Free walking tours in Chinchón and what to see

Must-sees

Chinchón revolves around its Plaza Mayor, irregular in shape and surrounded by two- and three-storey houses with continuous wooden balconies painted green. For centuries it was used as a bullring, for festivals and for theatre, and it still hosts bullfighting events today. Sitting on one of its terraces at midday is part of the visit, as is trying the anís that made the village famous.

Above the square rises the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, whose high altar holds a painting of the Assumption by Goya, whose brother was chaplain here. Nearby is the Clock Tower, the remains of a vanished church. On the outskirts is the 16th-century Castillo de los Condes, which can be seen from outside. The parador occupies a former Augustinian convent and its cloister can be visited.

Free tours and guided visits

Chinchón is a small village and free walking tours are scarce, especially outside weekends. When there are any, they are pay-what-you-like walks around the square, the church, the Clock Tower and the cobbled streets, with stories of the counts and of the square's use as a stage.

The most common option is to arrive on a guided trip from Madrid, which often combines Chinchón with the Royal Palace and gardens of Aranjuez. There are also visits to wineries and traditional cellars dug beneath the houses, where wine was made and stored. The tourist office is a good place to ask about guided routes on specific dates.

How long to spend

Half a day is enough to see the square and the church, take a walk around the old town and have lunch in one of the taverns on the square. If you want to see it at leisure and enjoy the atmosphere at sunset, once the groups leave, stay a night. With two days you can combine it with Aranjuez or other villages in the Las Vegas district, such as Colmenar de Oreja.

Where to stay

The best choice is to sleep in the centre, a few minutes from the Plaza Mayor. Everything is walkable and at night the village is very quiet. The parador, in the former convent, is an option with history, and there are rural houses and small hotels with patios. If you arrive by car, park in the designated areas on the outskirts, because the streets in the centre are narrow and steep.