Venture into the heart of La Mancha to discover first-hand how medieval tradition has survived to the present day.
Less than an hour from Ciudad Real, enjoy the perfect mix between La Mancha's past and present with a holiday in Manzanares. Stroll among the ancestral homes in the old town, in which excellent monuments from 13th century to the present day have been preserved, examples of eight centuries of history.
Castillo de Manzanares, also known as Castillo de Pilas Bonas is nowadays a charming hotel and has been declared a Historical and Artistic Site of Interest. Its construction, dating back to the beginning of the 13th century, was the origin of the creation of the town in the same century.
In Plaza de la Constitución, see the plateresque-style church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, which dates from the 16th century. Next stop is the contemporary Gran Teatro, built on the foundations of the original building, from the start of the 20th century. This site has hosted numerous cultural events, including the International Festival of Contemporary Theatre “Lazarillo”.
From here, put on the boots of Cánovas del Castillo and O'Donnell to wander the streets and revisit major historical events during the Spanish Regenerationist movement, such as the signing of the “Manifesto de Manzanares”, the seed of the 1854 revolution.
Thanks to our cheap trips to Manzanares, you can delight your taste buds with the flavours of La Mancha that recall times past, such as a lamb stew, gachas (staple made with flour), migas (made with bread crumbs) and tiznao (salted cod dish), as well as discover the past, present and future of culinary craft at the Manchego cheese museum.
Book one of our package holidays in Manzanares to participate in the Medieval Week, held each year at the start of the autumn, and be transported back to medieval La Mancha. Travel back to the present day and visit the Manuel Piña museum, which pays homage to this local designer who featured prominently during the “La Movida Madrileña” cultural movement and one of the driving forces behind Madrid Cibeles Fashion Week.
Take the chance offered by our holiday deals to Manzanares to witness the coexistence of the present and the past in this historic town.
