The 10 most beautiful towns to visit in the Community of Madrid

In general, we tend to think of a break from routine as an activity that requires extensive planning, prior meditation, and a considerable monetary investment. Nothing is further from reality, because wherever you live, more than one jewel in the form of a landscape will be less than two hours away from your home.

Proof of this is the community of Madrid, where the capital of Spain (Madrid) is located. Despite its territory being condensed and full of buildings and structures (it is the third autonomous community in population and the most densely populated), there are some beautiful places in its outskirts that will take the breath away even the most demanding of tourists.

Stay with us, because today we present you the 10 most beautiful towns to visit in the Community of Madrid. We assure you that a getaway to any of these destinations will revitalize you, at least enough to face the work challenges of the week with another face.

We recommend you read: "The 10 most beautiful towns in Spain to disconnect from the routine"

instagram story viewer

The Community of Madrid and its multifaceted nature

The Community of Madrid, with a total area of 8,021.80 square kilometers and almost 7 million inhabitants, it is characterized by a completely urbanized landscape: cars, noise, large buildings and streets narrow. We cannot deny that the center of this community can be overwhelming for the calmest, but we must remember that Madrid city It has an area of 604.3 square kilometers, that is, a very small part of the total amount of territory encompassed in the community.

In the rest of this territory we can find multiple landscapes and mountains. The various types of meadows, low mountains, pine forests, herbaceous pastures and bushes color the outskirts of this bustling city. In addition, near this population center we have the Sierra de Guadarrama, a mountainous alignment with a fauna and landscapes as beautiful as they are breathtaking.

We recommend you read: "The 10 most beautiful towns to discover in Galicia"

The most beautiful towns in the Community of Madrid

Thus, we make it clear that beyond the self-imposed "walls" of the city, there are a number of jewels in the form of Priceless landscapes and flora and fauna. Even so, as we have to choose, today we present 10 of the most beautiful towns to visit in the Community of Madrid. Do not miss them.

1. Aranjuez

Just 20 minutes from certain areas of Madrid by car, Aranjuez is a must for any tourist or resident who wants to get away from the city's attractions. Between the Church of the Alpajés, the Royal Palace and the Parterre Garden, the Silvela Palace and many more constructions, this place transports us to ancient times that tell us stories through its buildings. Therefore, it is not surprising that there is a world heritage village.

2. Buitrago de Lozoya

About 75 kilometers north of the Community of Madrid, Buitrago de Lozoya will delight those most interested in history and its memory, since this municipality is home to the medieval wall both Muslim, Castilian and Christian, which surrounds its historic center and is in turn surrounded by the Lozoya River. This walled enclosure has been declared a National Monument and Asset of Cultural Interest.

In addition to this, the castle present here, the church and the clock tower give this municipality a medieval air. Of course, if you want to transport yourself to times gone by, just a few minutes by car from your place of stay, this is the ideal place.

3. Patones from above

Patones de Arriba is a place characterized by the black color, because its cobbled streets, its emblematic slate houses and its mountainous landscapes have made this place a true haven of peace a few minutes from the capital. The rural architecture based on slate, very abundant in these areas, dyes a municipality as magical as it is beautiful. In addition to this, Patones has archaeological sites of great interest, such as the Dehesa de la Oliva.

4. Alcala de Henares

We are moving to a little more urbanized areas, since Alcalá de Henares is next to Madrid city and has a population of almost 200,000 inhabitants. Despite its proximity to the capital, Alcalá has buildings of great interest.

The university of Alcalá de Henares, the birthplace of Cervantes, the Plaza de Cervantes and the Magisterial Cathedral are just a few examples of the historical memory of this place. The collisions of the storks' beaks, the beautiful buildings and the smells of the medieval market (which takes place in autumn) will charm you without a doubt.

5. Chinchon

The main square of Chinchón is an emblematic example of popular architecture, because with a history at its feet and thousands of acts and photographs taken, it presumes to be one of the most famous squares in all of Spain. The buildings that surround it consist of exposed wood elements, counting a total of 234 balconies, which gives a less characteristic stamp.

Beyond the beauty of this nerve center, Chinchón is known for the Church of the Assumption, the Clock Tower and the convent of the Poor Clares, among many other buildings.

6. Rascafría

We are facing a naturalized municipality like few others, because within its municipal term is the Peñalara Natural Park. The fauna of these lagoons will amaze those interested in herpetology, as various species of amphibians proliferate in these cold and clear waters, among many other small vertebrates.

Beyond nature, Rascafría stands out for its hiking trails and multiple historical buildings. If you are looking to discover the most special flora and fauna of the Community, this is your destination.

7. The Hiruela

Being a privileged enclave of the Sierra del Rincón, the municipality of La Hiruela boasts of being one of the best preserved towns in the Community of Madrid. Its stone, adobe and wood houses will remind you of the charm of the buildings of our ancestors, with an urban fabric that has remained unaltered for almost two and a half centuries.

8. Manzanares el Real

In this municipality we find the upper basin of the Manzanares River, a natural modeling agent of incomparable beauty, where many routes and walks will renew the air in the lungs of the most stressed. Beyond the landscapes and nature that surround this area, Manzanares is also famous for the Castle of the Mendoza, the best preserved in the entire Community of Madrid.

9. New Baztán

Just 50 kilometers from Madrid, this municipality is characterized by its strong historical complex and an enviable natural environment. Nuevo Baztán boasts one of the most beautiful historical helmets de Madrid, an artistic ensemble declared an Asset of Cultural Interest by the Community of Madrid in 2000. In addition to this, it has trails of several hours of travel, between rural landscapes with native bushes and trees.

10. Torrelaguna

Last but not least we find Torrelaguna, a municipality known for being the birthplace of Cardinal Cisneros, an archbishop and confessor of Queen Isabel la Católica. Full of religious buildings such as the Iglesia de la Magdalena (one of the most important Gothic churches in all of Madrid), this place will fascinate both believers and atheists, because as experts say, historical memory does not know of beliefs.

Resume

As we have seen, beyond the noise of the city and a tireless pace of life, we can visit many havens of peace, where you can enjoy past architecture, historical lessons and flora and fauna from priceless values.

Of course, lists like these underscore a clear reality: you don't have to spend huge amounts of money and plan wisely. the plans to be carried out are extremely meticulous, because just over a stone's throw away, beautiful landscapes and buildings are waiting.

Bibliographic references

Buitrago de Lozoya, turismo.buitrago.org. Picked up on October 25 in https://turismo.buitrago.org/
Buitrago de Lozoya, turismomadrid.net. Picked up on October 25 in https://turismomadrid.es/es/descubre/buitrago-del-lozoya/de-inter%C3%A9s/101-buitrago-del-lozoya.html
Enjoy an unparalleled setting, turismolahiruela.com. Picked up on October 25 in https://turismolahiruela.es/blog/
Patones: a kingdom of culture and nature, patones.net. Picked up on October 25 in https://www.patones.net/
What to see in Manzanares El Real, a town in Madrid that has it all, zonaviajero.com. Picked up on October 25 in https://www.zonaviajero.com/que-ver-manzanares-el-real/
Tourism, Nuevo Baztán. Picked up on October 25 in http://turismo.ayto-nuevobaztan.es/
Active tourism, turismoenaranjuez.com. Picked up on October 25 in http://www.turismoenaranjuez.com/
Tourism of chinchón, tourist office of the city council of chinchón. Picked up on October 25 in http://www.ciudad-chinchon.com/turismo/oficina-turismo/presentacion.php
Torrelaguna Tourism, Torrelaguna Town Hall. Picked up on October 25 in http://www.torrelagunaweb.es/turismo/#
Tourism in Rascafría, Rascafría.org. Picked up on October 25 in https://www.rascafria.org/turismo/