The best road cycling routes around Villarta De San Juan

Alcázar de San Juan is one of the most interesting destinations in the heart of La Mancha, with a blend of history, heritage, nature, and Cervantine traditions. Its name comes from the Military Order of Saint John, which dominated the area after the Reconquista. It claims to be the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, as the baptismal font where, according to some studies, the writer was baptized is preserved in the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor. It was an important railway junction and economic center in the 19th and 20th centuries, which shaped its urban development.

The windmills of San Antón Hill are one of the great symbols of Alcázar de San Juan (Ciudad Real) and an essential part of the Don Quixote Route. They emerged in La Mancha in the mid-16th century as an alternative to the scarcity of watermills, due to the climate and the terrain. San Antón Hill is a Paleozoic elevation located southeast of the town, about 2.5 km from the town center, with spectacular views of the La Mancha plains.

The Church of Santa Quiteria in Alcázar de San Juan (Ciudad Real) is one of the town's most important churches, boasting a rich history and significant architectural value. Origin: Construction began in the second half of the 16th century based on plans by Juan de Herrera, the architect of El Escorial. Execution: The work was directed by Agustín Argüello and completed by Bartolomé Elorriaga in 1604. Style: Renaissance with classical elements.

The Plaza de España in Alcázar de San Juan (Ciudad Real) is home to one of the city's most representative symbols: the sculpture of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, a work that pays homage to Cervantes' immortal characters.

The Grand Prior's Tower is one of the most emblematic monuments of Alcázar de San Juan (Ciudad Real) and forms part of the Grand Prior's Palace Complex, linked to the Order of Saint John. Built in the 13th century on the remains of the old Muslim citadel, during the Almohad period. Reconquest: It became part of the palace of the Grand Priors of Castile and León of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. Expansions: In 1618, under Philip III, a floor was added with windows and plaster ribbed vaults.

The municipality is in the region of La Mancha, bordering Cuenca and Toledo, and is known for the Pedro Muñoz-Mota del Cuervo lagoon complex. The old houses made of masonry and mud bricks stand out, such as the Casa de La Paca. Church of San Pedro: Built between the 17th and 18th centuries, with a Latin cross plan and a barrel vault.

The Herencia Windmills are an essential part of the heritage of this town in La Mancha. Initially built in 1790, these mills were an economical and practical solution to the scarcity of water in the region.

We can access this villa by road from Puerto Lápice, just 12 km away, or through the Autovía de los Viñedos. Herencia owes its creation to the Order of San Juan, during the Reconquest, but its origin dates back centuries, as evidenced by the remains of forts found in the Sierra de los Molinos and Pico del Navajo, from the Bronze Age. In addition to its industrial heritage, Herencia is land of agricultural production, two churches stand out in this municipality: the parish church and the one of the Convent of La Merced, these will be the nucleus of the visit to this town of La Mancha. The church of the Immaculate Conception, from the 18th century, built on top of another from the 13th century, will call our attention for its play of reddish colors given by its construction materials and for its interesting baroque altars, among them the altarpiece of the main altar in the one that highlights an image of the Immaculate Conception from 1819. It also preserves, although deteriorated, a Toledo organ from 1637.