Free walking tours in Morata de Tajuña and what to see

Must-sees

Morata de Tajuña lies in the south-east of the Madrid region, in the valley of the river Tajuña, surrounded by market gardens, olive groves and vineyards. A walk through the centre starts at the town hall, a 19th-century building with a clock tower and stone-columned arcades. Nearby is the 16th-century Renaissance church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, which keeps a baptismal font from the same period. Also worth seeing are the 17th-century hermitage of the Virgen de la Antigua and the Milling Museum, housed in a restored flour mill by the river.

The valley holds an important part of recent history. During the Spanish Civil War, the Battle of Jarama was fought on these hills, and trenches, bunkers and tunnels dug into the hillside remain around the town. To stretch your legs, the Tajuña Greenway passes through Morata along the line of an old railway.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free walking tours in Morata de Tajuña. The most interesting guided option is a tour of the Battle of Jarama sites, because the trenches and bunkers are not signposted and are hard to find on your own. The rest of the town is easy to see on foot. If you are in Madrid, you can combine the visit with Chinchón, which is very close and often features in trips to the area.

How long to spend

Two or three hours are enough for the town, the church and the mill museum. If you also want to see the remains of the Battle of Jarama, allow a full day. Over a weekend you can add a cycle along the Tajuña Greenway and a trip to Chinchón or Perales de Tajuña. At Easter, the Living Passion play fills the town with locals and visitors.

Where to stay

Morata has little accommodation, mostly rural houses and the odd place to stay in the centre or the valley, handy if you plan to cycle the greenway. Being so close, many people visit on a day trip from Madrid. If you want to sleep in the area and cannot find a room, Chinchón, a few kilometres away, has much more choice and a very pleasant old town to spend the night in.