If you are already planning your summer vacation, or if you have simply run out of ideas for your next getaway, we are going to give you a hand, because we have recently discovered the benefits of a small town in Segovia that we have fallen in love with.
Its medieval town, declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1973, is perfect for getting lost in a long walk, and is located in the northeast of the province of Segovia, in the vicinity of the Sierra de Ayllón. If what you are looking for is active tourism, it is the ideal place.
We are talking about Ayllón, a beautiful medieval town less than two hours from Madrid that surprises with its history and beauty.
Ayllón, the medieval town of Segovia ideal for a getaway
Ayllón is a medieval town that has been a National Historic-Artistic Site since 1973 and is considered one of the most beautiful towns in Spain. The great architectural and cultural wealth of this beautiful town is one of the reasons why it is worth a visit. But not the only one.
Like many Spanish towns, this small town has a lot of wealth because different cultures have passed through it, starting with the Celtiberians, whose remains were found on the hill where the La Martina tower stands today. Although the Roman general Marcus Fulvius Nobilior destroyed the village in 190 BC. C., during the Arab occupation of the s. X the area was repopulated and renamed in 1076, this time with the name “Aellon” from which Ayllón later derived. After them, the Goths, Visigoths and Muslims arrived, preserving a Visigoth necropolis in the Estebanvela area.
During the Middle Ages, the strength of this town saw kings such as Alfonso VI of León, Alfonso VII “the Emperor”, Ferdinand III of Castile “the Saint” and Ferdinand IV “the Emplaced”, and historical figures such as María de Molina and the Cid Campeador, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Vicente Ferrer and Saint Teresa of Jesús.
The must-see areas of this beautiful town begin with the Bridge that spans the Aguisejo River, and the Arch, one of the three medieval doors that the town had.
The Contreras Palace, ordered to be built by Juan de Contreras in 1497, the beautiful and spacious Plaza Mayor with the Town Hall that is located in the first palace of the Marquises of Villena. Also essential are the Palace of Bishop Vellosillo, the House of the Eagle and the House-Palace of María Eugenia de Montijo. All stately buildings steeped in history.
Plaza Mayor of Ayllón
The church of San Miguel Arcángel with remains from the 16th century. XII, and a 40-meter-high bell tower, the Hermitage of San Nicolás with a very well-preserved Romanesque façade, and the church of Santa María la Mayor, are some of the buildings that are worth visiting. And although all that remains of the church of San Martín del Castillo is the majestic tower of La Martina and its stone foundations, you will feel like you are in a movie if you visit it.
Martina Tower
The Paredones are a sample of the presence of the Arabs, and the church of San Juan, a Romanesque sample from the 16th century. XIII with a Gothic chapel that is still preserved. One kilometer from the town we find the ruins of the Convent of San Francisco, founded by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1214.
What else can you do on a getaway to Ayllón
Sierra de Ayllón
As we told you, Ayllón is located in the foothills of the Central System, in the so-called Sierra de Ayllón, so hiking is almost mandatory. We can take a 6.2 km route through the Aguisejo that runs along the river bank, or visit the Hoces del Río Riaza or the Peña de Estebanvela Site.
In addition, we can spend the day in the beautiful Hayedo de la Tejera Negra in Cantalojas, which is not far away and which, together with the Hayedo de la Pedrosa in Riofrío de Riaza, is the southernmost of those in Europe.
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