Towns near Madrid to spend the day

maybe you are looking for towns near Madrid to spend the day because you live in the capital and need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Sometimes we need to get away from urban life for a few hours to relax and breathe fresh air.

In that case, don't worry. Just one or two hours from Madrid you have beautiful towns full of monuments and surrounded by a privileged nature. We are talking, for example, about those located in the surroundings of the Sierra de Guadarrama (we will not tell you about the beautiful San Lorenzo del Escorial because we have already dedicated an article to it). But, above all, these villas have all the tranquility of the rural world and also, by the way, a delicious gastronomy that you should try. Therefore, so that take a break from the noise of the big city, we are going to show you towns near Madrid to spend the day.

Buitrago del Lozoya

We begin our tour, precisely, in this town of the Sierra Norte from Madrid. After a transfer of just forty-five minutes, you will think you have traveled in time. Because this town seems anchored in the Middle Ages.

Much of the blame lies with its spectacular Wall, built in the XNUMXth century and very well preserved. But also the castle, an architectural complex in the Gothic-Mudejar style built in the XNUMXth century. It has a rectangular floor plan and consists of a parade ground framed by seven towers. They also belong to the Middle Ages Old Bridge over the Lozoya River and the church of Santa María del Castillo. The latter, built in the XNUMXth century, has a Flamboyant Gothic portal and a Mudejar tower.

Also, you have to see in Buitrago the Forest House, a pleasure palace built for the Duke of Infantado in the XNUMXth century, taking as a model the Italian villas of Andrea Palladio. And also him Picasso Museum, which houses several works by the painter from Malaga donated by his hairdresser and friend Eugenio Arias.

Finally, take advantage of your visit to Buitrago de Lozoya to do some hiking and breathe fresh air. And don't leave the town without trying its magnificent mountain steak, which will help you regain strength after the walk.

Chinchón, a wonder among the towns near Madrid to spend the day

We continue our tour of the towns near Madrid to spend the day in Chinchón, declared Historic Artistic Set. The first thing you should visit upon arrival is its large Plaza Mayor, a perfect example of the popular architecture of the Middle Ages. In addition, in it you have numerous bars and restaurants that offer you the typical sweet called novice tits.

Afterwards, continue your visit to Chinchón in the church of Our Lady of the Assumption, a temple built in the XNUMXth century with a Gothic project of Alonso de Covarrubias. However, the delay in its construction made it combine elements of that style with other Renaissance, Plateresque and even Baroque styles. In addition, in its main altarpiece you can see the Assumption of the Virgin, a painting of Francisco de Goya.

You should also visit in this beautiful town the castle of the counts, a Renaissance fortress from the XNUMXth century, and the convents of Las Clarisas and San Agustín, both built in a mixture of Renaissance and Baroque styles. And finally, you have to see the Clock Tower, a vestige of the old church of Nuestra Señora de Gracia, and the remains of the castle of casasol.

Aranjuez, the Royal Site of Madrid

Barely forty-seven kilometers from the capital you will find this monumental jewel that holds the symbolic category of Royal Site for having been declared as such by Felipe II. This is also the reason that Aranjuez has such a dazzling artistic heritage.

Your visit to the town should begin with the Royal Palace. Its construction began in the XNUMXth century by the hand of John the Baptist of Toledo y Juan de Herrera, although it continued in the XNUMXth century with Santiago Bonavia y Francesco Sabati. It is an imposing building that stands out, among other things, for the bichromatism of its façade, which is due to the combination of brick and limestone from Colmenar.

Next to the palace, you have the San Antonio square, which in no way detracts from it. Because it houses monuments such as the Houses of Infantes and Knights and Trades, baroque church of San Antonio and Elizabeth II Garden. Precisely this is also part of what we could call the green complex of Aranjuez. In other words, several natural spaces scattered throughout the town that contribute to making it even more beautiful.

Among them, you have to see the gardens of the King, the Island, the Parterre and the Prince. All of them combine vegetation with monumental decoration. For example, the last one we mentioned includes several fountains, ponds and the famous Labrador House.

Aranjuez also has numerous palaces and other civil constructions who belonged to the nobility, eager to be close to the royal family, or high officials. Among the first, that of Manuel Godoy, that of the Dukes of Osuna, that of Medinaceli or that of Silvela. As for the latter, you should visit the houses of the Governor, Employees, Fogones or the Parador del Rey.

Finally, we advise you to see religious buildings in the town of Madrid, such as the beautiful baroque church of Aljapes, from the XNUMXth century, the Hermitage of the Real Cortijo de San Isidro or convent of san paschal. Complete your heritage set Carlos III Royal Theater. And don't leave Aranjuez without trying its delicious strawberries and its no less tasty asparagus.

Patones, a curiosity among the towns near Madrid to spend the day

We completely change register to tell you about Patones de Arriba, which has nothing to do with Aranjuez. Of course, it does not have the monumental heritage of the latter, but it is also beautiful in its own way. Because it is the perfect example of the so-called black architecture traditional of the Sierra de Ayllon. This name is given to the popular form of construction that used, mainly, slate as a material.

But this is not the only attraction of Patones. You should also visit the church of San José, hermitage of the Virgin of the Olive and the spectacular Pontón de la Oliva dam, built in the XNUMXth century in the context of the works of the Canal de Isabel II, whose aqueduct is very close.

On the other hand, if you like caving, in Patones there is the Reguerillo cave, which is the largest in the Autonomous Community of Madrid. But, if you prefer archeology, you have the pre-Roman site of the castro Dehesa de la Oliva. Finally, don't leave the town without eating a good Lamb stew.

Miraflores de la Sierra and its fountains

Among the towns near Madrid to spend the day, this is one of the least visited. And it's a shame because it houses a lot of beauty. It is located about forty-nine kilometers from the capital, on a slope of the Central Sistem.

Miraflores is famous for sources such as the Cura, which is also surrounded by a recreation area. But also because of the unique butterfly garden Marcos Portolés Wormwood, whose plants attract numerous units of this species of Lepidoptera.

On the other hand, you should also visit the local Church of the Assumption of Our Lady, from the XNUMXth century, although enlarged later. And also the Grotto of the Virgin of Begoña, which you will find when you arrive from Madrid by road. But the vital nucleus of Miraflores is the Alamo Square, so called because there was a tree of this kind in it. Even Vicente Aleixandre, who spent the summer in the town, dedicated a poem to him. It had to be cut down because he got sick, but part of the trunk has been preserved and a bronze replica has been created that you can see today.

Finally, numerous hiking trails start from Miraflores. For example, the one that goes to the La Najarra Peak. And don't leave the town without trying the Iberian somarritos or potatoes with cod.

Cercedilla, for ski lovers

We finish our tour of the towns near Madrid to spend the day in this town in the Sierra de Guadarrama located a short distance from the port of Navacerrada. And we do it, mainly, for its wonderful landscapes, its hiking trails and, above all, its interest for ski lovers.

However, Cercedilla also has other things to see. Among its religious monuments, the churches of Our Lady of the Snows, from the XNUMXth century, and from San Sebastián, from the XVII, as well as the hermitage of Santa María. You can also see the Geologists and Bolo fountains, bridges such as those of La Venta or Descalzo and the old ironworks of The Colt. But above all, get closer to the old Roman road which is located in the nearby valley of Fuenfría. And take advantage of your visit to Cercedilla to taste a good pig.

In conclusion, we have shown you several towns near Madrid to spend the day. However, although they belong to other provinces, monumental wonders such as Ayllon, with its Roman bridge and stately homes, Sigüenza, with its imposing castle of the Bishops and its cathedral of Santa María, or Sepúlveda, with its spectacular Hoces del Duratón. Do not you think advisable places to get out of the hustle and bustle of the big city?