In a world in constant movement, many of us dream of a getaway to get away from routine. In addition, all of us who live in big and small cities know firsthand the importance of taking a little getaway from time to time to disconnect and reconnect with ourselves.
Near Madrid, Alcalá de Henares, Aranjuez or El Escorial are a must, but there are other towns near the capital to spend the day that are worth a visit (or two or as many as you want).
In Barbieri Real Estate, specialists in rental properties, we want to show you some towns near the capital for a getaway. Are you going to miss it?
Beautiful towns near Madrid
A few minutes from the center of Madrid there are several perfect villages to spend the day. Nearby, with history, beautiful and accessible to the inhabitants of the capital, they have become a perfect place to spend a day or an unforgettable weekend.
Buitrago de Lozoya
74 km from Madrid and in the heart of the Sierra Norte we find this beautiful walled village. A short visit, which will only take a couple of hours, but it is worth it. Buitrago de Lozoya, named after the river that surrounds the town, is one of the most beautiful villages in the autonomous community of Madrid.
With a Muslim past, its peak came in the Middle Ages, where it became a strategic enclave due to its privileged location. In addition, since 1993 it has also been considered an Asset of Cultural Interest and is the only town that fully preserves its walled enclosure, built between the eleventh and twelfth centuries.
You can also enjoy El Alcázar, a 15th century Gothic architectural complex consisting of seven towers and a parade ground, or the Casa del Bosque, an incredible country house designed for the recreation of the Dukes of Infantado, built in the early 17th century.
And, as if that were not enough, Buitrago del Lozoya has a Picasso Museum with the works that the artist collected and donated to a friend of his, Eugenio Arias Herranz, a native son of the town. With more than 60 works ranging from ceramics, engravings and sketches, the museum will not leave anyone indifferent.
Lose yourself in its streets and savor its historical beauty that will leave you trapped. All in less than 24 hours.
Manzanares el Real
With a population of less than 10,000 inhabitants and located at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama in Madrid we can find one of the most important natural formations in the world, where Manzanares el Real is born. In addition, the prehistoric populations, the Roman Empire, the Visigothic people and the later Christian repopulation have given Manzanares el Real its beauty and identity.
Its image, always linked to its medieval castle and one of the most emblematic and best preserved in the Madrid region, will not leave you indifferent. The Castillo de los Mendoza began to be built in early 1475 and is the best preserved in Madrid.
In addition, you can also enjoy the Plaza de Armas, which are the remains of a fortress older than the previous castle or the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Peña Sacra which was built in the sixteenth century. But if you are one of those who in addition to history, do not want to get rid of nature, you will have to visit the Embalse de Santillana or La Pedriza: two perfect places for hiking even with the youngest of the house.
Come and enjoy its castles, its hermitages, its festivals… Enjoy a day full of history and nature next to the Manzanares River. You can’t miss it!
Chinchón
A little more than 45 kilometers from the center of Madrid and with a population of just over 5,000 inhabitants you can find Chinchón. A paradise in the heart of the Tajo-Jarama basin with abundant fauna and flora as part of its territory belongs to the Southeast Regional Park.
Nor can you miss the historical and cultural heritage that Chinchón has to offer. Its Plaza Mayor is an example of popular architecture and since 1974 considered a Historic-Artistic Site. Its irregular shape together with its simple structure, the three-story buildings with linteled galleries or its 234 wooden balconies make the Plaza a perfect place to walk around during the day.
In addition, if you go to spend the day in Chinchón you have a must visit the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, the Clock Tower (built before the fifteenth century), the Castle of the Counts or the Convent of San Agustín.
As if that were not enough, in Chinchón the traditions of the town stand out, offering the visitor a large number of popular festivities to get into and celebrate in style some of the festivities. For example, the carnival that has been held for more than 15 years and has a medieval market for all audiences. A perfect plan to celebrate also with the little ones of the house.
Towns where to spend an unforgettable day in Madrid
Patones de Arriba
One of the most beautiful and visited villages of the entire Community of Madrid, perfect for the whole family and where you can enjoy the black architecture, take a hiking trail and even eat like a king in their restaurants.
Patones was a small village whose origin dates back to around the sixteenth century. For centuries the small town survived thanks to the work of ranchers and farmers, with buildings that, even today, survive the ruins. One plan is undoubtedly to get lost among its labyrinthine streets and observe its incredible black slate buildings, a material that makes them unique and famous. Thanks to these buildings it is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Madrid and even in Spain.
Another of the fundamental plans that Patones de Arriba offers us is to walk through the upper part of the hillside and enjoy the many buildings of which only ruins remain. Tinados and arrenes in its day, were typical constructions with which the local people earned their living since many of them were destined to shelter the cattle. Are you going to miss it?
Cercedilla
The exceptional beauty of Cercedilla and its natural wealth made it a stop for the Royal Court on its way from La Granja to Madrid and still today you can visit this village located in the Sierra de Guadarrama and delight in its history and charm.
Several buildings reveal the historical and cultural heritage of Cercedilla and it will be essential that you visit some of them to get an idea of the dimensions and majesty of the village.
For us the most outstanding are: the remains of the ancient Roman road, testimony of a primitive settlement in the area. And if we talk about travel, you can not miss the railroad station. It was built during the 19th century, when this type of transport began in Spain.
Also, Cercedilla has some hermitages and churches that do not go unnoticed as the hermitage of Santa Maria, dating from the seventeenth century, the Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, the Church of San Sebastian, original seventeenth century or the Church of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, built during the sixteenth century.
Thanks to its size and possibilities, Madrid has not only become a tourist enclave in Spain, there are also many people who choose to live in the capital to study or work. Connecting and disconnecting in the city is one of the great advantages offered by the city.
If you are thinking of coming to live in Madrid, in Barbieri Real Estate, specialists in rental housing, we offer you properties in Aravaca, Chamberí and Salamanca neighborhoods. Discover all our offer of available apartments in Madrid.
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