The best MTB trails around Villanueva De La Fuente

CURIOSITIES: Stop for a few minutes in this square. More than a thoroughfare, it is the authentic heart of Salobre. From here, the human scale of the villages in the Sierra de Alcaraz is perfectly perceived, where the square, the fountain, the church, and the town hall continue to form the center of daily life.

The Salobre Town Hall presides over the main square of the town, the true center of the social and administrative life of the municipality. The current building reflects a functional architecture of Manchegan tradition, integrated into the urban environment without large monumental elements. Opposite it is the public fountain in the square, a meeting point for locals and travelers. The main streets of the historic center start from this place, and a good part of the municipality's festive and popular events are celebrated here.

Located in front of the Salobre Town Hall, this fountain is one of the municipality's meeting points and a pleasant resting spot for hikers and cyclists. Its potable water makes it a much-appreciated stop before tackling the climb towards Riópar or after descending from the Sierra de Alcaraz.

CURIOSITY: Salobre is the antechamber of the Natural Park of the Calares del Río Mundo and Sima. From here the road begins to gain height and the landscape becomes increasingly mountainous, preparing the cyclist for one of the most beautiful sections of the province of Albacete: the climb towards Riópar and the spectacular source of the Mundo river.

Ideal place to cool down inside and out, as this terrace is in a privileged spot in the small village of Salobre next to the Town Hall and a fresh water fountain.

Salobre is a small municipality located in the Sierra de Alcaraz region, in a transitional territory between La Mancha and the first pre-Betic mountain ranges. Its name probably comes from the brackish water springs that exist in its vicinity, known since ancient times. The town sits next to the Salobre River, surrounded by pine forests, dehesas, and mountains that announce the proximity of Riópar and the source of the Mundo River.

After the walk, what better way to end the visit to Villanueva de los Infantes than with some Coca-Colas, some cold beers and some tapas in a typical local bar right in the Plaza Mayor, as its name suggests.

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).