They say that whoever visits Puertollano always comes back. Perhaps it is the character of the people of La Mancha, or their gastronomy, or their route of the windmills. Puertollano has resisted being the ugly girl at the dance, She's the one they take out dancing when the lights are about to go out. This is what towns with a mining tradition have, which seem to not have much to offer because they get boring. But this is not so, Puertollano is the essence of La Mancha and it has the keys to be a perfect getaway.
ONE OF THE OLDEST VILLAGES IN LA MANCHA
Puertollano belongs to the club of towns that are more than two thousand years old. In the year 1979 Bronze Age cave paintings were found that they would have about four thousand years old, which showed that in the area of Puente Natural the Puerto Ricans already had their first ancestors. Many of the objects found in these deposits are currently in the Archaeological Museum of Madrid.
Monument to the Miner.
The location of Puertollano during the Reconquest towards the Kingdom of Granada led to countless battles that took place its culminating point in the year 1212 with the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, which was fought just a hundred kilometers from there. Although what really helped Puertollano prosper was coal mining, economic engine of the town that allowed him in the year 1925 to obtain the title of city. Also Puertollano was one of the few La Mancha cities through which the railway line passed, which helped a lot to become what it is today.
Today's Puertollano is a small city but it has not lost that charm of a La Mancha town. Maybe it reminds us a bit of the movie Return by Pedro Almodovar because if you come back a second time they remember you as if it were yesterday, they open the door of their house for you as if you were family. Puertollano are its people, and that makes it magical, unique and essential.
Sour Source.
PARADISE OF GARDEN
If there is something that resounds in the collective imagination, it is that saying that Puertollano is the town of the two lies, because it is neither a town nor is it flat. And this is evident, but there is little lie in the character of its people, with the peculiar sense of humor of La Mancha; people who also open the doors of their houses as if they had known you all their lives.
As a good mining town, Puertollano pays its particular tribute to the miners who achieved the miracle through the Mining Museum. This museum is like an X-ray of the mining activity that was carried out not only in the city but throughout the country, including a collection of very curious machinery. It was built on an old castle but unfortunately it is temporarily closed.
In Puertollano, the amount of gardens that are found throughout the city. The artery of the town is in the Paseo de San Gregorio, a meeting point for neighbors and travellers. The walk starts from the hermitage of the Virgen de Gracia, which was built in 1489 in honor of the virgin who is believed to have saved them from the black plague. The promenade is a gigantic 19th century garden that ends in one of the most photographable places in Puertollano, the sour fountain. And it has a beach bar where in the heat it is easy to get excited to have a snack.
Church of Our Lady of the Assumption.
The name of the source is not accidental. The high iron content of its waters makes the taste very peculiar, hence it was said that the water came out 'sour'. It is one of the emblems of the city as it is one of the oldest monuments. It was built in the year 1575 in the times of Philip II but its popularity would come in the 19th century, when The idea spread that the waters of the fountain were medicinal. Unfortunately, the flow of the fountain is no longer the same as before, since a civil work in 2008 affected by the force of the water, something that caused a real stir that jumped in all the media.
Very close to the fountain is the old Bath House, where the Citizen Service Office and the Tourist Office are located. This building from 1850 brought together great personalities and aristocrats of the 19th century who came to relax in Puertollano thanks to the sour waters and its large marble bathtubs.
Returning to the nerve center, it is inevitable to make a stop at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, a beautiful Renaissance temple from the 14th century which has been a Site of Cultural Interest since 1992. Despite having suffered much damage, it has been raised again and again. It has two access covers and inside you can see plateresque style elements really exquisite.
Tapas on the terrace of the Segovia bar.
THE TAPEO PLAYS IN ANOTHER LEAGUE
Puerto Ricans love tapas, perhaps because tapas in Puertollano is a feat only suitable for good stomachs. Here the premise that 'more is more' is strictly followed, so there is a long tradition of eating tapas and going out on a roll. In addition, the character of the parishioners makes t e sit on a terrace and end up eating with a bunch of people you just met. And so, day after day. In order not to fail, we recommend some sites.
Black and White. It is very close to the Church of the Assumption and, despite the fact that it does not have a very large terrace, the portions are very considerable. Crumbs, porridge, sausage and very cold beer (Via Crucis, 4).
The Jarna. Nothing is left to chance here, they have their own tapas menu to choose from, one of them named Donald Trump. A delirium (Calzada, 25).
Bar Segovia. You will not find it in any guide because it is the typical small bar that only locals know. home cooking where the ratatouille and the crumbs are scandalous (Almodovar, 3).
Chaste. If you prefer a table and tablecloth over tapas, the best option is undoubtedly the Casto restaurant. Here we go to a steak, a product from the garden, migas and homemade desserts. In addition, it is also a hostel, so if you do not want to go around with the accommodation, you have two in one (Luis Dorado, 85).
Shrimp tortilla cover.
BONUS TRACK FOR THE CURIOUS
Puertollano was on the verge of disappearing due to the Black Death in 1348. It was so virulent that barely a dozen people survived. For this reason The Feast of the Holy Vote is celebrated 48 days after Easter Sunday each year. On that day the stews take over the streets of Puertollano, since the neighbors serve the sacred pot and everyone eats and drinks non-stop.
The water from the Fuente Agria was so famous and caused so much furor at the end of the 19th century for its medicinal values that It came to be bottled and marketed almost as if it were a medicine. But it didn't stick.
If you are looking for a spectacular view of Puertollano, ask how to get there. the ‘Square Chimney’. This observation tower was built in 1851 on the remains of a hermitage and was used in mining operations. Today it is a spectacular viewpoint and a quite interesting hiking trail.