{"id":2925,"date":"2022-11-24T05:00:47","date_gmt":"2022-11-24T05:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escuela-hablamos.com\/?p=2925"},"modified":"2022-11-23T07:25:13","modified_gmt":"2022-11-23T07:25:13","slug":"spanish-cities-alcala-de-henares","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escuela-hablamos.com\/es\/spanish-cities-alcala-de-henares\/","title":{"rendered":"Spanish cities \u2013 Alcal\u00e1 de Henares"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ciudad (city) of Alcal\u00e1 de Henares is a must-see when you\u2019re living and studying in Madrid<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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Now you\u2019re in Madrid studying Spanish<\/b>, it\u2019s about time you got out and saw some of the other amazing places near the capital filled with sitios de inter\u00e9s <\/b>(<\/i>interesting sites<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> to get more of a flavour of Spanish culture. The ciudad <\/b>(<\/i>city<\/i><\/b>) <\/i>of Alcal\u00e1 de Henares<\/b> is a must-see when you\u2019re living and studying in Madrid. It is, like Segovia<\/a> which featured in one of our previous blogs, classed as patrimonio de la humanidad <\/b>(<\/i>a World Heritage Site<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> and is the lugar de nacimiento <\/b>(<\/i>birthplace<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> of Miguel de Cervantes<\/b> who authored the famous novel El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha<\/b>.<\/p>\n

The city of Alcal\u00e1 de Henares takes its name from the Moorish defensive settlement which was built in the pre-exiting town dating from prehistoric times. Nowadays, the city is the third biggest settlement in the Comunidad de Madrid<\/b> (<\/i>Madrid region<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> and an important university town. Let\u2019s take a look at what there is to see and do there.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Visitar la casa natal de Miguel de Cervantes \u2013 Visit Miguel de Cervante\u2019s birthplace<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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If you\u2019re taking an excursi\u00f3n <\/b>(<\/i>excursion\/trip<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> to Alcal\u00e1, you\u2019ve absolutely got to go and see the home of the author Miguel de Cervantes<\/b>. Located on the beautiful Calle Mayor<\/b> (<\/i>Main Street<\/i><\/b>)<\/i>, the house is now a museo<\/b> dedicated to the author\u2019s life and connection with the city. Also, right in front of the building is un banco <\/b>(<\/i>a bench<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> with bronze statues of the main characters from the novel Don Quijote <\/b>\u2013 the man himself and his famous sidekick Sancho Panza<\/b>. Take a moment to sit next to them and sacar una foto<\/b> (<\/i>take a picture<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> to show all your classmates in your Spanish lessons<\/b>!<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Dar un paseo por Calle Mayor \u2013 Take a stroll down Calle Mayor<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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In order to reach Cervante\u2019s house, you\u2019ll need to dar un paseo <\/b>(<\/i>take a walk<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> down the famous Calle Mayor<\/b> in the city centre. This street is extremely well-maintained, and is in fact the longest calle soportalada <\/b>(<\/i>street with colonnades<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> in Europe! It\u2019s full of tiendas <\/b>(<\/i>shops<\/i><\/b>)<\/i>, bares <\/b>(<\/i>bars<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> and cafeter\u00edas <\/b>(<\/i>caf\u00e9s<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> to buy some recuerdos <\/b>(<\/i>souvenirs<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> or tomar algo <\/b>(<\/i>have something to eat or drink<\/i><\/b>)<\/i>. A bonus is that you\u2019ll get to speak Spanish<\/b> with some locals while you\u2019re there and impress them with what you\u2019ve learned in your Spanish classes<\/b>.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Pasar un rato en la plaza de Cervantes \u2013 Spend some time in the Plaza de Cervantes<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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The central square, la plaza de Cervantes<\/b>, is about halfway down Calle Mayor<\/b> and serves as a focal point for all the fiestas <\/b>(<\/i>festivals<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> which take place in the city each year. The most important fiesta <\/b>is the Ferias de Alcal\u00e1 de Henares<\/b> which takes place every August for one week. There are all sorts of activities during this time, including lots of conciertos en directo <\/b>(<\/i>live concerts<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> and the curious pasacalles de Gigantes y Cabezudos <\/b>(<\/i>the parade of the giants and big heads<\/i><\/b>)<\/i>. Hundreds of massive marionetas <\/b>(<\/i>puppets<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> representing different historical people and cultural figures are marched through the streets of the city accompanied by the sounds of traditional music. It\u2019s a great way to see some authentic Spanish culture<\/b> in action so don\u2019t miss it on your stay here learning Spanish<\/b>.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Ir a ver la sede de la Universidad de Alcal\u00e1 \u2013 Go and see the University of Alcal\u00e1<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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In the Plaza de San Diego<\/b>, just off plaza de Cervantes<\/b>, you\u2019ll find what is today the central offices of the Universidad de Alcal\u00e1<\/b>. This university, fundada <\/b>(<\/i>founded<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> in 1499 by Cardenal Cisneros<\/b>, a famous Spanish cardinal, is housed in some of the most spectacular buildings in the city. In fact, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid <\/b>is actually, due to various historical reasons, the continuation of the original school from 1499 but the Universidad de Alcal\u00e1<\/b> was re-launched in the 1970s and occupies the original school\u2019s buildings. It\u2019s definitely worth hacer una visita guiada <\/b>(<\/i>taking a guided tour<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> of the university\u2019s main faculties as they are all architecturally interesting. Also, once you\u2019ve been studying Spanish<\/b> for a while you might decide to go and do a carrera <\/b>(<\/i>degree<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> there as it\u2019s a prestigious educational institution.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\u00a1Tapear!<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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Obviously, all the walking you\u2019ll be doing around Alcal\u00e1 will mean that at some point you\u2019ll fancy something para comer <\/b>(<\/i>to eat<\/i><\/b>)<\/i>. Alcal\u00e1 de Henares, like pretty much any Spanish city, has hundreds of bars and restaurants where you can try all the different local tapas <\/b>(<\/i>small dishes<\/i><\/b>)<\/i>. We\u2019d recommend gambas al ajillo <\/b>(<\/i>prawns in garlic oil<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> or maybe some migas al pastor <\/b>(<\/i>breadcrumbs with chorizo sausage, pancetta and paprika<\/i><\/b>)<\/i> – \u00a1delicioso!<\/b><\/p>\n

That\u2019s just a few of the things Alcal\u00e1 de Henares has to offer, so when you come to take a Spanish course<\/b><\/a> here at Hablamos<\/b>, we definitely recommend visiting and seeing for yourself this amazing medieval city.<\/p>\n

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Hablamos – full-on Spanish!<\/mark><\/span><\/h3><\/div>
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