The majestic spectacle that supposes Alcala de Henares earned him in 1998 the title of World Heritage City. It was in Kyoto where it was recognized that this was the first city designed and built especially as headquarters of a university.
work of the Cardinal Cisneros , Alcalá would become the prototype of some cities that would later be replicated in half the world. As if this magnificence were not enough per se, his illustrious students would take care of the rest. Because here it would be formed Miguel de Cervantes as well as much of the Spanish Golden Age.
Alcala de Henares, Madrid.
Born for student delight, with its junior and senior colleges, its patios and its elegant streets, Alcala de Henares is the cradle of spanish literature and much more. It is worth visiting the Birthplace of Cervantes as well as the University are two perfect excuses to escape, but also their archeological sites unique, an excellent urban framework medieval with a record street and even a new museum dedicated to motorcycle.
COMPLUTUM: THE ORIGIN OF ALCALÁ DE HENARES
It is shocking to discover that not many people know the vast archaeological complex which welcomes Alcalá on its outskirts. But it's never too late to give a leap of 2,000 years when entering the Roman city of Complutum.
Complutum, Alcala de Henares.
It is estimated that it was 50 hectares which came to encompass this city from which, according to popular opinion, the city would take its name. University of Alcala when moving to Madrid under the name of Complutense.
In constant evolution thanks to the active work of archaeologists, A guided tour (free every Saturday at 10:00 a.m.) allows you to discover the interesting hydraulic infrastructures, baths and remains of the Roman forum, among other jewels, that shine on the ground and that has led to the determination that here They came to live up to 12,000 people.
In the magnificent plains of the Henares River, back in the 1st century BC, At the time of Emperor Augustus, this urban project of straight streets on ordered grids would be built, porticoes, forums, public baths and private houses of refined taste where, above all, the House of Griffins , a stately Roman house with more than 20 rooms and an arcaded patio where it has been discovered the best collection of Roman mural painting in the peninsula.
In addition, whoever wants to continue in these times should not skip a visit to the Regional Archaeological Museum. They are several of Roman mosaics from Complutum those who wait here.
Mosaic of Achilles in Complutum, Alcalá de Henares.
A VERY SPECIAL SCHOOL
About a 15-minute walk from the previous stop, wait another Roman gem: the call House of Hippolytus. That the given name does not lead to error, because this, without a doubt, is The school we all would have liked to go to. After all, here the lessons here were given in hot springs and in the spectacular garden where they met remains of different species , some of them of the most exotic, among them, pelicans.
Dating from the 3rd century AD, this interesting ornate building created as a school for young (wealthy) was discovered in 1989, becoming the first visitable archaeological site region of. Today its entrance is still free and its main attraction is the exceptional mosaic which acted as a central patio.
Because of great dimensions and lofty beauty, there are few more examples in the world of the educational scene that stars a part of the ground: a catalog of marine species that would serve to enlighten young people with Mediterranean fauna. A) Yes, a sea bream, an octopus, a squid and even a sea urchin they have lived, frozen in time, for centuries.
A RECORD STREET
The Roman past dissolves in the center of Alcalá to give it full prominence to the Golden Age. However, in between, it is worth remembering that medieval remains also await in the city. In fact, the Alcalá Medieval and Walls Interpretation Center traces the history of the city when, in the 12th and 13th centuries, it was known as Burgo de Santiuste.
Is this stop a perfect preamble to later enjoy the medieval testimonies that are still standing, such as the Archbishop's Palace, the Cathedral or the busy Main Street; which, by the way, can boast of being the second longest arcaded street in Europe.
After the Italian city of Bologna, this magical street of just over two kilometers leads from the University to the birthplace of Cervantes, surely the two most visited stops in all of Alcalá. The first, a Renaissance jewel whose façade, built by Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón, architect of the cathedrals of Salamanca Y Segovia, it competes in beauty with the interior patios.
Ladies' stage, Cervantes Museum, Alcalá de Henares.
For its part, the most visited museum among those existing in towns in the Community of Madrid, invites you to discover furniture and all kinds of objects that emulate a house from the Golden Age how Cervantes was supposed to have lived.
But we said that Alcalá has much more than the author of The Quijote, although Plaza Cervantes bears his name and is another mandatory stop. In fact, here you wait a jewel of 17th century theatrical architecture, El Corral de Comedias , converted into one of the most attractive Spanish classical theater settings.
EAT BETWEEN HISTORY
After so much walking, I'm sure your stomach has started to rumble. Well, in front of the aforementioned Corral de Comedias (and one of the oldest patisseries in the city, where the scabbed it's pure delight) wait the perfect stop to fill the stomach. Whether in its renovated lounge, its spectacular bar or on a terrace overlooking the Plaza, The centenary casino restaurant never disappoints.
The local fans know it well and do not hesitate to come during the week to enjoy a cheap daily menu (14.5 euros) that coexists with a menu of traditional cuisine with avant-garde overtones that invites you to start with scallops, torreznos, white shrimp or breaded mushrooms to continue with rice dishes, suckling pig, charcoal-grilled red tuna tataki or its well-known grilled octopus . Dishes that, by the way, can be accompanied by a wine cellar where you can discover nearly 150 references and a perfect cane practically fresh from the neighboring Mahou factory.
Motorcycles Made in Spain, Alcalá de Henares.
The modern decoration that arrived a few years ago, the work of Madrid in Love, enhances the magnificent original structure of the building by the municipal architect Martín Pastellsque, which still houses the Taxpayers Circle.
First named as Casino Mercantil, this company was founded in 1890 to save and preserve artistic heritage of the old University of Alcalá, because with the transfer to the capital, the people of Alcalá began to see how some buildings that had been left unused They were going to be auctioned.
Contributing the payment of 80,000 reais This company was created to buy these emblematic buildings of the city, many of which are still preserved. Including this restaurant that coexists with the Lounges reserved for members.
THE MODERN ALCALA
time goes on in all aspects. The getaway to Alcalá jumps to the present to discover one of the latest cultural openings in the city. baptized as ‘Motorcycles Made in Spain', this new corner dedicated to motor brings together more than 300 Spanish designs that are part of the history of motorcycling and a master class of the unknown history industrial and technological success of our motorcycles.
Because perhaps it is not well known by all, but the history of the 20th century in our country it is closely linked to the history of the Spanish motorcycle industry. More than 100 brands saw the light throughout the century which led to everyone, in our memory, having a motorcycle par excellence.
Whether to get nostalgic or acquire a master class in the history of motorcycles in Spain, this exhibition collects, throughout more than 300 models, all "those bikes designed by the engineers of the upper bourgeoisie and built by workers who emigrated from the countryside to the city, ”says the museum itself.
Open to the public since this past Christmas, the first Motorcycle Museum in the country will exhibit a visitable sample during all weekends of this 2022 in the old GAL factory, the building that produced the iconic perfumes and soaps from the sixties to the year 2004.