Discovering Don Quixote

Walking through the lands of La Mancha as our noble Don Quixote and his loyal squire once did means discovering authentic places full of history and literary charm.

Here are some of the locations that, in one way or another, are linked to the work of Miguel de Cervantes and that you can enjoy. Ready for an adventure? Follow us!

Our Journey Begins in Argamasilla de Alba

This is the place in La Mancha that Don Quixote—or perhaps the writer himself—did not wish to remember. Here, we visit the Casa de Medrano, the place where, according to tradition, Cervantes began writing his masterpiece. Inside, you’ll find a humble and rustic cave that once served as a prison.

The reasons behind Cervantes’ imprisonment in Argamasilla remain uncertain. Popular tradition suggests that he was there as a tax collector and was arrested for fiscal reasons or perhaps a love affair. Regardless, in Argamasilla, Cervantes may have encountered the nobleman Rodrigo Pacheco, a man believed to be mentally unstable, who coincidentally had a sister named Aldonza. Many believe he was the inspiration for the first draft of Don Quixote.

At the Church of San Juan Bautista, you can see a portrait of Rodrigo Pacheco Avilés in an ex-voto painting located in the Chapel of the Virgin of Charity of Illescas (to the left of the main altar). The painting dates back to 1601 (four years before the first part of Don Quixote was published) and bears the following inscription:

“Our Lady appeared to this knight while he was suffering from a severe illness, abandoned by the doctors, on the eve of Saint Matthew’s Day in the year 1601. He entrusted himself to Our Lady and promised her a silver lamp, calling upon her day and night to relieve a great pain in his head caused by an internal chill.”

Did Rodrigo Pacheco Avilés truly inspire Cervantes to create the Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha? The mystery remains for you to solve. What is certain is that this small literary corner is a must-visit for literature and history lovers.

(https://www.ellugardelamancha.es/)

Alcázar de San Juan – Birthplace of Cervantes?

Alcázar de San Juan and Alcalá de Henares both claim to be the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes. Both towns have baptismal records to support their claims. But which one holds the truth? The mystery remains unsolved.

If you are curious to unravel the enigma, visit the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor, where they preserve the manuscript that not only records the name of the author of Don Quixote but also includes a marginal note stating that “this is the true Cervantes.”

(https://turismoycultura.alcazardesanjuan.es/)

A Must-Visit: The Hidalgo House Museum

The Hidalgo House Museum is located in a 16th-century manor house known as Casa del Rey. Here, you can explore the lifestyle of the hidalgos, the minor nobility who inspired Cervantes when creating the character of Don Quixote de La Mancha.

The museum houses a valuable collection of original pieces loaned by major Spanish museums, including the Army Museum, the National Museum of Decorative Arts, and the Museum of Santa Cruz. The visit is divided into two floors, each showcasing different aspects of daily life in La Mancha during Cervantes’ time.

Campo de Criptana – The Land of Windmills

Here, you’ll experience the legendary battle with the windmills, narrated in Chapter VIII of the first part of Don Quixote:

“At this point, they came in sight of thirty or forty windmills that rise from that plain, and no sooner did Don Quixote see them than he said to his squire:

‘Fortune is arranging matters for us better than we could have shaped our desires ourselves, for look there, friend Sancho Panza, where thirty or more monstrous giants present themselves, with whom I mean to do battle and deprive them of their lives, with whose spoils we shall begin to enrich ourselves. This is righteous warfare, and it is God’s great service to sweep so evil a breed from off the face of the earth.’

“What giants?” said Sancho Panza.

“Those thou seest there,” answered his master, “with the long arms, and some have them nearly two leagues long.”

“Look, your worship,” said Sancho, “what we see there are not giants but windmills, and what seem to be their arms are the sails that, turned by the wind, make the millstone go.”

These iconic windmills, now a Cultural Heritage Site, will ignite your imagination. Built with masonry and whitewashed with lime, these tower-type windmills feature small windows that help the miller align the blades with the prevailing wind. Did you know that the windmill’s cap can rotate 360º to maximize wind efficiency?

From the Cerro de la Paz, we recommend exploring the Albaicín and getting lost in its charming streets.

El Toboso – The Homeland of Dulcinea

Follow in the footsteps of Don Quixote’s platonic love.

“We have reached the church, Sancho…” (Part II, Chapter IX)

This is one of the most famous quotes from Don Quixote, widely used throughout history. Along with other passages—“It was around midnight when Don Quixote and Sancho left the forest and entered El Toboso…”—these texts are engraved in forged iron plaques adorning the facades of houses in El Toboso.

These literary landmarks immerse travelers in the world of the most universal novel, leading them to the Dulcinea House Museum and other significant monuments and charming spots in the town.

Tradition holds that Miguel de Cervantes was inspired by Ana Martínez Zarco de Morales, with whom he was allegedly in love. The name Dulcinea is said to derive from Dulce-Ana. Ana belonged to a noble Manchegan farming family, the Martínez Zarco de Morales, who owned the Casa de la Torrecilla. This 16th-century house has since been converted into a museum—Casa Museo Dulcinea.

(https://eltoboso.es/)

Ending Our Route in Consuegra

Although not mentioned in Don Quixote, Consuegra is worth visiting. Climbing to Cerro Calderico, you’ll find 12 windmills and a majestic medieval castle dominating the landscape.

Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of La Mancha. And if you visit at sunset, don’t forget to take a selfie!

(https://www.consuegra.es/es)