Spain has nothing to envy its Italian neighbors. In our country we have a Roman Colosseum, a Venice without tourists and even a miniature Vatican. You read correctly, two hours from Madrid is a small, picturesque Castilian town that houses an architectural treasure, so impressive that it has earned the nickname 'Vatican Manchego'.
San Carlos del Valle is a tiny town in Ciudad Real that barely exceeds a thousand inhabitants. Hidden between the Alhambra mountain range and the Cristo-Bailones mountain range, this corner of La Mancha could have gone completely unnoticed if it were not for its magnificent church and Plaza Mayor, comparable to those of San Pedro in the Holy See.
The parish church of Santísimo Cristo del Valle is the epicenter of this square, with a Greek cross plan marked at each end with four imposing square towers, all of them crowned with Madrid slate spiers. Its late baroque style already has neoclassical touches, corresponding to the 18th century, which is when it was built, on the old hermitage of Santa Elena.
Despite its magnificence, the most impressive thing about this church is its enormous 28-meter-high dome, crowned with an arrow-shaped spire that rises 47 meters above ground level and makes San Carlos del Valle visible from afar. This vision is remarkably reminiscent of that of the Vatican and has earned it the title of Asset of Cultural Interest.
The church is located in one of the largest and most fascinating main squares in Spain, with a rounded perimeter reminiscent of the floor plan of St. Peter's Square. There is also the town hall, with a beautiful continuous wooden balcony that offers the best panoramic views of this architectural gem.
