The best MTB trails around Carrizosa

A very curious place

On one side is the Church of Santo Domingo, built in the 17th century following the principles of the Counter-Reformation. Highlights include the main altar with its Baroque altarpiece featuring Solomonic columns. Above it are interesting frescoes depicting Saint Dominic. Among the side chapels, the Chapel of Souls, founded by the Ballesteros family, the Chapel of Ecce Homo, commissioned by the Duke of San Fernando, and the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, commissioned by the Bustos family, are particularly noteworthy. However, the most visited site is the convent, or rather, the cell where Francisco de Quevedo died in 1645. Quevedo's cell, open to the public, is the exact spot where the writer passed away shortly after arriving in Villanueva, already very ill. Following the confiscation of church property in 1844, the convent was closed, and today part of the building houses cultural events and a hotel. The opening hours and admission prices are as follows: Opening Hours: Monday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Closed Tuesdays. Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Admission: €2 (Reduced: €1).

You absolutely must visit this unique and striking castle. I recommend climbing to the top to enjoy the views from its privileged elevated position and imagining the times when such thick walls were necessary.

The Batana Lagoon Viewpoint is one of the most highly recommended spots within the Ruidera Lakes Natural Park. It's located in the municipality of Ossa de Montiel (Albacete), in the area where Batana Lagoon flows into the Colgada Lagoon, forming natural waterfalls. Surrounded by pine trees and open spaces, it's a perfect place to relax and admire the scenery.

The Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park, located between the provinces of Ciudad Real and Albacete, is one of the most spectacular natural areas in Castilla-La Mancha. It consists of 15 terraced lagoons connected by waterfalls, streams, and springs, forming a unique landscape of turquoise and sapphire-green waters.

A magnificent example of a montane castle, meaning one whose shape adapts exactly to the hill on which it stands. Its most beautiful feature is the main gate, opening into a bend in the wall and built as a reentrant in its uniform circular path. The magnificent ashlar work with which it was built is worth a visit alone, as is the pointed arch between its two strong towers. Erected by a Muslim garrison in the mid-12th century, it was continually conquered and recaptured, and Christians and Arabs alternated possession many times. It came to belong to the Order of Santiago in 1214, a possession confirmed by a papal bull. When the Alhambra district was divided between the Orders of Calatrava and Saint John, it lost its strategic importance and was gradually abandoned. The most curious thing about the castle is that, being mountainous, it never had an external enclosure or barbican, but rather a covered or protected path in its last section by a small wall, which allowed access under protected conditions.

A magnificent example of a mountain castle, that is, one whose shape is exactly adapted to the hill on which it stands. Its most beautiful element is the main gate, opening at a bend in the wall and built as a re-entrant in its homogeneous circular path. The magnificent stonework with which it was built is worth the visit alone, as well as the pointed arch between its two strong towers. Built by a Muslim garrison in the mid-12th century, it was continually conquered and lost, and Christians and Arabs took turns in its possession many times. It came to belong to the Order of Santiago in 1214, possession confirmed by a papal bull. When the Alhambra district was divided between the orders of Calatrava and San Juan, it lost its strategic importance and was gradually abandoned. The most curious thing about the castle is that, because it is a mountain castle, it never had an external enclosure or barbican, but rather a covered or protected path in its last section by a small wall, which allowed access under protected conditions.

The Plaza de España in the municipality of Alhambra, in the province of Ciudad Real, is a central and significant place. Alhambra is a municipality with a rich history, including Roman and Arab influences. The Plaza de España is where the Alhambra Town Hall is located. This municipality is known for its castle, built during the Umayyad rule, and the Church of San Bartolomé Apóstol, which dates back to 1214.