Today, January 11, you can enjoy a new installment of ‘Off the Map’. This time, Alberto Chicote travels with Juan del Val to Alarcón, where they will travel a circular route that mixes history and nature. After watching the program, you will want to meet her.
Alarcón is a town that belongs to the province of Cuenca, in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha. It has 151 inhabitants, according to the last census carried out in 2021 by the Statistics National Institute and have one surface area of 120 square kilometers.
The town is located downstream of the Alarcón reservoir and also has the little Henchidero reservoir At his feet. But apart from its nature, you will find a heritage that will leave you with your mouth open.
What to see in Alarcón
As explained on the Castilla-La Mancha tourism page, inside the town we can find a wide representation of almost all Spanish art. You cannot leave without visiting the church of Santo Domingo de Silos, the church of Santa María and the Mural Paintings of Jesús Mateo in the church of San Juan Bautista. Also, let yourself be surprised by the Castillo de Alarcón.
The church of Santo Domingo de Silos
The building maintains architectural elements, such as the arches, the walls and the Renaissance-style tower belonging to the 15th and 16th centuries. Thus, of its primitive Romanesque construction, what is preserved is its façade. This is what the writer of ‘Cuenca and the Enchanted City’, José Luis Rodríguez Zapata, mentions on his website. Today it is used as an auditorium and an exhibition hall.
The church of Santa Maria
On the official tourism page it appears as the most important monument in the town, after the castle. It took 45 years to build, exactly between 1520 and 1565. Masters such as the sculptor Esteban Jamete and the architect Pedro de Alviz worked on its construction. The church was declared a National Monument in 1981.
The Mural Paintings in the Church of San Juan Bautista
It was the contemporary art painter Jesús Mateo who, in 1994, developed the first sketches that give shape to the murals of the ancient and desecrated church of Alarcón. He was inspired by nature and man to form a personal and committed universe. On December 3, 1997, they were named a UNESCO heritage site..
Alarcón Castle
Its foundation is attributed to King Alfonso VIII according to the Chronicle of the Wise King in the twelfth century. Later, in the Renaissance, it was the Infante don Juan Manuel and the Marquis of Villena who reformed it. This is explained on the official tourism page of the autonomous community.
The castle has a square plan and is surrounded by a double defensive enclosure, where the Torre del Homenaje is located, with a Renaissance appearance, with battlements topped with an arrowhead.
Where to eat and sleep
In addition to enjoying its cultural heritage, another way to get to know the town and make your trip a unique experience is to know its gastronomy. Alarcón restaurants maintain the essence of their historical surroundings. You can find a list with all the dining rooms with which the town has on the official tourism page of Castilla-La Mancha. In them you can taste the typical dishes of the area, such as Cuenca morteruelo, atascaburras, porridge, Manchego cheese or gazpacho pastor.
But on a trip you also have to take into account and decide where we will spend the night, since rest is also very important. On the official tourism page you can find the different options for accommodation that you can find in Alarcón. Most are rural houses, but the town also has a hostel.
Alarcón in ‘Off the Map’
Today, January 11, at 10:30 p.m. Chicote and the journalist and writer Juan del Val visit the municipality of Alarcón. Together they carry out a 9.5 kilometer circular route from the Castillo de Alarcón to the church of San Juan Bautista.
They will leave the town and, crossing the Picazo bridge, they will enter the most arid area of the promenade, to later enjoy the views of the environment left by the Júcar riverbed. As it is a circular route, they will end the road at the deconsecrated church of Alarcón, passing through the Tebar bridge.
Ricardo is a renowned author and journalist, known for his exceptional writing on top-news stories. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he is known for his ability to deliver breaking news and insightful analysis on the most pressing issues of the day.
