The best cycling routes around the Zncara

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 Hermitage or Sanctuary of the Holy Christ of Villajos is one of the most emblematic places in Campo de Criptana (Ciudad Real). It originated from the old village of Villajos, which was abandoned in the 14th century. The original church was dedicated to Our Lady of Villajos.

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 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.

Return to the town of Campo de Criptana

The Church of San Antonio Abad, built from 1525 onwards on an earlier church, is one of the main monuments of El Toboso and a prominent example of late Gothic architecture in La Mancha. Its hall plan features three naves of equal height covered by ribbed vaults supported by cylindrical columns. In the 17th century, side chapels and a transept were added, while the Renaissance-style doorways and the Plateresque tower complete its imposing façade. This church is thought to correspond to the one depicted in Don Quixote's famous phrase: "We have found the church, Sancho."

This complex is made up of four lagoons: Manjavacas, Sánchez Gómez, La Dehesilla (in Mota del Cuervo), and Alcahozo (in Pedro Muñoz). It is a key point on the migratory routes of birds between Europe and Africa, which gives it international importance.