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Almagro Travel Guide


Corral of the Comedies (Almagro - Spain)
Coat of Arms of Almagro (Spain)

Almagro
 
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Coordinates: 38.888238°, -3.711822°

Population: 8,958 inhabitants (2023)
 
 

Almagro is a town worth visiting, as not only does its historical past draw attention, but also its incredible landscape and innumerable monuments and architectural constructions have made it worthy of being named a Historical and Artistic Monument.

It is believed that the first human settlements occurred in the Bronze Age. The locality has Roman influence, as various studies and investigations have revealed works and tombstones of that time. This would indicate that during Roman times, Almagro was socially inhabited.

Different cultures have converged in the municipality. For example, from the Visigothic period there are records due to certain architectural works. The name of the place has an Arab influence. In fact, it is due to the characteristic reddish clay that the municipality and its surroundings present.
 
Main Square in Almagro (Spain)
It served as the residence of important masters, and it was Don Gonzalo Yánez who granted a charter to the town during the 14th century. This was a period when many of the most important buildings that still exist were created.

During the Christian era, commercial activities began to boom in the town and two fairs were granted. Later, during the 16th and 17th centuries, the town began to grow much more. At this time, more buildings were constructed, such as the Parish Church. Thus, Almagro ceased to be just walls.
 
Existing buildings were also reformed, such as the Town Hall and Almagro Square.

In the 18th century, the town faced important and drastic changes. On the one hand, it was declared the capital of the province, but on the other, it had to bear the damage inflicted by the Lisbon earthquake. There were many who tried to push the town towards new and greater improvements, but for this it was necessary to focus on development and economic growth. Thus, the textile industry was created in the municipality. Later, the lace industry was also implemented.

In 1796, the title of "city" was granted to the municipality by King Charles IV. In the 20th and 21st centuries, Almagro faced various political and administrative changes, which resulted in changes to its architecture.

Its development and value were recognized precisely in 1972, the year in which it was declared a Historic and Artistic Site. During the 20th century, many of the existing buildings were restored and several others were built. Another great work of this period was one of the most important buildings in the city: the National Theatre Museum.
 
 
Almagro finds its source of income mainly in the agriculture of cereals and fruits. However, with the passing of time, it has been focusing on other economic sectors, such as industry. Tourism currently plays a very important role in the town. For this reason, the construction of hotels and shops have set the tone in recent years.

Top 5 places to visit in Almagro

Among the places to visit in Almagro are some truly unforgettable sites:

National Theatre Museum

Almagro. Museo del Teatro
This is a site of tourist interest, as over the years various rehabilitations have been applied to it so that the general public can access it. This building is located in Maestral Palace.

The National Institute of Performing Arts and Music has been in charge of carrying out the best of the spaces that make up the place. It is part of the network of national museums and was inaugurated in 1924, although there are archive records from 1919. Its new headquarters were inaugurated on February 4, 2004.
 
Here, a permanent exhibition of the history of the theatre is offered, starting from the Greco-Roman theatre and the theatre of the golden centuries. Great importance and prominence are assigned to certain theatrical and literary pieces such as La Celestina.

Main Square of Almagro

Main Square (Almagro - Spain)
This square is one of the tourist sites with the most history in Almagro. In fact, it is a medieval-style square that, with the passing of the 16th century, underwent various structural changes. These were due mainly to the administrative changes that took place in the city.

New buildings have been built in the Main Square, due to economic growth based on tourism in the municipality. It has a rectangular base and is made up of two sides, one of which faces the Maestral Palace, measuring approximately 104.5 meters by 37 meters in length.

Corral of the Comedies

Corral of the Comedies (Almagro - Spain)
This building is part of the Main Square of Almagro and was declared a National Monument on March 4, 1955. Its genesis dates from the 17th century.

It is a theatre of great significance and historical importance for the municipality, as it is the only one of its kind that remains intact in terms of its architecture in all of Spain.

It is believed that it was built in 1628. Initially, it occupied at least 622 square meters of surface.
 
Many of the theatrical plays of the municipality were presented here, but it later underwent several changes both in its internal structure and at the administration level.

However, in 1952, various restorations were carried out, giving it the importance and beauty that characterized it in the past. The Almagro Classical Theatre Festival is held at its facilities.

St. Augustine Church

St. Augustine Church (Almagro - Spain)
This was previously made up of a convent and the church itself. It was founded in 1635 by royal decree.

Due to differences at the administrative level and in terms of religious beliefs, the building has suffered various damages, such as the demolition of the convent. It is a hall church-style temple with side naves of different heights. It has a taller central nave and also has eight chapels that detach from the nave evenly to the sides.
 
It includes a chapel with distinctive features such as a barrel vault, arches, and Tuscan pilasters. It also has a half orange dome that serves as one of the exhibition centres of the International Classical Theatre Festival of Almagro.

Inside the church are figures and icons representative of the religious beliefs of the municipality. These seek to exalt the religious aspect of the city.

St. Dominic Square

St. Dominic Square (Almagro - Spain)
If you want to spend a quiet time learning a little about the town, this is a tourist destination par excellence. Its beauty is based on its simplicity.

From this square, one has direct access to the Palace of the Marquises of Torremejía. From it, one can have complete views of a large part of the municipality. Sometimes, it is used as a venue for musical concerts and theatrical performances.

Accommodation in Almagro

Gastronomy of Almagro

The gastronomy of Almagro is diverse and delicious. Most of the native dishes include the region's own crops, with pleasant but distinctive flavours.

One of the most popular dishes in the municipality is the manchego tiznao. It is a preparation based on cod accompanied by locally grown vegetables. It also contains certain seasonings that provide its characteristic flavour.

There is no dish like the Manchego ratatouille, whose flavour and pleasant appearance are the product of the combination of different vegetables and fried tomato, as well as fried egg. It is a delicacy worth enjoying in any good restaurant in Almagro.

International Festival of Classical Theatre

One of the most important festivals in all of Spain is the Almagro International Festival of Classical Theatre, which began in 1978. It is held annually and its main objective is to honour theatre in general in each of the times that enriched such sublime art.

During the festival, all of Almagro dresses up as if going to a party, as the streets, museums and corrals serve as the venue for this prestigious festival, which takes the Golden Age of Spanish Theatre as its main reference. In addition, this commemoration seeks to exalt the historical value of the monuments of the municipality.

Theatrical presentations are popular in Almagro. During the festival, educational workshops are held whose function is to educate and inform visitors and locals about the evolution and importance of theatre as an artistic medium to express oneself and learn about stories.

Poetry also has a place of honour at the festival. Art is what makes Almagro the most interesting tourist destination in the province.
 


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