Practically half of the population of the Community of Madrid resides in its capital, Madrid, which is why millions of people have taken advantage of these months of proximity tourism to get away from the urban center of Madrid and dare to discover the most picturesque towns in their region.
Civitatis, the leading company in the sale of guided tours, excursions and free tours in Spanish throughout the world, has compiled a list of the 10 most beautiful towns in Madrid. To do this, the Spanish platform has been forced to skip the limits established by the National Institute of Statistics, which determines that “those with less than 10,000 inhabitants” are considered a town, but who would dare to leave localities out of this ranking? like Alcalá de Henares or San Lorenzo de El Escorial?
1. Patones de Arriba
Patones de Arriba and its slate houses have become one of the most visited municipalities by lovers of rural tourism. It is one of the black towns of the Community of Madrid, named for its popular architecture that uses slate as its main element and gives the buildings this dark appearance. Stones in grey, violet or bluish tones give these municipalities a unique charm. It is worth going to this picturesque little town to stroll through its cobbled streets and see its slate houses decorated with flowers, especially in the spring months.
2. Chinchon
Surrounded by ocher and brown landscapes, Chinchón stands on small hills to give rise to a landscape of pale houses with reddish roofs that surround one of the most beautiful main squares in Spain. This, declared a Historic-Artistic Site, has been the scene of royal parties, theatrical performances, bullfights and even executions. Surrounded by houses with balconies and wooden arcades, it gives the impression of being in a giant comedy arena.
3. Buitrago de Lozoya
At the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama is Buitrago de Lozoya, one of the most beautiful towns in Madrid thanks, among other things, to the perfect state of conservation of its wall of Muslim origin or other monuments, such as the Clock Tower or the Alcazar. In addition, the image of the Lozoya River surrounding the walled enclosure is one of the most impressive in the Madrid region.
4. Alcala de Henares
Just thirty kilometers from the capital of Madrid is a treasure declared a World Heritage Site. Alcalá de Henares is one of those perfect places to stroll through its quiet streets, visit its squares and enjoy numerous historical monuments such as the University of Alcalá or the Cathedral of Santos Justo y Pastor. In addition to the undeniable charm of its historic center, Alcalá de Henares also stands out for housing archaeological gems such as the Complutum site or the House of Hippolytus, both from Roman times.
5. Scratchy
Located in the Alto de Lozoya Valley and surrounded by a spectacular natural landscape, Rascafría is a small municipality that has a lot to offer. In it is the Monastery of Santa María del Paular, an architectural jewel of Gothic style built in the fifteenth century that was the first charterhouse in Spain. In addition to its monumental heritage, Rascafría also has noteworthy natural spaces, such as the Finnish forest, a small park of fir, poplar, birch and other trees from northern Europe.
6. San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Less than fifty kilometers from Madrid is the place that Felipe II used as a retreat, where his remains and those of the other Spanish monarchs rest: the Royal Monastery of El Escorial. The monastery is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Community of Madrid and receives millions of visitors every year. The municipality where it is located, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, shares the architecture of the monastery, with Herrerian Renaissance-style buildings at the foot of Mount Abantos, thus generating a magnificent symbiosis between urban planning and nature.
7. Aranjuez
Aranjuez is known as the Spanish Versailles thanks mainly to its impressive palace. This royal residence located on the banks of the Tagus River was built and enlarged between the 16th and 18th centuries to represent the power of the Spanish monarchy. In addition to this National Heritage treasure, the town of Aranjuez is very popular among the people of Madrid for its careful and original historic center in the form of a grid, as well as for the magnificent Garden of the Island and Garden of the Prince.
8. Manzanares El Real
Manzanares El Real, located next to La Pedriza, is a perfect natural enclave for climbing and hiking and famous for the Mendoza castle. Built on a Mudejar fortress in the 15th century with four Elizabethan-style towers, it is the best preserved castle in the Community of Madrid. In addition to this castle, Manzanares el Real has other places of interest, such as the church of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves or the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Peña Sacra.
9. New Baztan
To the southeast of the Community of Madrid is one of its youngest towns, but no less captivating for that. Nuevo Baztán, which owes its name to the Baztán Valley, was founded by the Navarrese Juan de Goyeneche in the 18th century as a residence for the workers of a glass factory run by the businessman himself. For the urban planning of the town, José Benito de Churriguera, one of the most important architects of the time, was involved, who left his mark on the layout and facades of the buildings of this small town, where the Palace shines with its own light. Church of Goyeneche or the Plaza de las Fiestas.
10. Scaffold of Glass
Another of the most charming towns in Madrid, although not as well known as the rest, is Cadalso de los Vidrios. Its origins date back to pre-Roman times, although the municipality took shape over the centuries, so today it has buildings from all periods. A Muslim observatory, a medieval noble house and a Renaissance palace are witnesses to the history of Cadalso. The Palace of the Marquis of Villena stands out, an elegant granite building surrounded by beautiful gardens inspired by those of the El Escorial Monastery.
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