The best walks and hikes around Gálvez

Pico de Noez, in the Sierra de Noez mountain range (municipality of Noez, Toledo), reaches an altitude of 1034 meters, making it the highest point in the central part of the province. It stands in isolation south of the Tagus River plain, within the Montes de Toledo mountain range. At the summit, there is a geodetic marker and a compass rose carved in granite, with inscriptions from the surrounding villages (Pulgar, Polán, Guadamur, etc.).

The Melque Complex is a historical and archaeological site located near San Martín de Montalbán, in the province of Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha. This complex includes the church of Santa María de Melque, which is one of the best preserved Visigothic churches in Spain. The monastic complex of Melque was built at the end of the 7th century or beginning of the 8th century and has gone through various historical stages, including its use as a fortification during the Islamic period. The church and its surroundings were declared a Site of Cultural Interest, with the category of Historical Site. To visit the Melque Complex, you can do so from Tuesday to Sunday, with hours that vary depending on the season. In addition, there is an interpretation center that offers detailed information about the history and evolution of the site.

Excellent viewpoint from where you can see a wide panoramic view of the municipality of “Las Ventas con Peña Aguilera”, located in the southern center of the Montes de Toledo region. The climb runs along a type of Roman road and at the top we find an impressive windmill and a Hermitage, the Ermita Nuestra Señora del Águila, a 15th - 16th century building with a rectangular nave and main chapel with simple wooden coffered ceiling. It houses the Patroness Our Lady of the Eagle, a 7 cm polychrome wood carving that has the characteristic of being the second smallest in Spain.

Nowadays they are often just monuments to a long tradition of craftsmanship: the heavy millstones were moved solely using the power of the wind as driving energy and, for example, grains were ground into flour (grain mills) or oil was pressed from olive fruits (oil mills). But Miguel de CERVANTES (1547 to 1616) also set a literary monument to the technical monument of the Molinos: the most famous figure of the author, who is considered the national poet of Spain and whose work can certainly be valued as world literature: “Don QUIXOTE”, also known as “Knight “of the sad figure” and always accompanied by his loyal squire Sancho Panza, in one of the fictional stories he fights a - of course hopeless - battle against windmills in which he believes he recognizes four-armed giants.

A restored windmill, with machinery similar to those of the 15th century.

Curious rock formations that received their name because they were confused with megalithic monuments or remains of past civilizations.

A nice path along the shore of the reservoir. Keep in mind that if it has rained a lot, the path may be covered in water and you will have to go a little higher.

No place on the peninsula like Santa María de Melque takes us back to the High Middle Ages. Its architecture not only shows us the last example of the Roman world, but also has elements of oriental buildings from Syria and Jordan. Walking through its floor, chapels and rooms, going through its horseshoe arches and contemplating the remains of the decoration and the founder's sarcophagus constitutes a true journey through time. The Church of Santa María de Melque is built in irregularly cut granite masonry, with angled pieces to solve some adjustments. The walls, made of ashlars of unequal size, but very well worked, are extremely robust, reaching thicknesses of 1.40 meters.