From the castle of Mendoza to the beautiful hills of La Pedriza, the small town of Manzanares el Real, there are 8000 scarce inhabitants just 55 km north of Madrid in a place that has a lot to offer (take the Carretera M-607 and then the Carretera M-609).
The Castle of Mendoza is one of the best preserved castles in the surroundings of Madrid, so as to now it can be used as a location for fil, like El Cid. The palace-fortress, which dates back to the fifteenth century, was built entirely of granite, which is characteristic of the whole area. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 to 18.00 (Saturday and Sunday, closed from 15:00 to 16:00). € 5 costs the entry for adults, € 3 for under 14 and over 60.
The place was used as a location for a romantic movie swashbuckling or “our” spaghetti westerns, for Spartacus as El Cid, sinc it combines the magnificent architecture of the sixteenth with breath-taking natural scenery and a country that has kept all the traditions and celebrations of people that are proud of their historical heritage.
In addition to the Castle is the natural park of the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares river, which preserves part of the Sierra pedriza, the church of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Peña Sacra (928 meters in height).
Also try the local cuisine, known especially for the tenderness of the meat. Among the specialties is the stew with potatoes, and the rabbit escabeche, an example of how the Spaniards have the Arab world in terms of cuisine.
By Angela B
Photos: Rodrigo Gomez Sanz, Manolo Gomez, Mirwav.
