Guadalajara town (Spain)
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Guadalajara, City Council - by Pavlemadrid (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Description
Guadalajara is the capital of the namesake Province, in Castilla–La Mancha, 65km to the northwest of Madrid. The city was founded in the 9th / 10th century and was granted its first fuero in 1133 by Alonso VII before being given the status of 'city' in 1460. It was for several centuries under the domination of the Mendoza family who held the title of Dukes and Duchesses of El Infantado from 1475 when the Renaissance Palacio del Infantando was built (it now houses the Museum of Guadalajara). The city was sacked during War of the Spanish Succession (early 18th cent.) Architectural highlights include the above-mentioned palace, the Panteón de la Duquesa de Sevillano (commissioned by the Countess herself and completed in 1916, the year she died), the San Ginés and the mudejar Co-Cathedral of Santa Maria.
Access & Transport
The city can be accessed in 1h with the C2 suburban train line from Madrid's Atocha Station By car from Madrid, it is straight on the A2 all the way, taking exit 51 to get into the city. The Pantheon of the Duchess of Sevillano is 500m to the southeast of the city centre (5' walk).
Instructions & Recommendations
We suggest combining this activity with a visit of the Guadalajara Museum (covered in separate reviews) if you are looking for a cultural activity, or if you have children the Guadalajara Zoo might be a better option.
Environmental & Social
The main activities in the city have a low carbon footprint. Tourism helps preserve some of the city's architectural and cultural heritage
Conclusion
The city of Guadalajara (Spain) is not really a touristic destination but is worth a half-day visit as part of an itinerary taking on the rest of the province (there are a few gems) or on the way to Zaragoza / Aragon.
Key positive
Easy to get to from Madrid
Key negative
Only a couple of really outstanding but small monuments
Suitability
Most areas and buildings are accessible for visitors with reduced mobility
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
June 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:0h 45m
est. visit time:3h 15m
Sunrise / early morningNo
MorningOk
Lunch timeOk
AfternoonOk
Sunset / eveningOk
Night – bef. midnightOk
Night – aft. midnightNo