Free walking tours in La Roda and what to see

Must-sees

La Roda is in the Mancha Alta of Albacete province, by the A-31 and about forty kilometres from the provincial capital. Its old town is a declared historic-artistic ensemble and keeps a fine collection of 16th and 17th-century doorways, coats of arms, Gothic arches and wrought-iron grilles. It is presided over by the church of El Salvador, Renaissance and built on Gothic remains, with an altarpiece and a parish museum not to be missed.

Wandering the streets, the noble houses appear: the Casa del Inquisidor, the house of Doctor La Encina with its crested doorway, the house of the Countess of Villaleal with its grilles and balconies, and the Alcañabate house, where Saint Teresa of Ávila stayed. The Lienzo de Doña Ana is a very fine Plateresque façade. The Antonio Martínez Museum covers local history. And before you leave, try the miguelitos, the puff pastry and custard sweet that made the town famous.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free walking tours in La Roda. The simplest option is to explore the old town on your own, as the monuments are close together and easy to see from the street. Ask at the tourist office about visits to the historic centre or the church of El Salvador on particular dates. If you are after organised tours, you will find more options in Albacete and on routes through La Mancha.

How long to spend

Three or four hours cover the essentials: the church of El Salvador and its museum, a walk past the crested houses and the Lienzo de Doña Ana, and a stop for miguelitos. If you are interested in local history, add an hour for the town museum. La Roda works well as a half-day stop on a trip along the A-31 or as an add-on to a visit to Albacete.

Where to stay

La Roda has decent accommodation for its size, with hotels and guesthouses both in the centre and near the motorway junctions, the latter very handy if you are passing through. Sleeping in the centre lets you stroll through the old town as evening falls. For more variety, Albacete is less than half an hour away by car and has accommodation of every category.