can find the ruins of Casasola castle (Castillo de Casasola).
It terms of its religious patrimony we must highlight two convents: the convent of San Agustín that today is a national state-owned hotel and the convent of las Clarisa that has a church inside as well. In terms of the main temple, where you can see a mixture of gothic, plateresque, baroque and renaissance art, is the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción.
Lastly, the clock tower is another key feature that was part of the old church of Nuestra Señora de Gracia.
So, how can you get to Chinchón? There a few different ways of accessing it and one of them is by car and the other is public transport from Conde de Casal that is quite reasonably priced.
If you want to enjoy a few days in Chinchón, depending on the season and what you’re looking for, you can find lots of lovely houses and rural cottages with a pool and jacuzzi and accommodation perfect for groups or couples that will allow you to enjoy a charming weekend near Madrid. However, there are also an array of hotels on offer for you to disconnect for a few days in.
And when you’re there don’t forget to buy some traditional sweets from the town!
