If you want to spend a different weekend, we advise you to visit one of the towns near Madrid . They are places full of charm, cozy and with buildings full of history. Best of all, you can easily get there by car and, to some of them, using the Madrid Cercanías trains that depart from Atocha station.
Towns near Madrid
1. Aranjuez
It is one of the most emblematic towns near Madrid. The setting for great works of literature, painting, cinema and music. This town is world famous, among other things, thanks to the Aranjuez Concert by the composer Joaquín Rodrigo (its adage is a unique piece that you cannot stop listening to). Aranjuez is located in the south of the Community of Madrid, one hour from the capital. It sits on a valley next to the Tagus and Jarama rivers, it is surrounded by imposing hills.
Aranjuez has many centuries of history. I have witnessed, among others, the mutiny of Aranjuez that led to the uprisings of May 2, 1808, as well as the abdication of Carlos IV in Fernando VII.
If you visit Aranjuez, we recommend you go to the Royal Palace, built in the Renaissance style; The palace works were carried out between 1565 and 1586, although there were several reforms between 1715 and 1733. In that half of the 18th century, multiple extensions to the palace were carried out, including those carried out by Francisco Sabatini (famous for his Madrid gardens) between 1771 and 1778.
Another of the attractions of Aranjuez are the gardens. The most famous of them all is the King’s Garden, in which its sculptural ensemble stands out. The island’s garden is also one of the essentials. This set of gardens is complemented by the Parterre, that of the Prince, which is the most extensive of them all; and the garden of Isabel II.
2. Royal Site of San Ildefonso
Just over an hour’s drive from Madrid is the Real Sitio de San Ildefonso, which belongs to Segovia, in Castilla y León. Here the highlights are the Royal Palace and the Crystal Factory, although, of course, there are many other places of great tourist attraction that you can visit.
The Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso is one of the many residences of the Spanish Royal Family. It has been declared a Historic Monumental complex for being one of the best examples of the monarchical splendor of the 18th century. Felipe V fell in love with the site and decided to build his French court palace here. The Jardines de la Granja, the Museum of Tapestries and the Sala de Marmoles o de Europa stand out.
In San Ildefonso you can also go to the Royal Glass and Crystal Factory of La Granja, which dates back to the 18th century. In addition to contemplating the beauty of the building, you can attend the Glass Museum, which offers, throughout more than 16,000 square meters, various exhibitions with unique glass objects.
3. Alcalá de Henares, one of the towns near Madrid with more history
Alcalá de Henares, in the Community of Madrid, is 45 minutes from the Spanish capital. It receives its name from the confluence it has with the Henares river. The founding of this city dates from the Celtiberian era , which, with the arrival of the Romans to the peninsula, would be renamed Complutum. Since 1998 Alcalá de Henares has been a UNESCO World Heritage City; and it is that thanks to the historical precinct and the rectorship of the University, it is considered as unique.
The University of Alcalá de Henares dates from 1499 and is one of the many places of tourist interest that you can visit. The Archbishop’s Palace, in the center of the city, is also another of the buildings that we invite you to visit. But, without a doubt, the jewels in the crown are the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes and the Corral de Comedias. The first is a modern reconstruction of a 16th century building where, according to tradition, the author of Don Quixote de La Mancha was born in 1547. It is a very typical noble house from the Spanish Golden Age.
The Corral de Comedias is one of the oldest theaters in Europe, since its construction dates back to 1601. Over the centuries, the theater underwent multiple transformations until it became a typical Italian space that evokes the Roman Coliseum. A site with a lot of history!
4. San Lorenzo de El Escorial
47 km from the capital is San Lorenzo de El Escorial, on the southeastern slope of the S ierra de Guadarrama. This town dates from the times of Carlos III and its most prominent site is the El Escorial Monastery. The Monastery and the Royal Site are, since 1984, UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Monastery is one of the main Renaissance-style buildings in Spain and its origins date back to the 16th century. It stands on the slope of Mount Abantos and has an area of 33,327 square meters. The complex, which is quite impressive, is made up of 16 courtyards, 88 fountains, 13 oratories, 15 cloisters, 86 staircases, 9 towers, 1,200 doors, 2,673 windows, and 4,000 rooms. Certainly something to admire!
They highlight the Pantheon of Kings where, among others, are buried Isabel II, Alfonso XIII or Juan de Borbón, Count of Barcelona. Historically, since the 16th century, this monastery is considered the eighth wonder of the world.
In addition to the monastery, the Casitas del Principe and del Infante stand out, two eighteenth-century palaces and the Valley of the Fallen. It is a funerary complex ordered to be built by Francisco Franco, who, until 2019, was buried at that site. The Valley of the Fallen is characterized by a huge 150-meter cross that presides over the entire complex.
5. Chinchón
One of the towns near Madrid that you cannot miss is Chinchón, 45 minutes from the capital. It is located in the southeast of the Community of Madrid. But what to see in this beautiful Madrid town? To begin with, you cannot stop going to the Plaza Mayor , whose first houses date back to the 15th century. It is a closed square with an irregular shape, with three-story buildings. Its 243 wooden balconies called clear stands out.
In Chinchón you can also visit the Castillo de los Condes, built in the 15th century. The building, which is Renaissance in style, was abandoned in the 18th century, after having been the residence of the Counts of Chinchón for many years. After multiple raids and damage, the castle served as a liquor factory in the 20th century.
The clock tower is another attraction of Chinchón, which for years belonged to the church of Nuestra Señora de Gracia. The church was destroyed by the French and the only thing that was rebuilt was the tower; hence a popular saying in the town that says that “Chinchón has a tower without a church and a church without a tower”; Church without a tower? We tell you that, very close to the clock tower is the church of the Assumption that lacks a tower and which you can go for a quick visit.
