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Things To Do in Alcala de Henares
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Alcala de Henares Attractions
You can easily explore Alcalá on a day trip. The stone and red-brick Renaissance buildings of the old town are all close at hand. The city was badly damaged in the Spanish Civil War and many art treasures were lost—its austere cathedral is almost unornamented—but extensive renovation means many of its historic buildings appear almost new. Look out for the 90 pairs of storks that nest on nearly every bell tower and rooftop throughout the year.
- Religious Site
Capilla de San Ildefonso
Next door to the Colegio (see below) is the Capilla de San Ildefonso, the 15th-century chapel of the old university with an artesanado (artisan’s) ceiling and intricately stuccoed walls. It houses the Italian marble tomb of Cardinal Cisneros, the founder of the original university. - Historic Site
Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso
Adjacent to the Plaza de Cervantes is the university where the playwright Lope de Vega, the Jesuit theologian Ignacio de Loyola, and other Spanish greats studied. Its heavily embellished façade, completed in 1553, is one of Spain’s finest examples of Plateresque architecture. Stroll… - Museum
Museo Arqueológico Regional
Set in a beautiful red-brick former convent, this is one of Spain’s most enjoyable archaeological museums. Clearly laid-out exhibits trace the development of the Madrid region, including natural history as well as human archaeology. Its saber-toothed tiger skull and mastodon jaw are… - Museum
Museo Casa Natal de Cervantes
Bronze sculptures of Don Quijote and Sancho Panza sitting on a stone bench let you know you have arrived at the supposed birthplace of Spain’s greatest writer. Their knees are polished by the hands of all the visitors who have posed for photographs between them. Miguel de Cervantes…
