Cl5 things to see near Madrid
1. Colmenár Viejo
It is a town and municipality located about 30 km north of Madrid. A large part of
land under its jurisdiction is situated in the National park Sierra de Gudarrama.
Around the town you can find many cattle ranches.In the town there is a bullfight
arena Plaza del Toro, this is the fourth biggest arena in Spain.It has a capacity for
10. 000 visitors and was built in 1891. Every September a bullfighting festival takes
place here and attrackt a lot of spectators. In Museo de la Villa you can find an
exibition of art and crafts connected to bullfighting. There is also a collection
connected to another tradition in Colmenár Viejo: La Maya festival. It is a way to
welcome the arrival of spring. For this purpose altars decorated with flowers and
herbs are placed in the city centre. Little girls, about 8 or 0 years old with flower
crows, dressed in white are sitting in the altars. It is a great honour to be a maya.
The girls have to stay serious all the time. People pass by and admire the altars and
the mayas. Colmenár Viejo is located at a place where a beekeeper lived. There is a
long tradition of honeyproduction in Colmenár Viejo.
Maybe that´s why honey is a very popular ingredient in local food.
1. Colmenár Viejo
It is a town and municipality located about 30 km north of Madrid. A large part of
land under its jurisdiction is situated in the National park Sierra de Gudarrama.
Around the town you can find many cattle ranches.In the town there is a bullfight
arena Plaza del Toro, this is the fourth biggest arena in Spain.It has a capacity for
10. 000 visitors and was built in 1891. Every September a bullfighting festival takes
place here and attrackt a lot of spectators. In Museo de la Villa you can find an
exibition of art and crafts connected to bullfighting. There is also a collection
connected to another tradition in Colmenár Viejo: La Maya festival. It is a way to
welcome the arrival of spring. For this purpose altars decorated with flowers and
herbs are placed in the city centre. Little girls, about 8 or 0 years old with flower
crows, dressed in white are sitting in the altars. It is a great honour to be a maya.
The girls have to stay serious all the time. People pass by and admire the altars and
the mayas. Colmenár Viejo is located at a place where a beekeeper lived. There is a
long tradition of honeyproduction in Colmenár Viejo.
Maybe that´s why honey is a very popular ingredient in local food.
22.Sierra de Guadarrama
Sierra de Gudarrama is a mountain range 50 km north of Madrid.In past the
mountains were a natural border between the Christians and the Muslims. In 2013
the National park was created here which protects 11 different ecosystems and 1280
species, 13 of them are in danger of extinction. There are 8 ecological routs for
tourists and cyclists.
Sierra de Gudarrama is a mountain range 50 km north of Madrid.In past the
mountains were a natural border between the Christians and the Muslims. In 2013
the National park was created here which protects 11 different ecosystems and 1280
species, 13 of them are in danger of extinction. There are 8 ecological routs for
tourists and cyclists.
are 33.Segovia
It is a town whose city centre and aqueduct are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The aqueduct is 28,5 m tall and 15 km long. It was built from 2500 granit blocks
without any mortar in the first century AD. The aqueduct is one of the best
preserved Roman monuments in Spain. The second attraction in Segovia is Alcázar
castle. It looks like a fairy tale castle and a legend says, that it was an inspiration
for Walt Disney´s Cinderella castle in Disneyland. The castle was originally built as
a fortress,but it served as a royal residence for Spanish kings.
It is a town whose city centre and aqueduct are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The aqueduct is 28,5 m tall and 15 km long. It was built from 2500 granit blocks
without any mortar in the first century AD. The aqueduct is one of the best
preserved Roman monuments in Spain. The second attraction in Segovia is Alcázar
castle. It looks like a fairy tale castle and a legend says, that it was an inspiration
for Walt Disney´s Cinderella castle in Disneyland. The castle was originally built as
a fortress,but it served as a royal residence for Spanish kings.
4.De Mendoza castle
It was built at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains in the
15th.century for the important Medoza family. Originally it was built like
fortress. The castle with four circular towers which are decorated with balls
in the Isabelline style,is surrounded by a barbican. The castle was
used as a film location in the film El Cid. It is a great example for Gothic
architecture. Next to the castle there is Santillana lake which is an important
water reservoir for the city of Madrid.
5. Dehesa de Navalvillar
It is known as a film location. Films like"Spartacus", "Alexander the Great" and
and "El Cid" were made here and directors like Stanley Kubrick were
also present here.Interesting place to see is hermitage Nostra Seňora de
de Remedios where Visigoths archeological tombs were discovered.