Alcalá del Júcar

Our 10 day trip into the heart of Spain started inAlcalá del Júcar is located in an exceptional setting, on a hill below which we find the gorge formed by the Júcar river. Narrow, steep streets lined with well-preserved houses crawl up towards the castle, from which we can have splendid panoramic views of the gorge. The fortress is of Arab origin, rebuilt during Christian times. The bridge that crosses the river was built by the Romans, and rebuilt in the 18th century; it offers beautiful views of the surroundings and leads to the parish church of San Andrés, from the 16th-18th centuries, with a classical entrance portico. On the other side of the river, on the hill, we see a peculiar bullring, unique because of its location, construction, and irregular shape. The natural caves, some of which were turned into old-worlde inns, are common around this area. They have the peculiarity of being able to maintain, naturally, the same temperature in their interior all year round.