Chinchon is considered one of those
Pueblos bonitos de España, a disctinction given to the most beautiful villages in Spain like
Vejer de la Frontera,
Santillana del Mar or
La Alberca. It's only a 50 minute drive from Madrid and a great idea for a day trip from the capital of Spain. Chinchon is well-known for its
Plaza Mayor (town square) and its typical products: garlic and anisette liquor.
We left Madrid on a gloomy Saturday morning, storms were forecast but the expectation of photo opportunities and delicious food kept all worries away. In the end, not a single drop fell so it was a perfect spring day.
The first place we explored was
Plaza Mayor. The green wooden balconies reminded us of those we had seen in
Almagro last Easter. Even though it's called "square" it's actually round. It was built in the 15th century and has served many purposes including theater and bullfighting ring.
On a side note, I feel sad when I see animals being used for entertainment purposes, although I know children love donkeys. It's not the same but this reminded me of something really upsetting I saw in
Santorini: poor donkeys carrying people through a steep pathway in hot temperatures.
One of the streets from the plaza takes you to the clock tower, from that area you can get great views of Chinchon.
At the tourist information office we were told that we could buy sweet treats at
Convento de las Clarisas. Nuns make the best sweets and pastries, so if there's a convent in town we always buy sweets there. We were impressed by the garden that leads to the shop in the convent, it was beautifully arranged and kept. A lovely place to sit down and read a book on a summer afternoon.
Our next stop was another landmark of Chinchon: the castle. You cannot go inside, just see the remains of the castle from outside which transport you back to its glory days in the 16th century.
We had lunch at
El Parador which apart from a hotel is also a must-see in Chinchon. It used to be an Agustinian monastery back in the 15th century. I fell madly in love with the cloister, the gardens and the decor: blue and white predominate in the indoor common areas with beautiful tiles all around.
We had an amazing meal. For starters we had crostini with roasted peppers and chicken and a beautifully presented lettuce salad with smoked salmon. Apart from tasting delicious food, I love going to restaurants to get inspiration for food presentation. I'm definitely going to be making that salmon salad at home!
Then we had fish: hake with squid and cod.
And then we had a yummy cheesecake.
Spanish people like to have their coffee after lunch and here it is usually paired with their most famous drink. If you go to Chinchon you must order anisette liquor with your coffee, you can't leave the place without trying it! They have been producing this type of drink for centuries and it's so famous that people in Spain often call it chinchon.
Finally, we explored the beautiful gardens at El Parador. Ah, there's nothing better than sitting
al fresco and enjoying the wonderful weather and beautiful surroundings. This is the life.
There are more beautiful villages a stone's throw from Madrid. Other wonderful day trips include
Aranjuez and
Alcala de Henares.
xo Cristina
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