The TimesFor more than five centuries the Manzanares El Real castle has symbolised the power of one of Spain’s great dynasties But now it is battling to reopen after its closure because of a bureaucratic botch One of Spain’s most emblematic and visited castles it has been forced to close to the public after its owner discovered that it has no licence to do so The duchess was met with the “surprise” after recovering control of the castle this month after the expiry of the Madrid regional government’s 60-year lease of the popular tourist attraction near the Spanish capital In spite of efforts by the duchess to reopen Tuesday World Subscribers only Trump-Carney meeting: Canada seeks reconciliation World Subscribers only Friedrich Merz bets on two private sector converts to revive the German economy and reform the state World Subscribers only 'A Pope in the tradition of Francis': From New York to Ghana Catholics hope for continuity at the Vatican World Subscribers only Chancellor Merz's 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yielded by her grandfather to the town council of Manzanares el Real she has fueled grievances against Spain's nobility By Sandrine Morel (Madrid (Spain) correspondent) the day the children learned that the garden was definitively closed to them PLATEFORME FAMILIAS POR EL PARQUE Behind the closed gates of the Duque del Infantado park disgruntled children watched as their castle-slide was toppled to the ground and their merry-go-rounds dismantled by Manzanares el Real town council technicians banging against the gate and climbing up the bars the 57-year-old 20th Duchess del Infantado has reclaimed the gardens her grandfather deeded to the municipality in 1975 the year of the death of the dictator Francisco Franco in a bid to win the sympathy of local residents the children of this community of some 9,000 inhabitants in the mountains 50 kilometers north of Madrid played and grew up there "It's a park of incredible social and environmental value for the families of Manzanares the only one in the town center to offer shade century-old trees and to create social cohesion and diversity," said Maria Monclin whose origins date back to the 15th century had been demanding that the park be returned to them The municipality tried to buy it back but was unable to agree on a price with Almudena de Arteaga The land registry office calculated the value of the land The town council launched an expropriation procedure while the duchess retaliated by initiating eviction proceedings You have 66.08% of this article left to read Lecture du Monde en cours sur un autre appareil Vous pouvez lire Le Monde sur un seul appareil à la fois Ce message s’affichera sur l’autre appareil Parce qu’une autre personne (ou vous) est en train de lire Le Monde avec ce compte sur un autre appareil Vous ne pouvez lire Le Monde que sur un seul appareil à la fois (ordinateur En cliquant sur « Continuer à lire ici » et en vous assurant que vous êtes la seule personne à consulter Le Monde avec ce compte Que se passera-t-il si vous continuez à lire ici Ce dernier restera connecté avec ce compte Vous pouvez vous connecter avec votre compte sur autant d’appareils que vous le souhaitez mais en les utilisant à des moments différents Nous vous conseillons de modifier votre mot de passe Votre abonnement n’autorise pas la lecture de cet article merci de contacter notre service commercial Themed markets have been gaining prominence in our agendas: whether medieval or period the case is to immerse yourself in a past time with activities designed for all audiences There are many types of getaways that can be made throughout the length and breadth of the Community of Madrid but undoubtedly among the most original -and that have been gaining popularity in recent years- are the medieval and period markets It is not surprising considering the completeness and variety of their programs ranging from children’s shows to typical gastronomy have been distinguished as festivals of regional tourist interest A different and perfect leisure plan to spend a day with family or friends outside the city without having to travel far Madrid’s medieval markets cannot be understood without the one in Chinchón. Every year, coinciding with the arrival of Carnival one of the most beautiful villages in Madrid is transformed into an authentic medieval village where the streets are filled with minstrels The Plaza Mayor hosts various craft stalls and throughout the town there are shows and activities in this celebration that commemorates one of the visits of the Catholic Monarchs to Chinchón It is also a good time to enjoy its typical gastronomy with dishes such as migas (fried breadcrumbs) or garlic soups 📍Location: several locations around Chinchón 🗓️ Dates: between the end of February and the beginning of March About 6 kilometers of route with 300 artisans The list of elements that make up the Gran Feria-Mercado Medieval de El Álamo is almost as long as its history Since then it has grown to become in 2016 Fair of Tourist Interest of the Community of Madrid All the alameños and alameñas turn every year in the celebration of what is one of the most important medieval markets in the Community of Madrid – and undoubtedly the event of the year in the municipality – which brings together thousands of people in each edition 📍Location: El Álamo 🗓️ Dates: generally during the May long weekend The Town Square becomes the perfect setting for a market that recreates the atmosphere of past centuries Visitors can immerse themselves in living history traveling theater and demonstrations of ancient crafts all under the imposing silhouette of its famous castle Getafe is immersed in a period atmosphere with its traditional Medieval Market an event that takes visitors back centuries the streets of the city are filled with folk music demonstrations of ancient crafts and even recreations of instruments of capital punishment The market presents an extensive program of activities focused on traditional crafts interactive workshops and street entertainment including musical shows and a fascinating Medieval corner with tools and farming equipment this event offers a historical adventure for the whole family in the heart of the Community of Madrid What is considered the “largest thematic market in Europe” does not belong to the category of medieval markets; but rather a Festival of National Tourist Interest inspired by the Golden Age where great authors of Spanish literature lived and published their most (re)known works who gives his name to these celebrations and who is probably the most illustrious neighbor of Alcalá de Henares It is not strange to confuse the Cervantes Market in Alcalá de Henares with a typical medieval market the Spanish Golden Age began in the same year that the Middle Ages ended (1492) as Rocío Jurado would say in her famous Titanlux commercial: it is (almost) the same is something that every Madrilenian or adoptee should do at least once in life 🗓️ Dates: usually the second week of October coinciding with the anniversary of the baptism of Cervantes (October 9) giants and knights take over San Lorenzo de El Escorial when its medieval market rises The town hall square and its surroundings are filled with stalls with handicraft items with Celtic airs and traditional dishes of the region 🗓️ Dates: various dates throughout the year The medieval market of Paracuellos de Jarama has that surname because in the past the municipality belonged to that Order for a few days its streets go back to the 12th century with more than 90 craft stalls Leaving the category of medieval markets and entering into that of period markets the Plaza de la Constitución in the city of Madrid is filled with atmosphere with the celebration of a Goyaesque market in which in addition to installing stalls of various kinds for a few days activities and street performances are also scheduled to liven up the occasion a children’s corner designed for the little ones and a village of artisans where there is room for the trades of yesteryear 📍Location: Plaza de la Constitución in Aranjuez Alcalá de Henares does double duty in this list and every year with the arrival of spring Complutum Renacida returns to its times as a Roman city It is an event in which not only artisans and merchants display a large market but also historical recreations in the form of chariot races or gladiator fights 📍Location: several locations in Alcalá de Henares Torrejón de Ardoz also has its own Roman market in which characters such as jesters musicians or druids come out to liven up the streets for a few days from candle workshops to demonstrations of combat or fire shows An ideal excuse for a different weekend getaway 📍Location: Hospital and Enmedio streets and Plaza Mayor Social participation can be established in two main axes: actively, performing different tasks in excavations, surveys, laboratory work and dissemination or passively, as mere spectators at conferences, exhibitions and other events, but always seeking understanding in this participation. of archaeological science, its dissemination and, as a final goal, the conservation and valuation of archaeological heritage.  Also worth highlighting, as a school example, is the “Heritage in the hands of young people” project. An example of educational practice”, in coordination with the management of the Los Abetos School, in Manzanares el Real, within its experiences with UNESCO, in which a large group of 3rd and 4th ESO students developed a theoretical and archaeological practice in different actions in its environment or the work carried out at the Marqués de Santillana High School Institute in Colmenar Viejo. ARACIL, E., MARURI, U. (AGS SL), GÓMEZ, R., COLMENAREJO, F., POZUELO, A., ROVIRA, C. and JIMÉNEZ, J. (Team A of Archeology) (2014): Two mining-metallurgical enclaves during Late Antiquity in the center of the peninsula: Navalvillar and Navalahija (Colmenar Viejo, Madrid). Madrid Archeology Meeting. BORDEJÉ GARCÉS, F. (1934): Historical rectifications. The primitive castle of Real de Manzanares. Spanish Magazine of Art, nº 3.  COLMENAREJO, F., GÓMEZ, R., POZUELO, A., ROVIRA, C., FERNÁNDEZ, R., and GARCÍA, E. (Team A of Archeology) (2013): In search of the lost magnetite. Iron metallurgy and village organization during late Antiquity in Navalvillar and Navalahija (Colmenar Viejo, Madrid). Proceedings of the X Conference on Archaeological Heritage in the Community of Madrid. Regional Archaeological Museum. Alcalá de Henares. COLMENAREJO, F., GÓMEZ, R., POZUELO, A., ROVIRA, C., FERNÁNDEZ, R., and GARCÍA, E. (Team A of Archeology) (2014): Settlement during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages in the Madrid presierra: Cuenca Alta del Manzanares. Madrid Archeology Meeting. COLMENAREJO, F., GÓMEZ, R., POZUELO, A. and GARCÍA, E. (Archeology Team A) (2016): The exploitation of iron in Late Antiquity in the upper Manzanares Basin, Sierra de Guadarrama, Madrid. Historic Mining and Metallurgy in Southwest Europe. Our mining roots. Proceedings of the IX International Congress on Historic Mining and Metallurgy in Southwest Europe. Madrid. COLMENAREJO, F., GÓMEZ, R., POZUELO, A. and GARCÍA, E. (Archeology Team A), CAPEL DEL ÁGUILA, F. (ICV-CSIC), AGUA, F., GARCÍA-HERAS, M. and VILLEGAS BRONCANO, MA (CCHS-CSIC) (In press): Glass of Late Antiquity in the Upper Manzanares Basin, Sierra de Guadarrama, Madrid. Archeometric study. VII Conference on Archeology in the Duero Valley. From the Paleolithic to the Middle Ages. Burgos November 16 to 18, 2017. COLMENAREJO GARCÍA, F., ROVIRA DUQUE, C., ANTONA MONTORO, AM and PÉREZ MARTÍN, S. (2005): Guide to the archaeological site of Remedios. A rural cemetery during Late Antiquity (1th century AD). Guides of the archaeological, historical and artistic heritage of Colmenar Viejo nº XNUMX, Colmenar Viejo Town Hall.  DOTOR Y MUNICIO, A. (1967): The castles of Manzanares el Real. Annals of the Institute of Madrilenian Studies. Madrid.  GÓMEZ OSUNA, R. (2005): The first castle of Manzanares el Real ?. Notebooks of Studies nº 19. Colmenar Viejo, Madrid. GÓMEZ, R., GARCÍA, E., POZUELO, A., COLMENAREJO, F. and FERNÁNDEZ, R. (Archeology Team A) (2016): The archaeological site of La Cabilda (Hoyo de Manzanares). A village from the 30th century AD. C. at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama. Notebooks of Studies nº XNUMX. GÓMEZ, R., GARCÍA, E., COLMENAREJO, F., POZUELO, R. (Archeology Team A) and GIMENO (CIL) (2016): Two latentiguan rings with inscription in the mountains of Madrid. Sylloge Epigraphica Barcinonensis (SEBarc) XIV. GÓMEZ, R., GARCÍA, E., COLMENAREJO, F., POZUELO, A. and FERNÁNDEZ, R. (Archeology Team A) (2016): The late medieval site of La Cabilda, Hoyo de Manzanares, Madrid. An open door to the past. Madrid Archeology Meeting.  JORDÁ, L. and JORDÁ, R. (2009): History and guide of the mines. From the bowels of the earth: Guide to the mines and quarries of Colmenar Viejo. Guides of the Archaeological, Historical and Artistic Heritage of Colmenar Viejo, 4. LÓPEZ, JA, PÉREZ, S., NÚÑEZ, S., ALBA, F., SERRA, C., COLMENAREJO, F., GÓMEZ, R. and SABARIEGO, S. (2015): Visigoth landscape in the Upper Manzanares Basin (Sierra de Guadarrama): archaeological analysis of the Navalvillar site (Colmenar Viejo, Madrid). ARPI. Archeology and Prehistory of the Interior Peninsular. No. 02. Alcalá de Henares, Madrid.  PASCUAL, C., RECIO, P., CRIADO, E. (ICV-CSIC), COLMENAREJO, F., GÓMEZ, R., POZUELO, A., and GARCÍA, E. (Team A of Archeology) (2015): Iron in the Navalvillar and Navalahija deposits during Late Antiquity, XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries AD. Madrid Archeology Meeting.  VV. AA. (1992): Castles, fortifications and walled enclosures in the Community of Madrid. General Directorate of Historical Heritage. Madrid's community. Whether you want to immerse yourself in nature or soak up Spain’s rich history by strolling through historic neighbourhoods take a look at these inspiring day trips from Madrid Built in the 16th century by King Philip II Put aside some time to explore the town itself or take the Madrid commuter train from Atocha the area also offers visitors the chance to hike through serene scenery Buses can take up to an hour and run regularly from the Castellana-Hospital La Paz stop © Victor Carretero Barbero / Getty Images View Cercedilla Tours When the heat of the city gets to be too much take the Línea de Cercanías C8B 50km (31mi) north to Cercedilla Surrounded by mountains and easy-to-follow hiking trails the area has routes that range from easy strolls to epic five-hour treks Try the yellow trail up to the Collado Ventoso It’s here that you’ll also find the Tren de la Naturaleza a scenic train journey that runs on a handful of select days through the sierra Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment Mick Haupt / Unsplash View Consuegra Tours Follow in the footsteps of Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes and take a pilgrimage to Consuegra to see the 12 windmills that he famously confused for giants in his 17th-century novel The mills share their perch with the ruins of a 10th-century castle which was the base for the Order of St John during the 12th century head into Consuegra’s tiny town and enjoy a selection of tapas at one of the nearby local cafés The journey to Consuegra can be slightly challenging which take approximately two and a half hours per day that you can book through InterBus Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Dmitry Romanoff / Unsplash View Segovia Tours Situated northwest of Madrid is the ancient city of Segovia The historic architectural site features a UNESCO-listed Roman aqueduct that dates back to AD 81 and is known as one of the best extant examples of Roman architecture in Spain you will also find the impressive 16th-century Gothic-style Segovia Cathedral and a Medieval alcázar Foodies should make a beeline for Mesón de Cándido a popular family-run restaurant with views over the aqueduct the cochinillo asado – a local speciality of roast suckling pig with train trips taking only 30 minutes and leaving from Madrid Chamartín station regularly Taisia Karaseva / Unsplash View Seville Tours Take the train two and a half hours south of Madrid A visit to the Alcázar of Seville – an ornately tiled Moorish palace – is worth the trip alone The alcázar is famous for being one of the best examples of Mudejar architecture existing today in Spain Combine this with a 26-metre-high (85-foot-high) walk along the Metropol Parasol (the world’s largest wooden structure) and a bite to eat at Mercado de Feria (Seville’s indoor food market) and you’ve got yourself one perfect day trip Victoria Poveda / Unsplash View Alcala de Henares Tours Explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Alcalá de Henares a quaint Medieval city located next to Spain’s Henares River As the city is famous for being the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes literary fans can get a fascinating insight into the 16th- and 17th-century writer’s childhood home which is now the Museo Casa Natal de Cervantes Keep an eye out for white storks roosting on rooftops from mid-October to early August too – Alcalá de Henares is famous for them Bravo Soler / Getty Images Only a short one-and-a-half-hour drive north from Madrid you will find the ancient forest of Hayedo de Montejo Part of the Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve this hidden forest attracts 25,000 nature-loving tourists per year who all come to see its renowned beech trees the number of people allowed to visit each day is restricted See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer Guides & Tips How to Attend a Bullfight in Spain Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December Food & Drink The 5 Best Food Markets in Madrid Architecture Spain’s Most Impressive Bullrings See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November Guides & Tips How to Spend the Perfect 24 Hours in Santander See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September Art 10 Madrid Galleries for Contemporary Art Lovers US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd. 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The study examines more than 100 major cities where climate patterns have dramatically changed over the past four decades "I assumed dry places were getting drier and wet places wetter but the most surprising thing to me was that many cities are experiencing a complete change in what they were used to managing," Katherine Nightingale WaterAid's global international affairs director and the Saudi cities of Riyadh and Jeddah — once prone to floods — now struggle with drought.  Meanwhile traditionally dry cities in India, Colombia, Nigeria and Pakistan are now likely to experience flooding.  "Infrastructure that was designed and built at a time when these were dry cities are now having to deal with this idea that these are now flood-prone cities," Nightingale said All but two of the 20 cities most affected by increasing floods are in Asia— half of them in India Europe, North Africa and the Middle East are experiencing the greatest drying trend.  the United States and East Africa are most at risk from a climate whiplash — meaning that they must deal with both increased wetness and dryness And that's especially hard to handle.  while floods destroy toilets and sanitation systems and contaminate drinking water," Nightingale said Such breakdowns in water, sanitation and hygiene services are often felt most by vulnerable communities through impacts on health, education and livelihoods that can push them deeper into poverty.   Nightingale said it was vital to "map who's most at risk and work with these communities on the front lines."   That's exactly what Pakistan's first female architect She has found creative and inexpensive ways to protect the most vulnerable people against flooding among the 10 most at risk from a combination of intensifying climate hazards and the high vulnerability of its communities As many as half of its 20 million people live in slums.  In an effort to make the city more resistant to floods, Lari made use of terracotta — drawing on Pakistan's rich craft traditions "I'm surprised it's not used more because it's a wonderful material She added that it also "helps cool down the air." Lari has replaced impermeable asphalt surfaces with terracotta tiles installed stormwater wells and planted native trees along streets to absorb rainwater and reduce heat Her work has already cooled streets by 10 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) and prevented flooding "In a very complex environment such as our urban centers it's very difficult to take up a whole area and revamp it," Lari said "but it's possible to take sort of neighborhood enclaves which are then flood-free and free of any kind of heat islands."  which affected 33 million people and left Karachi underwater the only dry street was the one Lari had already revamped Lari didn't just want to flood-proof streets — a process in which she involves residents — but has also set out to create inexpensive flood-resilient housing "We don't have to go for big ambitious space schemes," she said Having experimented with sustainable low-cost materials she has come up with a simple bamboo hut that costs just $87 (€80) — one-tenth the price of a cement house in Pakistan — and is resilient in the face of floods and earthquakes.  "I never thought bamboo was worth looking at I just use bamboo now," Lari said.  The plant's natural flexibility allows it to bend rather than break under pressure It also grows rapidly — some species over a meter per day — and is easy to replant She sees potential for bamboo housing in cities worldwide the southern African country of Zambia struggles with droughts that disrupt access to water sanitation and electricity — affecting low-income communities most severely.  The country relies on hydroelectric power, which is also used to supply the population with clean water But when scarce rainfall causes levels to drop it results in power shortages and limited access to clean water Stagnant water during drought can also become a breeding ground for disease "2024 saw the worst cholera outbreak that the country has ever experienced," said Yankho Mataya WaterAid's country director in Zambia.  She said the spread of the disease was closely linked to the water supply and that the capital was identified as the "epicenter" of the outbreak.  WaterAid helped residents of Sylvia Masebo by installing solar panels to generate the electricity needed to pump water collected in tanks "When production of water supply from the utility company was low due to the electricity crisis triggered by the next drought this community continued to enjoy full access to safe drinking water," Mataya said Applying such solutions on a broader level requires funding that Mataya says is slow in coming we're not seeing as much public investment and instead a significant dependency on external funding," she said.  Nightingale stresses the need for government plans and investment to be specifically targeting the most vulnerable communities but they require effort and commitment," she said "Our data shows that this is a global issue Cites on every continent and in every corner of the world are affected we all need to act now and work together to make cities more resilient." Lari also advocates for working together She believes change can happen if people are encouraged to participate in bringing it about.  Durango Devo is hosting the 2023 Vuelta a España winner Sepp Kuss in a celebration of his incredible ride in Spain a Durango native and alumn of the Devo team will be there to give a speech and meet his fans As well as the speech from both the Jumbo-Visma rider and other guests He is a great example of what makes Durango Devo and the Durango cycling community special,” Levi Kurlander “We are honored to host the Vuelta a España champion and Tour de France stage winner and celebrate his achievements in his hometown.” Sepp Kuss is the second American Vuelta a España champion The Sepp Kuss homecoming celebration takes place during Spoketober a month of bike-themed events during the entire month of October and is dedicated to bringing out the potential of the next crop of cyclists Sepp Kuss chugged his victory wine like an absolute legend Kuss shocked the cycling world with his first-ever Grand Tour in September after a career spent as a super domestique After an early break gave him some a sizable gap Jumbo-Visma found themselves with a surprise leader given that they have two of the best riders in the world with Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič It wasn’t an entirely smooth win for the American as there were some apparent grumblings within the team it was sorted out and the Dane and Slovenian would ride for the American For more information, check out DurangoDevo.com Get the digital edition of Canadian Cycling Magazine Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Be one of the first to try our new activity feed pretty sunsets and endorphin-pumping summits do the trick But we’ve also found plenty more surprising moments of wonder and delight Ask Outside editors what brings them joy, and a few reliable standbys always pop up: dogs, running, surfing, skiing, traveling or painful outdoor memories to ask ourselves: why does nature make us happy unplanned moments of joy from our past adventures worth sharing One son was studying in Madrid for a semester; the other was still in high school we all took a bus north to Manzanares el Real where a hike led up to the dome of the mountain above town They are bowhunters and think bushwhacking is normal Hours later the boulderfields and thickets had gotten denser and denser My new light puffy was snagged full of thorns around and through the interlocked boulders saw a hold above and said he was going to lunge for it He shouted something so awful to us I had to pretend not to hear it I kept working toward a shoulder where we thought the trail was worried sick a rock would teeter onto one of us I heard my husband, Mike’s, voice, and called, “Did you find it?” He said gruffly: “No.” I crawled out to find all three standing on a smooth, wide gravel path, lined with round white marker stones, laughing. Joy, followed by wrath. —Alison Osius After a long hike dusty hike through Mount Hood Oregon in August there was one thing I was looking forward to above everything else a crisp beverage or an ice cream would have been nice but the euphoric feeling of taking my hiking boots (which are exceptionally comfortable) off and sliding on my rubber Arizona Birkenstocks was enough to make me double the pace on the way back yet undeniably satisfying about seeing a subtle ring of dirt around the ankle as one exchanges a hefty boot for a rubber sandal that is unparalleled I like to keep my hiking socks on with my sandal especially as the evening cool creeps in (as it did in the late August air of Government Camp) Next time you’re out on a hike don’t think too hard about how to reward yourself after a hard day: the answer is probably sitting in the passenger seat of your car When my three kids were young and we went hiking and backpacking “We’re halfway.” I said we were halfway regardless of where we actually were on the journey Whether we had just left the trailhead or were minutes from our destination the answer was always “halfway.” I figured they would catch on eventually and be motivated to learn how to read a map but it did nudge them toward paying a little more attention to our route Fast forward a few years. We were on a family backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon and leapfrogged with them as we all hiked out the Bright Angel Trail the next day and we frequently took rest breaks together the canyon wall is so steep that it’s hard to see the rim and thus hard to know how close you are to the end and had been tracking our progress; he didn’t have to ask to know we were near the top We were resting on some trailside rocks when the older couple pulled up for a break as well They were both carrying big packs and the gray-haired man put his down with a sigh Milo didn’t hesitate. “We’re about halfway,” he said, deadpan. The older hiker looked devastated. I should have felt bad for him. I should have told him not to worry, that it was just a family joke. But I couldn’t say anything for a moment. I was too filled with the joy only a proud parent knows. —Dennis Lewon and tech with access to unlimited digital content from Outside Network's iconic brands Originally this river was regarded as a branch of the Guadarrama possibly derived from the Arabic وادي الرمل Wad-al-Raml An alternative theory suggests it as a corruption of the Latin aquae dīrāma or “diverging waters.” This branch is a tributary of the Tagus emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at Lisbon The Segovia Bridge and later the Toledo Bridge on the Manzanares demonstrate the architecture of an empire The river became an afterthought and easily provided a path for a highway Following the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, the kingdom transitioned to a democracy and sought to attract tourists to the millennium-old city. Unlike Barcelona and Valencia, it did not have a seashore, located deep in the country’s interior. The Manzanares offered potential to give Madrid a waterfront of fountains, urban beaches, playgrounds and trails. The Madrid Río project was born Where the highway ran there are now trails and trees. Below the park is the longest urban highway tunnel in Europe. Boston’s Big Dig can be compared to it sunken highway and linear park on the surface Where there were historic crossings such as Segovia Bridge the park’s designers created vistas of arches from below giving residents an appreciation of what their ancestors built nearly 500 years earlier most of the funds going to the highway tunnel beneath the park New York Times reports on volunteers in Rome cleaning up the Tiber River American Public Media‘s Rob Schmitz reports on China’s program that encourages citizens to report pollution in urban rivers through an app Richmond Times-Dispatch reports on the restoration of Reedy Creek on the south side of Virginia’s capital city From its start last December, I have followed a weekly schedule of articles that included out of town Mondays, cited books on Wednesdays and a historical photo of the week each Friday Not too long ago, I applied for a media relations position which I did not receive on account of insufficient experience I cannot do this alone. Throughout the world there are hidden urban streams whose stories are worth sharing. Send me a photo or video of a stream and I will do my best to research its history. You can share it with me by email, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn That’s “Swan Lake” above I don’t know anything about it and my Arabic literacy is nonexistent Sergey Kadinsky is an analyst at the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and an adjunct professor of history at Touro College He is a licensed tour guide who paid his way through college atop the double-decker Gray Line buses Even though Castile’s name is thought to mean land of castles, the lack of care has prompted little in the way of public debate. Now a report published by El Confidencial, an online newspaper, hopes to shame the authorities into action and stoke popular indignation. It aims to map all of Spain’s castles for the first time and highlight those that are in imminent danger of collapse. “We know that Spain is full of castles, but we do not know how many there are. There is not even a complete inventory. To this extent, a heritage that was largely built A sumptuous burgundy-red Mercedes Benz 250 CE drives up the road connecting Arroyo de la Miel with the village of Benalmádena niece of silent film star Mary Pickford and daughter of Lottie Pickford also an actress until her early death from alcoholism in 1939 at the age of 43 young Gwynne was adopted first by her grandmother Charlotte and then by her famous aunt the film production company United Artists (UA) Mary Pickford retired from film in 1933 after one Oscar and more than 200 films She was still a great female public figure but the films had become too small for her She devoted her time to the UA business until 1965 when she retired to her mansion was to the Costa del Sol with her third husband Charles 'Bud' Rogers Fast-forward to that same Costa del Sol where that red Mercedes engine is roaring in the 1970s To any local resident the scene might remind them of a 007 film his life is only understood through the silver screen Broccoli and Harry Saltzman looking for the lead in a new spy movie "As they watched from the first-floor window as Sean Connery arrogantly crossed the street the producers and Ornstein were convinced they had found their James Bond," says Connery biographer André Yule James Bond pitching against Dr No was an unexpected blockbuster and the start of the indefatigable 007 franchise The Mercedes arrives at the bridge at Arroyo Hondo and drives into a hidden luxury residential estate called Rancho Domingo He and his nine siblings lived with their parents in Viñas Viejas a farmhouse that adjoined this estate built by Simon and Maurice Beriro (also responsible for the Tropicana Hotel in Torremolinos) "It was called Rancho Domingo because Simon turned up one Sunday afternoon on a sightseeing tour with his wife I introduced him to my father and he took him to the owners He bought the land for five million pesetas." What was once a field became a 22-hectare luxury residential complex with 27 detached family homes designed by the architect Robert Mosher It has not been easy to speak to anyone in the Ornstein-Pickford family to confirm how they ended up in Rancho Domingo "My father's favourite song was 'Viva España'," says the eldest She confirms her parents' friendship with the Beriro family Yet the relationship with Spain began in 1953 when Bud was appointed to head up United Artists in Spain and the family moved to Barcelona where they settled in a luxurious apartment on the Diagonal "I remember there were always movie scripts on the floor," says Suzy "My mother was the sweetest woman in the world and the most beautiful My father was very correct and very strict." At the beginning of the 1950s the Franco regime in Spain blocked the profits of the major Hollywood studios from leaving Spain when they were filmed in the country as well as those of other American companies "Spain lacked dollars," explains CSIC (Spain's national scientific research council) researcher Pablo León Aguinaga a reality "very similar to that of much of Western Europe after the Second World War." Despite several approaches from the Spanish government of the time which had grouped together under the Motion Picture Export Association of America Inc (MPEA not a single film was exported to Spain," says Aguinaga It was in this context that Ornstein seized the opportunity "United Artists began to produce films in Spain despite the boycott," Aguinaga explains using "those blocked funds" in a similar way to what was being done in countries such as the United Kingdom and Italy "Basically what they are doing is using the profits in pesetas to produce here," something that not only helped to "make much cheaper films with high quality professionals and with different storylines," but also to bring a large number of Hollywood stars to Spain in the 1950s it was Ornstein who was the first to make a major Hollywood film production on Spanish soil directed by Robert Rossen and with Richard Burton in the lead role The film was shot in 1955 in the Madrid towns of El Vellón aware that it was "exploiting an internal division within Hollywood," in Aguinaga's words allowed units of the National Police and the Army to participate as extras in the most epic scenes as shown in a photo by EFE taken on 19 February 1955 at the Sevilla Film Studios in Madrid: next to Ornstein is the dictator's daughter enjoying a cocktail in the middle of filming In that little paradise called Rancho Domingo the Mercedes comes to a stop just outside the entrance to a village that was the same name of the natural gorge where the Pickfair mansion stood The only remains of their past in a place where Gwynne and Bud had decided to retire in their early fifties away from all the glitz and glamour of the silver screen who recalls that "they were very polite and good people And she spoke perfect Spanish but he never spoke a single word." When Jesús Peinado got married in the church of San José Obrero in the parish of Carranque the Ornstein-Pickfords did more than attend his wedding "He lent me his Mercedes with his son as chauffeur," he says gratefully Bud had parked at Madrid's Barajas airport ready to pick up Sophia Loren whom he brought over to film The Pride and the Passion by director Stanley Kramer with locations in Madrid This was another co-production between UA and Spain's CB Films with Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra also in the cast Bud arranged a reception for the Italian actress at his Barcelona mansion "She came to our apartment and was tired," Suzy recalls "so my father said 'you can lie on my son Johnny's bed' opened his bedroom door and found Sophia asleep." Ornstein was also a great host to Kirk Douglas In July 1958 he accompanied him to present The Vikings a film again distributed by UA and in Spain by CB Films Bud would begin production on Spanish soil of Solomon and Sheba directed by King Vidor In 1960 Bud was promoted as head of all UA productions in England and in Europe Before leaving Spain he was awarded the Order of Civil Merit by Franco while her father oversaw the production of the first two Beatles films childhood friend of Paul McCartney and George Harrison and the band's road manager By then Ornstein had left United Artists to become vice-president of Paramount in charge of European production Bud would normally spend a few hours tending his garden with Román Peinado He liked to have a conversation with my brother just a little bit of Spanish." "My father was very involved in the garden," Suzy admits Benalmádena in those days was nothing like it is today a park and only one restaurant." Suzy explains "I would arrive with my children and the first thing was to go to Fuengirola to do a bit of shopping In 1972 the Benalmádena Auteur Film Week (SICAB) paid tribute to Mary Pickford with the screening of seven of her films if not essential to the success of that event A memo dated 19 October of that year states that the film producer would be one of the actress's representatives at the tribute The Ornstein-Pickford link with this Costa del Sol location continues with Gwendy daughter of John Ornstein and his Spanish wife it's my favourite place in the world," she says Her parents met during the filming of Villa Cabalga Filmed between Colmenar Viejo (Madrid) and El Casar de Talamanca (Guadalajara) in 1967 and released a year later it was a Paramount co-production directed by Buzz Kulik with a script by Sam Peckinpah and a spectacular A-list cast: Robert Mitchum Gwendy was always aware of the weight of the Pickford name "I've held Mary Pickford's Oscar in my hand When I was 17 they took me to the Pickfair mansion It even had a bomb-proof cellar and everything." Bud was still itching to get back into the film world: "He used to go back to England to see if he could join EON Productions In 1976 the Ornsteins decided to return to the United States "it was good for my mother to go back to Los Angeles where she had her friends Shortly after returning to the States in 1978 'Bud' Ornstein died in Los Angeles at the age of 60 after complications from a relatively minor operation would pass away at the Pickfair home while her Gwynne would die in 1984 at the age of 68 With them a once-in-a-lifetime era of cinema and of the Costa del Sol came to an end would say in Billy Wilder's classic Sunset Boulevard: "You see and those wonderful people out there in the dark." Comentar es una ventaja exclusiva para registrados whale is now making waves in Spanish capital Madrid awoke on Friday morning to find that a 15-metre sperm whale had managed to swim up the Manzanares River before coming to an abrupt halt by the arches of the city’s oldest bridge The intrepid mammal turned out to be the hyper-real model – previously sighted as far afield as London Paris and Antwerp – that a Belgian art collective is using to shock people into thinking about the environment comes complete with a team of actors dressed as rescuers Captain Boomer, the collective behind the work, said it was aiming for something a little more primordial: “A dumb question from the sea to man. A riddle from the deep … The beached whale is a gigantic metaphor for the disruption of our ecological system. People feel their bond with nature is disturbed. The game between fiction and reality reinforces this feeling of disturbance.” Madrileños appeared to be taking the cetacean incursion as a badge of honour. One tongue-in-cheek Twitter user regarded its arrival as further proof of the capital’s excellent water. “A sperm whale has come to die in the Manzanares,” they wrote. “WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED?” In this first of a two-part interview, Txikon discusses his K2 expedition, the application of old ideas and new technology to winter climbing, and the awkward coexistence among Base Camp neighbors. During the expedition, the worldwide climbing community wondered why the two teams pursuing the coveted goal didn’t join forces and thus increase their chances. The truth is that a Cold War of sorts rampaged in that frozen Karakorum Base Camp. Bundled against the wind, Alex Txikon makes a last-minute summit push. Photo: Alex Txikon Let’s start from the beginning. Why K2 in the first place, instead of giving Everest a third try? How was it that five climbers from Nepal came with your team? Because I have worked with them on our two previous attempts on winter Everest. They showed their proficiency as high altitude climbers in winter conditions, and we’ve become good friends. Sherpa climbers at K2 Base Camp. Photo: Alex Txikon Did everyone in your team fulfill expectations? I guess daily life in such a cold place must be difficult. Yeah, Base Camp is hard. We had our tough moments, especially with organizational tasks, but mainly things were harmonious under difficult circumstances. Speaking of Base Camp, tell us about your neighbors, the Russian exp… [Interrupting] Oh, horrible. I am bitterly disappointed. They have discredited the former Soviet Climbing School. I’ve climbed with remarkable men such as Denis Urubko, Nikolai Tomyiamin, Valery Babanov, Sergei Bogomolov, Alexei Bolotov and so many others, and this group has been totally something else. With so little fixed rope, how did they climb? Often by clipping onto old ropes from previous seasons. Of course, they also used our ropes when we were not nearby. This was easy to check from their footprints and the tension on the ropes when we observed them from below. That is not surprising; in fact, it’s the logical choice if you value your life. But some of the old ropes they clipped onto were totally peeled off. That was dangerous, reckless and, well, crazy. Alex Txikon displays the climbing notes from winter K2, showing each pitch and the ropes fixed by each team. On the left, solo cuerda nuestra (“only our rope”) is visible. Photo: Antonio Fernández Eastern team leader Vassiliy Pivtsov on K2. Photo: RussianClimb There were three Polish climbers on your team. Shouldn’t they have joined the Eastern Europeans? Yes, that was their first option. But Braun’s expedition asked them for an outrageous amount of money to join. That is why they went with us. I am sad. What should have been a golden opportunity to join forces and show the brightest side of alpinism resulted in a very stressful situation which benefited no one. Okay, let’s focus on your own expedition. There’s been a lot of talk about your igloos in BC and your drones. Did these work out well? We also built a wall when a gale from the south was forecast. A member of the team had some knowledge of architecture and convinced us. I was not totally sure what I was doing building walls instead of climbing, but it actually proved a great way to spend time when the gale came. Artem’s team had two tents flattened, while our mess tent was unharmed. As for the drones, we had two Mavic Pro and one Phantom, which we modified to increase their altitude range. Batteries are still a problem, though. Although we kept them inside our down jackets, they only lasted a few minutes. Worst of all, a drone falls when it runs out of power. As a result, we lost one during the rescue operation on Nanga. What do you think was your best idea for future winter 8000’ers? Our greatest contribution — and my biggest surprise — was the small, portable weather station. We proved the amazing inaccuracy of the usual multi-model weather apps. In future, I would like to carry these portable stations to higher camps. They may prove a revolutionary tool for summit pushes and presenting options. Alex Txikon explains the use of igloos during a presentation. Photo: Angela Benavides You left Base Camp and went to Nanga Parbat to search for Daniele Nardi and Tom Ballard. [Ed: Txikon will cover the full rescue operation in the second part of his interview.] Most outside observers took for granted that, once back at K2, you would just go home, especially after the Russians gave up and left. But you stayed and launched a summit push. Yes, we returned to BC on March 10. Soon after, we started up, loaded with rope and willing to climb as far as possible. After the sad experience of finding Tom and Daniele, with your team now alone on the mountain, weren’t you afraid? How do you manage fear? Well, in fact, we were not afraid, but actually rather calm. It was quiet up there. We were free to move up at our own pace, with no other team to deal with, no one stopping us from progressing. We knew the route well and we climbed on the good rope that we had just fixed. I never felt the pressing sense of fear that you feel, for example, when crossing the Khumbu Icefall on Everest. When you reached Camp 3, did you really think you had a chance to make the summit? I knew that the top was virtually out of reach, mostly because the team had been losing members: Geljen first, and then Halung in Camp 2. There were only three of us, which meant that we had to carry two coils of rope each and fix while we climbed. We stopped for the night at about 6,950m. Above that point, we fixed eight more pitches, enough to climb the entire Pyramid, up to about 7,200m. Then we decided it was not safe to continue, so we turned around. Alex Txikon at Camp 2 on K2. Photo: Alex Txikon Yes, I would very much like to. But not if I am going to face harsh competitiveness, hostility and constant quarreling with other teams. I want to recall the stunning views and the intense climbing. If I find funding, sure, why not? I do not think I’ll do many more winter expeditions. My fingers are still numb two weeks after returning!  Besides, winter expeditions are so long and expensive that I spend most of the year fundraising (mainly by lecturing) and on organizing the expedition. There’s so much I could climb during that time! When you return, what will you do differently? Honestly, I will not start so early. The weather is very bad, relentlessly windy in February. Summit time is March, I am sure of that, so why start on the first of January? I’ve also learnt that there is no such need for several partial trips or nights in Camp 3. We just had one night in Camp 2 and it was enough. We were good for the summit push. So all I would need is to set up a camp, fix ropes up to Camp 2, then wait for the right time to launch a summit bid. During the expedition this year, February was so windy that we repeated our old Everest strategy and climbed at night. It is extremely cold, but winds tend to drop in the early hours. This tactic works up to Camp 2, if you can manage to do everything with your mitts on. What about the route? You checked the eastern side but then discarded it. I will go up the Abruzzi, for sure. The Cesen route is not good in winter, and the East face is too exposed. The only other option would be the north side, but trying to get a permit is so difficult that it is not worth the struggle. Wielicki’s Polish expedition is preparing for winter K2 next year. Could that be a problem? And you – would you climb with Urubko? Or maybe Simone Moro? Or Adam Bielecki? ExWeb reporter Angela Benavides interviews Alex Txikon during a mountain film festival near Madrid. Photo: Antonio Fernández Anyway, whoever attempts K2 next winter  — what will they need to succeed? They need to be a perfectly coordinated, harmonious team. They need a sound budget. A smart strategy. And all the data they can gather. Up there, any unexpected factor can kill you, so there have to be no unexpected factors left. And they need to be fast. Messner said that a fast team could cover the route from ABC to C3 in eight hours, and he was right. If that is done, one may fix and climb to C4, and then — go for it. Alex Txikon’s team on the final summit attempt in mid-March. Sign up to receive ExplorersWeb content direct to your inbox once a week. adding to teammates Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic's previous 2023 successes with the trio poised to round out the La Vuelta podium.TOPSHOT - Team Jumbo-Visma's US rider Sepp Kuss wearing the overall leader jersey (C) celebrates with Team Jumbo-Visma's Danish rider Jonas Vingegaard (L) and Team Jumbo's Slovenian rider Primoz Roglic as he crosses the finish line of the stage 20 of the 2023 La Vuelta cycling tour of Spain a 207,8 km race between Manzanares el Real and Guadarrama (Photo by Oscar DEL POZO / AFP) (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images) Source: AFP / OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images Full Replay: Stage 20 - La Vuelta a Espana 2023 Daily Highlights: Stage 20 - La Vuelta a Espana 2023 Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España.Get the latest with our sport podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.Watch on SBS SportSport News In addition to supplying water to the region and being an energy resource the reservoirs that were built mostly during the last century are part of Madrid's leisure You will rarely hear it referred to as a reservoir the popular San Juan reservoir has every reason to be the most crowded beach in Madrid Just 50 km from the capital is the San Juan reservoir a classic of Madrid summers and water sports It has two main recreational zones: the Virgen de la Nueva beach 📍 71 kilometers from the center of Madrid In the foothills of the Sierra de Gredos is the Picadas reservoir 92 hectares that were raised above the Alberche River in 1952 together with the adjacent San Juan reservoir one of the most frequented during the summer although this reservoir has no swimming area, is navigable narrow reservoir where you can go on the Verde bike path and kayak tours The best way to start the adventure either by land or water is in the parking area where there are several companies that rent canoes 📍 60 kilometers from the center of Madrid The Atazar reservoir is the largest in the Community of Madrid it alone represents 46% of the region’ s dammed water volume It is also known for its enormous size as ‘the sea of Madrid’ It has been part of the Canal de Isabel II since its creation and is surrounded by the so-called Mancomunidad del Embalse del Atazar which includes such distinguished towns as El Berrueco Puentes Viejas and El Villar reservoirs also belong to this basin The landscape is especially attractive because of the lithography of the terrain composed of slate which is commonly seen applied in the architecture of the Zone as well as the oak and holm oak trees that complete the landscape small boats are also allowed to enter here The water route has the added attraction of being able to cross under the bridge of the El Villar Canal and watch the walls colonized by birds of prey from up close 📍 76 kilometers from the center of Madrid The Valmayor reservoir is the second largest in the Community in terms of the amount of water stored and it is the Aulencia river that makes this possible Water activities are allowed -although in the early 2000s they were banned due to alleged crocodile sightings and brought fame to the reservoir- but there is no nautical club that carries out activities in the reservoir It is located in the northwest of the Community of Madrid within the Regional Park of the Middle Course of the Guadarrama covering the municipalities of: Valdemorillo Two other smaller reservoirs are located in the same basin of the Guadarrama River: La Jarosa and Los Arroyos 📍 40 kilometers from the center of Madrid The Santillana reservoir is perhaps less well known than the previous ones and the only one on the list that belongs to the basin of the Manzanares River – yes the same one that flows through the capital from which the Navacerrada and El Pardo reservoirs also drink (which cannot be accessed) It belongs to two municipalities: Manzanares el Real the town that has one of the best preserved medieval castles in Madrid The dam that creates this large artificial water reservoir was completed in 1907 with King Alfonso XIII laying the last stone and financed and operated by Joaquín de Arteaga y Echagüe when it became part of the Canal de Isabel II to supply water to the capital 📍 53 kilometers from the center of Madrid the terraces are filled and it is the only month of heat in which Madrid has life Now that we have caught your attention… yes The SGAE presents the free exhibition Urban music pop and high culture inside its headquarters: the modernist palace of Longoria “celebrates the talent of those figures who are leading the greatest cultural revolution of the 21st century” from Rosalía ‘s robe from the Motomami World Tour to Quevedo ‘s university-style jackets or the top worn by La Zowi during her tour La Reina del Sur made with Spanish coins from 1937 Bad Gyal ‘s pink jacket from the Blin Blin videoclip or the original painting of C the reading of the proclamation from Pedro Zerolo square the heel race down Pelayo street… and June is synonymous with Pride and Madrid the queen that every year proposes new ways to celebrate freedom With the programming of this year 2024 still to be closed we already know two of the key dates of this great celebration (and claim): on June 28 the proclamation will be held; the demonstration the theme will revolve around sport and its connection with literature a leitmotiv that will be reflected in the presentations talks… and in the presence of organizations such as the Spanish Olympic and Paralympic Committees publishers and bookstores will display all their charms in Madrid the musical furor in the shade of the trees of the Royal Botanical Garden Alfonso XIII Noches del Botánico will prescribe a good dose of nature and live music with performances this month by Sen Senra this cultural center dedicates several days to contemporary music: “Between bets and consolidated names the DEMM 2024 wants to offer an enjoyable and thoughtful tour of the music that moves us today but we also have our sights set on the music lovers of the future and two special events will be offered for the little ones,” says the organization itself The concert program will be announced on June 4 An exhibition at the Thyssen-Bornemisza dedicated to the figurative painter Rosario de Velasco that brings together some thirty works including paintings “It aims to rediscover and highlight the work of one of the great artists of Spanish art in the first half of the 20th century,” the museum says one of the curators of the exhibition is her granddaughter The Royal Collections Gallery celebrates one year since its opening decorative and historical pieces that Spanish monarchs have collected from the Catholic Monarchs to the 21st century the carnation in the hair and the feeling of neighborliness are unbeatable June is the start of the festivities in several neighborhoods such as Aluche (in fact Moratalaz… June is what happens while we dance from verbena to verbena reflective exhibition on the imprint of colonial power in the iconography of the Thyssen-Bornemisza‘s works delves into the stories that are not seen on the canvases about the struggle for civil rights and all its tentacles (enslaved labor the municipal swimming pools are alive and kicking for yet another summer season they will open a total of 28 (20 outdoor and 8 indoor with solarium) there are novelties such as the pools of Tetuán the Arganzuela pool will remain closed this summer 2024 Seven dance companies will perform ten shows about movement and music: from flamenco to contemporary this fourth edition of Danza en la Villa will take place in the Guirau and Jardiel Poncela halls of the Fernán Gómez as well as including activities such as workshops and a modern dance masterclass the Centro de Interpretación de Nuevo Baztán activates what can already be considered “classic” dramatized visits a way to get to know and recognize this town from a historical point of view There will be two types of themed visits from June 2 and throughout the summer:“Between factories and palaces: a walk through Nuevo Baztán” and the night visits “A romantic sainete with Don Juan de Goyeneche“ To reserve your place (these activities are free) you can call 918736238 or send an email to cinbaztan@madrid.org The CA2M (Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo) in Móstoles starts in June (and until July 4) its Picnic Sessions on the terrace A series of ceremonies that aim to reconnect us with the environment and with ourselves in a sort of artistic rituals Better they explain it in their own words: “we will activate a ceremony in six stations (Breaking Coronation) to break with the ethnographic lenses that burden our bodies spiritualities and creations with exoticizing and simplifying narratives To sanctify ourselves with Caribe pica-pica before crossing the sea with the license of the dead women who renew it with tears every day the chains and the orishas that live there” The festival of African women film directors will be held again this year 2024 at the Sala Berlanga of the SGAE Foundation Organized by the Women for Africa Foundation five films by female directors from Senegal by Senegalese Ramata-Toulaye Sy; The Bride by Rwandan Myriam Uwiragiye Birara; Animalia In the Campo del Moro Gardens (free of charge and during regular opening hours) the work of the National Photography Award winner Javier Vallhonrat will be on display The photographer visited La Granja de San Ildefonso to make a detailed and powerful photographic archive of the engineering of the ornamental fountains on the occasion of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of their creation by Philip V This exhibition is part of a larger three-year project called Cuadernos de Campo in which different photographers will be invited to photograph the natural spaces of the Royal Sites the first retrospective of photographer Iwan Baan arrives in Madrid the growth of the megalopolises that contrast with those other snapshots of traditional and informal architectures The Dutchman has traveled halfway around the world in search of the perfect capture of buildings by architects such as Rem Koolhaas Madrid’s Juan Carlos I Park (and other spots around the city) will be turned into one big gymkhana to celebrate the famous characters from the TV series and Nintendo video game You will be able to access the game only at designated times (from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm in the park experience or from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm in the city experience) and to get it you will have to pay 32 ¤ Cristina Branco and Júlio Resende are the three artists who will represent one of the most nostalgic delicate and sensitive musical genres: Fado This XIV edition aims to commemorate “fado and freedom in the year that marks the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution,” according to the organizers 📍 Caixaforum Madrid and Umusic Hotel Teatro Albéniz This festival is defined as “roots music” and celebrates five years this year 2024 with styles such as flamenco and singer-songwriter music will participate Raúl Rodríguez (who opens the festival accompanied by Martirio Kiko Veneno or Javier Ruibal); followed by Rosario La Tremendita continues with the Galician singer-songwriter Luis Fercán and with the coplas of María Rodés to close the festival Dorantes Music returns to the streets with Piano City Madrid There will be 62 piano concerts that will brighten the streets and neighborhoods of the city performed by veteran pianists and young talents Three days in which Madrid will sound classical music This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Villages that when covered with snowflakes generate unique pictures The northern area of Madrid has the perfect villages for a winter getaway The Madrid region has the virtue that a ten-minute drive (or public transport) is enough to have the feeling of having abandoned all metropolitan logic The altitude of the Sierra can mean that while it is a sunny day on Argumosa street 50 kilometers away the snow has been lying for weeks or months in Navacerrada And as we know the joint notion of snow and mountains can be somewhat ethereal with this article we will tell you what are the best villages in Madrid to enjoy the snow It is just 50 kilometers from Madrid and is perfect for a day trip Patones de Arriba is one of the least claimed jewels of Spanish rural tourism weekend after weekend the parking lots at the entrance of the village are full -advice: get up early if you want to go The stamp of Patones de Arriba is quite peculiar: houses built on the slopes of the mountains black architecture and ovens in the streets the Canal de Isabel II Aqueduct and the Dehesa de la Oliva a site with archaeological remains from the Paleolithic to the Middle Ages the Forest of Finland is spectacular and a visit to the great Monastery of Santa María del Paular (dating from 1390) is a must of the summer due to the low water temperature of the Presillas It is quite feasible that in an objectively subjective way the most beautiful village in the sierra is Buitrago de Lozoya Surrounded by the Lozoya River -from which it takes its name- and declared a National Monument in 1931 Buitrago is the only town in the Community of Madrid that keeps its walls intact It also has a not so well known space which is a museum that houses 60 works of Pablo Picasso all donated to Eugenio Arias and ceded by him to the deputation of Madrid in 1982 Located half a hundred kilometers from the capital the attraction of visiting Cercedilla does not lie exclusively in the village The surroundings are projected as an ideal place for hiking and getting into the rural world from where you can enjoy spectacular views of the National Park Manzanares el Real has a virtue easily remembered by anyone who has visited it: the Castillo de los Mendoza is one of the best preserved castles in Spain It is recognized as the jewel of Madrid’s fortifications and in the words of the Community of Madrid: “one of the jewels not only of Madrid’s military architecture but of all the medieval architecture of the Kingdom of Castile” it is always a good opportunity to rediscover the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial In addition to admiring one of the most beautiful libraries in Madrid it is also a good opportunity to discover the town of El Escorial It has some jewels of the eighteenth century such as the Royal Coliseum of Charles III and the cafe of the same theater If you feel like eating, the town has some of the best restaurants in the sierra Manzanares el Real will celebrate from June 14 to 16 a medieval fair in which there will be craft stalls The town of Manzanariega, known for its emblematic castle of which we spoke to you about in this article will host a medieval fair organized by Arlekin Markets from June 14 to 16 It is precisely this fair who announces its celebration and who highlights on its website:  “the Town Square and the Town Hall Houses are the most important places in Manzanares El Real and form a homely space in which to meet and get to know each other” It will be precisely in the Plaza del Pueblo (where, by the way, some concerts have been held in recent days) Vermouth Session) the place that will host a medieval market that will incorporate craft stalls A circular route that lasts about three hours and is not excessively complicated -unless you want to climb the Chalice or the Cancho for which you would need climbing equipment You don't have to leave the Community to discover landscapes full of green mountains and waterfalls that will clear your mind better than the ASMR La Pedriza Regional Park is one of the most popular areas of the Sierra de Guadarrama and one of the natural parks near Madrid preferred by climbers and hikers They come attracted to this berrocal on weekends for its walls cliffs and crags that make up a unique landscape in the orography of Madrid Although there are many routes of varying difficulty it is important to get information before setting out on the trail especially in the colder seasons of the year In summer it is a good time to cool off with the water of the Manzanares River which runs through one of the most typical enclaves of nature near Madrid where we find this waterfall that nature gives us in Madrid To reach the waterfall you have to walk a very simple path that starts at the Paular Monastery and has a distance of about 6 kilometers On the way you can also enjoy the Arboretum Giner de los Rios which is a deciduous forest that has several species of trees from around the world In the town of Somosierra is located La Chorrera The highest waterfall in the Community of Madrid is just an hour and twenty minutes from the capital Here you can see how the water from the springs of the peaks ends up resurging between the giant rocks is signposted and begins in Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad although there are some historical points to consider such as the Arab Watchtower and the Roman bridge a mandatory stop if you are looking for charming natural places near Madrid The Natural Park of Peñalara is another of the places to visit in Madrid in nature: it houses the highest peak of the Sierra de Guadarrama and a series of lagoons of glacial origin but to enjoy the lagoons you will not have to go through complicated sections two stand out: the Laguna Grande de Peñalara and the Laguna de los Pájaros is the most visited and has the most accessible route of about 6 kilometers round trip which is the best preserved in the Community of Madrid making it one of the most charming natural places near Madrid that will also satisfy those with historical concerns An hour and a quarter from the capital we find this treasure of Madrid’s nature Puerto de Canencia is full of waterfalls and hiking trails but the best known is the Chorrera de Mojonvalle The area is also full of pines and deciduous oaks that help to create this autumnal landscape it is a good opportunity to visit the municipality that gives its name to the port and do some local tourism within Madrid To reach them there are two paths: one short In Rascafría, one of the coldest villages in Madrid poplar and fir trees that has been nicknamed the Finnish forest It has a small pond that helps to create this Scandinavian-looking landscape which is right in front of the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de El Paular The walk along the Lozoya River is simple and has a special charm in every season of the year thanks to the deciduous trees that surround it The Herrería forest surrounds part of the monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial It is well known for one of its routes: that of the chair of Philip II a seat-shaped stone on top of a hill from which the myth says that the king of Spain saw the works of El Escorial The reality is that it is a Vetón altar modified in the last centuries It has an area of 497 hectares and is part of the Natura 2000 Network as a Site of Community Interest and Special Protection Area for Birds The Barrancas de Burujón are an impressive natural site formed by the erosion of water and wind over 25 million years compared to the Grand Canyon of the Colorado make this place an ideal weekend excursion it offers easy and accessible hiking trails with panoramic views that can provoke awe in visitors Although it is only accessible by car or bicycle its proximity to Toledo and its beauty make it a privileged destination always under the premise of taking care of the natural environment El tráfico en Madrid colapsa tras el cierre de la M-30 y la M-40 debido a la crecida del Manzanares El impacto de la borrasca Martinho ha trastocado la normalidad en Madrid donde las lluvias persistentes acumuladas de los últimos días sumado al deshielo en la Sierra de Guadarrama han provocado una crecida sin precedentes del río Manzanares con un desordamiento que podría ser histórico generando una situación crítica que ha obligado a activar protocolos de emergencia para evitar inundaciones masivas en la ciudad El Ayuntamiento de Madrid supervisa durante estos días de cerca el aumento del caudal en los ríos Manzanares y Jarama provocado por el desembalse de la presa del Pardo Se prevé que la presión continúe en ascenso en las próximas horas debido a las precipitaciones previstas en la sierra y al deshielo el Consistorio ha instado a la ciudadanía a extremar la precaución y evitar las zonas no encauzadas del río Manzanares desde Mingorrubio hasta el Puente de los Franceses Emergencias Madrid ha reforzado las medidas de precaución en los tramos no encauzados del río especialmente en el área comprendida entre Mingorrubio y el Puente de los Franceses La combinación de precipitaciones persistentes y desembalses de las presas ha elevado el nivel del agua a cotas preocupantes Hoy el Manzanares baja bien cargado de agua.. las aves han buscado refugio #MadridRio pic.twitter.com/1EnzrOOiIu se han restringido accesos a caminos peatonales y zonas cercanas al cauce mientras drones de la Policía Municipal patrullan el área para evaluar el avance del agua en tiempo real Las autoridades mantienen la vigilancia extrema en este punto crítico de la capital donde la amenaza de desbordamiento es inminente >VER TAMBIÉN: ¿Por qué se desbordan los ríos? Esto es lo que tiene que pasar el Ayuntamiento de Madrid ha ordenado el cierre preventivo del ramal que enlaza la M-30 con la M-40 a la altura del kilómetro 25 que comenzó la noche del miércoles y se prolongó hasta la madrugada del jueves busca evitar incidentes ante una posible anegación de la vía El Manzanares a la altura del Puente de los Franceses. pic.twitter.com/gWeHG3tbf4 El riesgo no se limita a este tramo: la A-6 se encuentra en una situación comprometida con el agua a apenas 80 centímetros de la calzada mientras que en la M-40 el margen se ha reducido peligrosamente a solo 5 centímetros si las precipitaciones continúan con la misma intensidad se produzcan más cortes en otras arterias clave de la capital Cierre preventivo del ramal que enlaza la M-30 con la M-40 a la altura del kilómetro 25 y la A-6 se encuentra en situación comprometida 🚨 Atención #ColmenarViejo📢💦 Aviso de desembalses:🌊 Presa de Pedrezuela: 35 metros cúbicos por segundo🌊Manzanares el Real: 25 metros cúbicos🟡 Además, AEMET establece Aviso Amarillo por lluvias y vientos en la zona de la Sierra de Madrid para hoy jueves y mañana viernes pic.twitter.com/Wc72PaLkfV ha visitado las presas de El Pardo y el Manzanares podría acelerar el incremento del caudal del río Manzanares comprometiendo aún más la estabilidad de los embalses Río #Guadarrama a su paso por #ColladoVillalba pic.twitter.com/VwR8Y4tTIu la Confederación Hidrográfica del Tajo ha intensificado los desembalses en el embalse de El Pardo si bien busca reducir el impacto aguas arriba mantiene en vilo a las zonas más expuestas de la capital La gravedad del temporal ha llevado al Centro de Coordinación Operativa Integrada (Cecopi) a convocar reuniones de emergencia junto a la Agencia de Seguridad y Emergencias de la Comunidad de Madrid (ASEM 112) Las autoridades trabajan contrarreloj en la implementación de estrategias para minimizar los efectos de posibles inundaciones ⬆️ Aumenta el desembalse de El Pardo a 60m³/s en previsión de nuevas precipitaciones y aportes.⚠️La CH Tajo mantiene informado en todo momento al servicio de protección civil y recomienda extremar la precaución en zonas cercanas al cauce. pic.twitter.com/f7fK7KZgoA Se prevé que las próximas horas sean decisivas El jueves por la noche y el viernes podrían ser los momentos más críticos ya que las previsiones apuntan a un recrudecimiento de las precipitaciones y la posibilidad de nieve en las cotas más elevadas de la sierra el riesgo de colapso en la red de embalses aumentaría significativamente Dada la posibilidad de nuevos cortes en la M-30 el Consorcio Regional de Transportes ha reforzado la oferta de transporte público para facilitar la movilidad en la capital Se insta a la ciudadanía a evitar desplazamientos innecesarios y mantenerse informada a través de los canales oficiales para seguir en tiempo real la evolución del temporal Entradas recomendadasmodaL'OFFICIEL abre el primer "L'OFFICIEL COFFEE" en JapónL'OFFICIEL JAPAN abrió su primer café, "L'OFFICIEL COFFEE", en Omotesando, Tokio, el martes 15 de abril de 2025. La actriz y productora de origen mexicano habla de su papel en “Sin sangre” y del profundo vínculo que la une a Angelina Jolie, directora de la película. Su compromiso con la inclusión latina en el cine y la lucha contra la violencia hacia las mujeres. En su nueva novela, la autora da vida a una historia inquietante que invoca la nostalgia tan humanamente compartida. La belleza terrenal y orgánica rememora los aspectos clásicos de la jardinería en preciosas joyas y presenta siluetas fluidas que completan un outfit icónico. Hablamos con los diseñadores Lyudmila y Yuriy acerca de la creación de uno de los talismanes más icónicos en la vida de cualquier mujer, así como del proceso creativo detrás de la magia. Una de las mujeres más dominantes en la industria mundial que continúa marcando tendencia desde su aclamada trayectoria.  Además de ser un secreto maravilloso que se ha mantenido vivo desde la época de los dinosaurios, funcionan como guardaespaldas invisibles, eliminando eficazmente el daño causado por los radicales libres. En una oda al diseño sustentable y a las raíces de la marca, sus diseños lucen detalles rústicos hechos a mano y acentuaciones de terracota, cúrcuma y el azul del cielo. Less than an hour outside Madrid, you can take to the slopes and go skiing or snowboarding at one of two resorts in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range Valdesquí and Puerto de Nevacerrada are both reachable by car or by local commuter train (cercanías) and are a good option for family-friendly snow sports while the Puerto de Navacerrada has a range of beginners and intermediate pistes set among picturesque pine forests Guadarrama National Park (Parque Nacional de Guadarrama) | Kiev.Victor / Shutterstock Hiking When the weather warms up swap your skis for hiking boots and explore the wonderful nature and stunning scenery of the mountains There are hikes to suit all abilities; the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park website is a good resource for planning walks through the mountains with information on the most popular trails As well as people, who have lived in the villages dotted around the mountains for centuries, the Sierra de Guadarrama is home to an array of wildlife and is an excellent place to see some of Spain’s most famous animals The mountains are home to 58 different species of mammal including the Spanish ibex including the Spanish imperial eagle and Eurasian black vulture the Peñalara Natural Park takes its name from the mountain range’s highest peak The area leading up to the peak is awash with beauty Swimming A great way to cool off during Madrid’s scorching summer months is to head up to the mountains for a relaxing soak in a natural pool Las Presillas natural swimming pool in Rascafria is a popular spot with day-trippers from Madrid during the summer (there’s plenty of green space around the pool for a picnic) is the closest to Madrid (reachable by commuter train and bus) Manzanares el Real One of the joys of exploring the mountains surrounding Madrid is stumbling on new towns and villages Manzanares el Real is a popular stop; it has a medieval castle and is a good jumping off point for various hikes The quaint town centre is a great place for some tapas and beers once you’re back from exploring the mountains Manzanares el Real, Spain | David Gabric / Unsplash La Pedriza Close to Manzanares el Real is La Pedriza a group of unusual rock formations on the southern slopes of the Sierra de Guadarrama that are one of the mountain range’s most visited sights It’s a great place for hiking and rock climbing; there are hundreds of rock climbing routes across the granite outcrops El Escorial, España | Hernan Gonzalez / Unsplash Valley of the Fallen, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain | Matteo Del Piano / Unsplash Get adventurous The mountains are a great place to get your adrenaline pumping canyoning or shooting down a zip line through the forest A popular sport in the mountains is cycling – you can download routes and maps from on the Sierra de Guadarrama website David Moreno Hernandez / Shutterstock Spain Trips and Tours Planning a trip to beautiful Spain If you want to experience more the gorgeous landscapes and local cities you’re best off booking onto a multi-day trip to make the most of what Spain has to offer Sports The Most Epic Hiking Trails in Spain's Sierra Nevada © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd Written By: The Planet D Spain Madrid is the glitzy yet industrial Spanish capital. Cutting edge and modern, yet famed for being the royal residence of the Spanish Royal Family, it is a city with one foot in the past and traditional and the other leaping forward with modern developments and forward-thinking attitudes. There are many things to do in Madrid; it is one of the best cities to visit in Spain.  Don’t let that dissuade you from the fabulous Madrid day trips on offer This major city is surrounded by UNESCO World Heritage sites and even the castle that inspired Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle A day trip from Madrid is one of the best ways to better understand Spanish culture and harness a new admiration of the country while enjoying a Madrid city break This guide will cover the best day trips from Madrid inspiring you on amazing one-day trip experiences We love Spain, and we’ve already compiled a Spain travel guide that you can use to plan the Spanish holiday of a lifetime this guide is your bread and butter for the best day trips from Madrid but you don’t need a weekend trip to enjoy these top destinations near Madrid – with just one day you could be heading to a UNESCO World Heritage Site or a stunning mountain range Draw away from Madrid’s Plaza Mayor and enjoy one or more of these top 18 day trips from Madrid Below are some of the top tours for Day Trips from Madrid Don’t forget to plan ahead when visiting Spain If you look at Google Maps, Valencia might look like an ambitious day trip from Madrid. It is one of the most convenient mid-length day trips from Madrid. This is thanks to the high-speed train network that connects the two meaning you can be in Valencia in as little as 2 hours Valencia is the capital of Spain’s Valencia region and While it suffered heavy damage during the Spanish Civil War it remains one of the prettiest and most historic places to visit in Spain for a city break you should see the cathedral (climb to the bell tower) The Royal Palace of Aranjuez is a beautiful day trip destination from the 18th century Just an hour away from Madrid’s city center by public transportation it is one of the easiest yet most rewarding day trips from Madrid The Spanish Royal Family still visits this royal site While it is no longer an official royal residence visitors can tour its interior on set days The Royal Palace is stunning and set within over 100 hectares of manicured gardens and you won’t be surprised to hear it holds UNESCO World Heritage Site status Visiting the Royal Palace of Aranjuez is a fabulous thing to do. Because it is so close to the capital city, you can spend hours exploring the grounds without thinking about rushing back. Jump on a guided tour here Cuenca is a stunning little city and one of the most amazing day trips from Madrid It is famed for its ‘Hanging Houses’ These Hanging Houses are centuries old and hang off the edge of a cliff face The Hanging Houses have wooden balconies and are ridiculously photogenic For traditional architecture with a novelty twist It is a walkable city and the perfect sightseeing day trip from Madrid Madrid to Cuenca is one of the easiest and quickest train trips so we recommend avoiding driving to Cuenca Avila is the capital of its province and is set scenically within medieval city walls With 80 towers and lengthy sections of walkable walls it is beautiful to visit and admire the old town’s medieval layout It gets even more beautiful at night as the city walls are lit up It is one of the best day trips from Madrid if you want somewhere with a really magical atmosphere And you can detour through one of two regional parks We suggest hitting Avila mid-afternoon so that you can wander the walls and enjoy the scenery after dark The journey takes hardly any time when driving You can take as long as you’d like because you aren’t limited to a public transportation schedule Its city walls and ancient architecture make it so popular amongst other visitors Just one hour away from Madrid by car or 35 minutes by train Toledo is one of the best day trips from Madrid if you want an easy journey It is popular because of its proximity to Madrid and fascinating blend of three cultural influences History buffs will love this day trip destination and we just had to add it because of all its history Salamanca is easily one of the best day trips from Madrid firstly the city has tons of Celtic history it has been part of the intellectual movement in Spain since the 15th century The University of Salamanca is one of Spain’s oldest universities and was founded in the 1100s it gives the city a ‘university town’ feel The University of Salamanca attracts plenty of Spanish and international students Salamanca is just one of those Spanish cities that welcomes you with open arms It has a beautiful historic center with attractions like Casa de las Conchas – a beautiful 16th-century Gothic building covered in seashells that is used for exhibitions it also has an easygoing café culture and also great nightlife and there are many attractions to enjoy mooching around If you want one of the least daunting day trips from Madrid Salamanca is one of the most ‘gentle’ day trips to break your teeth on Colmenar Viejo is one of the most religious day trips you can take from Madrid It is a brilliant day trip choice if you are intrigued by religious history There’s a stunning 15th or 16th century-built basilica called the Basilica de la Asuncion de Nuestra Senora you can visit Ermita de Nuestra Senora de los Remedios Colmenar Viejo is somewhere most people overlook and it is predominantly surrounded by cattle farms – even running a traditional cattle migration festival at the start of the year it offers raw and unique insight into rural Spanish culture For those who want to dig deeper than superficial tourist attractions it is one of the best day trips from Madrid Getting to Colmenar Viejo is surprisingly a breeze It is either a half-hour’s journey on the train or a 40-minute drive Distance from Madrid: 30 minutes by train or 40 minutes by car Manzanares de Real is a stunning little town set in the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama which we also mention as a day trip destination in this guide The town is most famous for its beautiful Manzanares El Real Castle The castle is so eye-catching and a leading motivation for people to visit It is decked out in numerous antique furnishings and has an onsite museum Manzanares de Real has a huge artificial lake that fishermen use for carp and pike fishing There are also river beaches just outside its town center making it one of the closest ‘beach’ destinations to Madrid Its centuries-old architecture has indeed fallen into retirement in many cases – its castle is now just a tourist attraction despite its retired heritage sites and laidback atmosphere we’d argue that Siguenza is anything but sleepy The sheer scale of tourist attractions means you’ll have a full day of action if you choose this as one of your day trips from Madrid You can also visit more active attractions outside the city center which has trails linking limestone rock formations and waterfalls Siguenza is out of the way but definitely worth a detour as a day trip destination This is the perfect trip if you fancy beautiful architecture Chinchon is a much more rural day trip from Madrid Its attractions include museums like Museo Etnologico La Posada which preserves traditional farming tools and techniques if you fancy embracing Spanish countryside culture a day trip from Madrid to Chinchon is perfect The square is surrounded by traditional buildings with wooden balconies – a photogenic spot to enjoy a takeout coffee or cooling ice cream Chinchon is popular because it showcases a different pace of life You just can’t get that same experience in metropolitan Madrid so adding it to our guide was a no-brainer Seville might not be one of the most classic day trips from Madrid this will involve around 6 hours of traveling many guided day trips have you on coaches all day Seville is the capital of Andalusia and is widely praised for being the most authentic place to experience Spanish culture you can enjoy things like El Alcazar – the Royal Alcazar of Spain – the beautiful Plaza de Espana and dozens of museums ranging from modern art museums to niche history museums It is easy to see why everyone loves Seville Caceres is a longer distance from Madrid but is so aesthetic that it warrants the drive you’ll head west towards the Portuguese border and have arrived in the beautiful town of Caceres It looks like something straight out of Game of Thrones or some medieval fantasy film and its ancient old town has lingering Gothic and Renaissance architecture You’ll be walking through cobbled streets and in the shadow of looming 12th-century city walls Caceres is easily one of Spain’s most historic cities. The extra journey time is worthwhile if you have multiple drivers on the rental car insurance Set off early and leave as late as possible to maximize your day trip to Caceres Zaragoza is Aragon’s capital and has over 2,000 years of history squeezed into its city center Zaragoza is the perfect day trip for Roman history This is an ideal solution if you want a slice of Roman history without actually visiting Italy We love how many Roman-related attractions you can see in such a small Zaragoza area; it feels like a fantastic way to broaden your sightseeing experience Zaragoza is also known to have delicious cuisine – and who doesn’t love tucking into Spanish food Zaragoza is just 1 and a half hour’s train ride from Madrid much faster than the alternative driving time of over 3.5 hours It was primarily built for its monastery and royal palace It is one of Spain’s most famous royal sites with some small neighborhoods of residential areas around it El Escorial’s Casita del Principe is ideal if you want an alternative to the Royal Palace of Aranjuez You can admire manicured royal gardens and private antique displays of fine arts It is one of the best day trips from Madrid for a royal day out El Escorial is super easy to squeeze into a busy city break itinerary It is a much-loved option for royal sightseeing for those in the know Beautiful Ciudad Real is a hotspot for literary history and architecture You can wander the compact city’s streets easily on foot And when you fancy more of a museum-style experience there’s the Quixote Museum – dedicated to the novel Don Quixote Ciudad Real is a really varied day trip from Madrid it is especially suited to fans of Cervantes’ work Ciudad Real is just an hour away from Madrid by train, so getting there is a breeze. The train is much quicker than driving (which takes 2.5 hours) Stick to the faster and more environmentally friendly option; you’ll be in Ciudad Real in no time This mountain range is a beautiful day from Madrid and you can reach the foothills in just an hour Sierra de Guadarrama is most famous for hiking opportunities but with that comes impressive photo opportunities The mountain range is one hour from Madrid by car so it is easy enough to be a full-day trip including adorable mountain goats and iconic birds like vultures and multiple types of eagles Sierra de Guadarrama is the best choice for a day of immersion in nature It is one of the only day trips from Madrid where you can spot animals like vultures and mountain goats it is hugely popular and deserves a place on our list Alcalá de Henares is the perfect one day trip for anyone looking for noteworthy attractions related to academia and literature The Cervantes Birthplace Museum is where the author of Don Quixote lived and the King of Spain presents a literary prize in Alcalá de Henares every year It is also seen as a university town despite its city status The University of Alcalá is one of the most esteemed Spanish universities set amongst a collection of 16th-century buildings You can reach Alcalá de Henares in just 40 minutes by train from the capital city It is hugely popular as a day trip destination for academics and those with an interest in literature it just offers a different view of Spain than Madrid’s more metropolis-style introduction Segovia attracts the most attention from its Roman aqueducts It is definitely worth visiting as one of your Madrid day trips you can see why history lovers like Segovia so much visitors should also check out the bizarre but beautiful Casa de los Picos The 15th-century building is full of spikes – 617 to be precise It is just one example of how Segovia is weird and wonderful you won’t be more than a half hour’s walk between each attraction Day trips from Madrid are among the best things you can indulge in on your city break Some of these destinations are ideal for an overnight stay if you have the chance but even just a day will open your mind to new experiences Before you head off on your day trips from Madrid The best day trip from Madrid is either the Royal Palace or Toledo These day trips from Madrid offer a lot of history and Toledo has UNESCO World Heritage Site status You can travel to hundreds of places from Madrid. You can access brilliant day trip destinations by hopping on a high-speed train or renting a car a day trip from Madrid to Valencia is easy and you’ll be there in around 2 hours – plenty of time to leave you with a full day of exploring.  One of the best things about day trips from Madrid is the public transport system; it makes day-tripping easy. You could discover the history of the Spanish Civil War or head to see the Hanging Houses, and there will likely be a high-speed train to get you there Madrid is one of the easiest day-tripping cities so make the most of it and maximize your city break with one or more of these trip ideas Looking for some more inspiration ahead of your trip to Spain? We’ve got a guide on the best Spanish dishes to try Make sure you are clued up on the best dishes before heading to Madrid Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly Book Your Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner. We have used them for years and have found that they have the best flight deals Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor. Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO Learn a Language: We recommend and love both Rosetta Stone and Babbel Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it Book Your Activities: Looking for walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more? Then we recommend Get Your Guide. Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling 17 Best Cities in Spain To Visit Right Now 8 Life Lessons from the Camino de Santiago Your Essential Guide: How to Rent a Car in Spain with Confidence Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "ab4190b1551feaf0792f4412a4dac608" );document.getElementById("bb6e812255").setAttribute( "id" and website in this browser for the next time I comment I often have friends drop onto Madrid and to kill 2 birds with one stone do breakfast in Escorial including the visit to the Royal Monastery then do lunch in Segovia visiting the acueducto and walking through Segovia to the Alcazar . all doable an back on Madrid for dinner ( Spanish time ) About Dave and Deb Contact Us Privacy Policy Work With Us Press and Media Best Travel Tips How to Save Money for Travel The Ultimate Travel Packing List Travel Safety Tips How to Travel on a Budget