Guadalajara: an undiscovered gem
Guadalajara is one of Spain's greatest untapped treasures. The province offers magnificent country walks with vantage points affording beautiful views, as well as impressive architecture and fine dining. Just a few miles outside Madrid, Guadalajara is a great location to set up home or just to enjoy some downtime, away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
Guadalajara sets the backdrop to many great works of literature. Nobel laureate in Literature Camilo José Cela set one of his novels, Journey to the Alcarria, in this breath-taking landscape. The Archpriest of Hita, Alfonso X of Castile, Ernest Hemingway and Julio Caro Baroja were also among the greats who paid tribute in their work to Guadalajara, in Castilla y León, celebrating its landscapes, its monuments and its traditions.
Guadalajara's towns and cities are well worth a visit. The provincial capital itself, Guadalajara, as well as Cifuentes, Brihuega, Sacedón, Pastrana, Mondéjar, Jadraque, Trillo, Sigüenza, Hita, Atienza and Torija, among many others, are scattered – in the words of Nobel laureate Camilo José Cela – across “this beautiful country, where people are now beginning to want to go” (‘New Journey to the Alcarria’).
The uniquely beautiful black villages are a must-see, as are the Entrepeñas and Buendía reservoirs, Alto Tajo natural park, Hayedo de la Tejera Negra natural park and Valdenazar forest.
“this beautiful country where people are now beginning to want to go”
‘New Journey to the Alcarria’, Camilo José Cela
As for architecture, Guadalajara boasts a number of historical landmarks, including the Palace of El Infantado, the Chapel of Luis de Lucena, the Tower of Alamín, the Palace of La Cotilla, the Convent of La Piedad and the Church of San Ginés. No visit would be complete without a trip to the castles of Sigüenza, Zafra (Campillo de Dueñas), Molina de Aragón and Torija, the Ducal Palace of Pastrana and the Cathedral of Santa María (Sigüenza), to name just a fraction of the province's immense architectural heritage.
Fine dining is another of the things Guadalajara does best. Its countless restaurants beguile the senses with roasted lamb and goat meat, the traditional local dish "cochifrito", garlic soup and rich morteruelo patés, not to mention the irresistibly sweet "bizcocho borracho" sponge cakes and of course, the local La Alcarria honey.
Restored mills, stately homes and castles
Whether you need a base from which to explore this glorious region on the occasional get-away or are looking to relocate entirely, we have some unbeatable options for you at The Singular Space. One charming example is this fully-restored 16th century mill in Sigüenza. This warm, welcoming home retains its original stone façade, with access via an impressive arched wooden door.
If your taste tends more towards the modern, then look no further than this contemporary country home. Incorporating the remnants of an old stone wall and encircled by lovely gardens, this modern home succeeds in blending crisp, clean lines with a nostalgic country charm.
This fully-renovated nineteenth century period home is ensconced in a scenic village on the legendary Camino del Cid, just an hour and a half outside Madrid. Your chance to own a little piece of history.
However, if you're looking to set up a business, this extraordinary sixteenth century castle offers endless potential. A spectacular setting for a luxury hotel.
