Famed throughout Spain for its carnival, Alcazar de San Juan is a historic city on the plain of La Mancha. In the 13th century, it was donated to the Order of St. John and became an important priory town before flourishing as a railway hub with the arrival of the Aranjuez-Almansa line in 1854.
Things to do in Alcázar de San Juan
In the heart of Alcazar de San Juan is Plaza de España, a restaurant-lined square that centres around a sculpture of Don Quijote and Sancho Panza. It’s a short walk from the Museo Municipal de Alcazar de San Juan, which is housed with a former hermitage and an ancestral home of the Sanabria family. In addition to Roman mosaics and prehistoric axes, contemporary artworks are also on display.
Occupying a 16th-century manor house is the Museo del Hidalgo, which offers a fascinating insight into the character of Don Quixote de La Mancha. Set across two floors, its displays include antique costumes, agricultural tools and homewares, as well as audiovisual exhibits that help to bring the history to life.
Alcazar de San Juan is home to several beautiful old churches, including the Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor where the writer Miguel de Cervantes was baptised. In addition to its 16th-century altarpiece by Diego Barroso, a highlight of the church is the Chapel of the Virgen del Rosario with its Talavera tiles. On the other side of town is the Iglesia y Convento de la Santisima Trinidad, which features an ornately decorated facade.
Getting around Alcázar de San Juan
Alcazar de San Juan is just under two hours’ drive from the centre of Madrid and Adolfo Suarez Madrid–Barajas Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Alcazar de San Juan railway station and buses travel throughout the city.