Relaxing Almagro
Theatre, history and landscapes of La Mancha — small international guided group
Almagro Theatre Festival
Relaxing Almagro
Theatre, history and landscapes of La Mancha — small international guided group
Almagro was once the seat of the knights of Calatrava, whose power was so great that King Alfonso X el Sabio founded Villa Real (now Ciudad Real) to balance it. Today it is a fascinating little town, one of the few in Spain where bicycles vie with cars in the streets, a harmony of white, green, ochre and blue, well known for its Plaza Mayor, its Renaissance theatre the Corral de Comedias (1628, oldest in Spain), and its lace-making, introduced from Flanders by Carlos V's court.
We propose 2 ways of exploring La Mancha from Almagro, one at the time of the Theatre Festival (July), the other a 'relaxing' holiday (24 April-1 May 2011, including a day in Toledo!).
ONE WEEK activities: a variety of visits, a theatre performance in the Corral de las Comedias, and 4 walks of 1h30-2h30.
ACCOMMODATION 7 nights' hotel at Almagro (twin rooms with bathroom).
FULL BOARD EXCEPT 4 evening meals not included.
PRICE 735 euros per person; single room supplement 135 euros.
DATES (Sunday-Sunday)
2011 24 April-1 May.
RENDEZVOUS & DISPERSAL Málaga (choose a flight arriving by 11.30 and a return leaving after 15.30) or Almagro (easily accessible by train from Madrid: ask us for train times).
Location of this programme:
DAY-TO-DAY
SUNDAY: Transfer from Málaga to Almagro via Montoro (lunch), the prehistoric rock-shelter paintings of the Peña Escrita and the Valle de Alcudia, famous for sheep and storks. For those arriving through Madrid, afternoon rendezvous at Almagro station. In the evening, a first exploration of the hidden treasures of Almagro.
MONDAY: Quijote route (day 1) in the plains of La Mancha, including the spectacularly-sited castle and 'giant' windmills of Consuegra, and Puerto Lápice, where he was knighted by an innkeeper. A stroll in the wetlands of the Tablas de Daimiel National Park.
TUESDAY: Quijote route (day 2): the Lagunas de Ruidera, an enchanting Natural Park with 15 lakes linked by waterfalls, Peñarroya castle and Argamasilla de Alba, where an imprisoned Cervantes first began writing about the strange knight...
WEDNESDAY: The Campo de Calatrava, with a short walk amid its ancient volcanic cones, and the impressive fortified citadels of Alarcos and Calatrava la Vieja.
THURSDAY: The Despeñaperros Natural Park, scene of the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, which marked the beginning of the end for Moorish Spain; short walks in this Park take us to two spectacular natural monuments, the Collado de los Jardines vantage point over the vertiginous Despeñaperros cleft, and the Cimbarra waterfall. Visit to the Italianate palace of El Viso del Marqués and the square bull-ring of Las Virtudes, Spain's oldest (1641). Valdepeñas, famous for wine, with an organic bodega and the Cerro de las Cabezas Iberian site.
FRIDAY: A day in TOLEDO, the legendary multicultural capital of Spain, looking for traces of its Visigothic, Moorish, Jewish and Mudéjar splendour. Some free time to investigate the legacy of El Greco, the riches of the cathedral, or for shopping.
SATURDAY: Morning in the Campo de Calatrava: curious examples of volcanism, the Cerro de la Encantada and Oreto-Zuqueca archaeological sites and the fortress of Calatrava la Nueva. In Almagro, we invite you to visit the National Theatre Museum, to tapas, and to a theatre performance in the Corral de las Comedias.
SUNDAY: Transfer to Almagro station or Málaga.
Bienal de Flamenco, Seville / festivals in Granada / Jerez Flamenco Festival / Baeza Music Festival
relaxing Zafra (southern Extremadura) / relaxing Berlanga (Soria) / Discover Northern Spain
historical journeys / walking / nature rambles / Spanish and other courses
for families or friends / Holiday index+calendar / Introduction in English / How to book / e-mail us
THEATRE FESTIVAL
The Almagro Classical Theatre Festival takes place in July in the Corral de Comedias, the two other theatres (C19 and modern) and the patios of other notable buildings of the town, some not otherwise open to the public, and all within a few minutes' walk. Plays are performed in Spanish and other languages with both conventional and experimental representations of classical pieces; there are also concerts, dance and other events. In the evening the streets and squares of the town are invaded by an animated crowd of theatre-goers and strollers.
IMPORTANT: in view of the popularity of the festival, and of the limited space in the venues, theatre tickets are sold out in a few days. In order to be able to guarantee reservations for at least 4 performances, we MUST receive bookings by 1 April 2011. In May, all participants will receive a list of the pieces we shall be seeing, so as to be able to read them in advance if they so wish.
7 DAYS (6 NIGHTS) activities as outlined below, in a guided group of 10 participants maximum.
FESTIVAL a minimum of 4 theatre performances; exhibitions and other events.
OTHER ACTIVITIES excursions and visits (possibility to see archaeological excavations in progress); two short walks of about 1h30 on level ground.
ACCOMMODATION 6 nights' hotel (twin rooms with bathroom) at Almagro.
FULL BOARD EXCEPT 4 evening meals not included.
PRICE 875 euros per person; single room supplement 155 euros.
DATES (Saturday-Friday)
2011 2-8 July.
RENDEZVOUS & DISPERSAL Almagro (easily accessible by train from Madrid: ask us for times).
DAY-TO-DAY
SATURDAY: Afternoon rendezvous at Almagro station. In the evening, a first exploration of the hidden treasures of Almagro. Tapas dinner.
SUNDAY: Morning in the Campo de Calatrava: curious examples of volcanism, the Cerro de la Encantada and Oreto-Zuqueca archaeological sites and the fortress of Calatrava la Nueva.
MONDAY: Quijote route (day 1) in the plains of La Mancha, including the spectacularly-sited castle and 'giant' windmills of Consuegra, and Puerto Lápice, where he was knighted by an innkeeper. A stroll in the wetlands of the Tablas de Daimiel National Park.
TUESDAY: The impressive fortified citadels of Alarcos and Calatrava la Vieja.
WEDNESDAY: Quijote route (day 2): the Lagunas de Ruidera, an enchanting Natural Park with 15 lakes linked by waterfalls, Peñarroya castle and Argamasilla de Alba, where an imprisoned Cervantes first began writing about the strange knight...
THURSDAY: Valdepeñas, famous for wine, with an organic bodega and the Cerro de las Cabezas Iberian site. Quevedo route: Villanueva de los Infantes and Torre de Juan Abad.
FRIDAY: Transfer to Almagro station.
