Top 7 Castles around Vegas

La Casa de Oficios y Caballeros is one of the great historical buildings that form part of the immediate surroundings of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. Less known than the palace, it was nevertheless essential for the functioning of the Royal Site and is today a key element of the Cultural Landscape of Aranjuez, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Chinchón is one of the most picturesque and distinctive towns in the Community of Madrid. Located about 45 kilometers from the capital, it stands out for its Castilian atmosphere and its history linked to the aristocracy and cinema.

For its tower, which is worth visiting, and its tree-lined plaza where you can relax in the shade.

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Royal Palace of Aranjuez is surrounded by a total of 111.23 hectares of gardens that can be visited and is located in a fertile plain at the confluence of the Tajo and Jarama rivers. It has been the country residence par excellence of the Spanish monarchs.

The Tower is the icon of Villarejo de Salvanés, it is a unique model of a keep among the constructions of medieval fortresses. Around it there are remains of the walls and rooms that completed the complex of the old castle of the town, occupied for several centuries by the knights of the Order of Santiago. The Plaza de la Constitución concentrates a good part of the monumental Villarejo de Salvanés, opposite the Tower is the church of San Andrés Apóstol, imposing and with tower-shaped buttresses that give a defensive appearance to the building. And one corner is occupied by the Casa de la Tercia, headquarters of the Encomienda Mayor de Castilla and current Ethnographic Museum. An interesting place for fans of the seventh art is the Museo del Cine, the first professional film museum in Spain.

A small town near Madrid that is worth visiting to stroll through its streets and enjoy its typical cuisine. Its main attraction is its Plaza Mayor, an example of the architecture of Castilian porticoed squares - with 234 balconies - and where most of the restaurants are concentrated. But it is worth strolling through its streets, going up to see the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, where we can see Goya's painting "The Assumption of the Virgin". In addition, in front of the church there is a viewing point from which there are excellent views of the Plaza Mayor and the entire town. There is also the Clock Tower and the Lope de Vega Theatre, all just a few metres away. Other places of interest are the Parador de Chinchón, a former Augustinian convent; the Castle of the Counts of Chinchón, the Casa de la Cadena, the hermitages of San Antón and San Roque.

As an inhabitant, Chinchón is a charming town that is visited by many tourists during the weekends. On sunny days it is practically impossible to find a place on the terraces that surround the Plaza Mayor. But during the weekdays and especially in winter it seems like a ghost town that finally belongs to its inhabitants. Thanks to this, the hospitality industry can survive. The patron saint festivals are in August (12-16).

It is a shame that only the keep of the entire walled building is preserved, but it is also fortunate to miss out on enjoying this architectural beauty, whose shape is peculiar and unusual in this type of fortress.