Spain Travel Trip - LA MANCHA - Best places to visit

Review:Iulia

La Mancha This region, made famous by Cervantes in his "Don Quijote", presents itself exactly as the visitor expects. In Illescas, located half on the way between Toledo and Madrid (at 35 km from each), we find traces of a very old history, from Palaeolithic to middle-ages. The most important monuments are: the Hospital Nuestra Señora de La Caridad, founded by Cardinal Cisneros. In its interior there are exposed 5 paintings of El Greco; the church Iglesia de Santa Maria, of 13th and 14th century, with its well-known tower called Giraldilla de Sagra; the church Iglesia de las Terciarias, with its Puerta de Ugena, an 11th century Arabian door. Esquivias was the home-town of Cervantes. Ocaña is worth a visit because of its Roman rests, its elegant Renaissance palace and its beautiful main square, Plaza Mayor, of 18th century. Tembleque , very typical in its regional style, offers an original Plaza Mayor, with beautiful galleries. The Route of the Castles A large number of old castles you can find in this region.

To visit the most important of them, start your journey in Guadamur, with one of the most beautiful medieval fortresses of all Spain. Barciense has a gothic castle, and in Torrijos, the old residential town of Pedro I. the Cruel you will see the Colegiata with its extraordinary plateresque portal. The castle of Maqueda , of 15th century, was built over an old Arabian fortress. It shows beautiful elements of Mudejar-style. This town was of great strategical importance and so a lot of famous battles were fought here. In the manorial Escalona , hometown of Infante Don Juan Manuel, there are the ruins of its impressive Alcazar. What to eat – Perdiz Estofado – con beans Perdiz con Pochas; Potato omlette –Tortilla a la Magra; Queso Manchego (cheese); Marzipan cheese. Wines: D.O.C. La Mancha y Mentrida.
Spain Travel Trip VI - LA MANCHA - Best places to visit Originally published in Shvoong: http://www.shvoong.com/f/internet-and-technologies/392531-spain-travel-trip-vi-la/