Free walking tours in Almagro and what to see

Must-sees

It all starts in Almagro’s Plaza Mayor, long and lined with stone-columned arcades and glazed galleries painted green. On one side is the 17th-century Corral de Comedias, the only theatre of its era preserved intact and still in use. Seeing its courtyard and wooden stage helps you picture Golden Age theatre.

A few steps away is the National Theatre Museum, with costumes, models and stage designs. It is worth wandering the streets of whitewashed houses and heraldic doorways, and seeking out the Fúcares warehouse, linked to the German bankers who did business here. The convent of the Asunción de Calatrava, with its Renaissance cloister, recalls the importance of the Order of Calatrava in the town. And do not leave without trying Almagro aubergines.

Free tours and guided visits

Almagro is small and free tours are scarce. When there are any, they are pay-what-you-wish walks round the square, the Corral and the noble houses, with stories of actors, military orders and merchants. The usual options are the guided town walk run by local guides and the theatrical visit to the Corral de Comedias, highly recommended for understanding the place.

To round off the trip, there are guided outings to the Campo de Calatrava, with its old volcanoes, the castle-convent of Calatrava la Nueva and Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park. In July, the International Classical Theatre Festival fills the town with performances, and many guided visits adapt to its programme.

How long to spend

A full day is enough to see the square, the Corral and the museum and stroll the historic centre at leisure. If you want to see a play at the Corral or explore the area, stay two days. The first for the town and the theatre at night. The second for Calatrava la Nueva or Las Tablas de Daimiel. In July book ahead, because the festival draws big crowds.

Where to stay

The best choice is to sleep inside the historic centre, near the Plaza Mayor. Everything is a few minutes’ walk away and at night the town is quiet and lit up. There are charming hotels in manor houses with courtyards and a parador in a former Franciscan convent. If you are driving and want more space or a better price, the rural houses around are a good alternative.