General information
Surrounded by hills, Ciudad Real makes a contrast from the flat plains as seen in the rest of Castile La Mancha. It was founded in the 13th century to be used as a base for while opposing the Military Order of Calatrava. In the 17th century, it was the capital of Castile La Mancha, the reason for some of its great architecture due to the money that was put into it. Today, with its rapid links into Madrid, it is becoming a popular destination for commuters.
The monuments of Ciudad Real
City’s culture centres on the three gothic churches which were planned during the time of Alfonso X, the founder of the city. The oldest of the three is the church of Santiago, beautifully maintained with impressive murals. It shows influences from Baroque and look up to admire the Mudejar roof. The second is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Prod, which has elements from seven centuries in between the 13th and the 19th, the most inspiring being the Baroque choir stalls and reredos. The final is the church of San Pedro which has an exterior of a fortress and inside, a union of styles, gothic, Muslim and Christian.
