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 Castile la Mancha
The five provinces of Castile la Mancha are:
- Toledo
- Cuenca
- Ciudad Real
- Albacete
- Guadalajara
This region, also quite large in size, is located south of
Madrid and occupies what was the southern part of the ancient
kingdom of Castille, including the area known as La Mancha,
universally famous as the setting for Miguel de Cervantes
great novel "Don Quijote de la Mancha".
 Toledo, the capital of this Autonomous Community, is without
a doubt one of the densest monumental cities in the world.
Nearly all the different stages of Spanish art are represented
in Toledo, which has Moorish-Mudejar-Jewish buildings, such
as the Transito and Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogues; Gothic
structures, such as the splendid cathedral: and Renaissance
buildings. In the 16th century, the city became home to El
Greco, and Toledo has many of his paintings, among which is "The
Burial of the Count of Orgaz", his masterpiece which is
housed in the Mudejar Church of Santo Tome. Among its many
museums, of special note is the one located in the old Santa
Cruz Hospital.
Cuenca, located in a natural setting of phantasmagorical beauty,
has a marked medieval charm. Famous are its so-called "hanging
houses", buildings that appear suspended over a steep
gorge. The city centre, remarkably beautiful, is presided over
by a magnificent Gothic cathedral. It's Museum of Abstract
Art is one of the finest of its kind.
Ciudad Real is the traditional capital of La Mancha. Nearby,
one can still see the marvellous spectacle put on by the windmills
in Campo de Criptana, which Don Quijote battled after mistaking
them for giants. In Almagro, there is an important international
theatre festival.
Albacete, the capital of the province of the same name, is
renowned for its knife-making industry. It also has a 16th
century cathedral.
Guadalajara has preserved the better part of its Moorish walls
and a bridge over the Henares river that dates from the 10th
and 11th centuries. Among its churches, worthy of special mention
is Santa Maria la Mayor, Mudejar in style, and the Duque del
Infantado Palace, from the 15th century.
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Related sites
Cellar
Tours - Gourmet wine tours in Spain and Portugal. Includes
tours of Ribera del Duero in Castile la Mancha |
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