Free walking tours in Navalcarnero and what to see

Must-sees

Navalcarnero, in the south-west of the Madrid region, holds the title of Royal Town. Its heart is the Plaza de Segovia, an arcaded Castilian square with wooden balconies, listed as a heritage site together with the church. The church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción mixes styles, with a Mudéjar apse, Baroque altarpieces and a slender tower. In 1649 Philip IV married Mariana of Austria here, an event the town recalls every year.

Walking round the old town you will see trompe-l’oeil paintings on façades, the hermitage of San Roque and the Casa de la Lonja, a former noble house turned museum. The Interpretation Centre tells the local history and its winemaking tradition. Beneath the houses hide caves used as wine cellars, as Navalcarnero belongs to the Vinos de Madrid designation of origin. At the end of August the Golden Age Royal Market is held.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free walking tours in Navalcarnero. The tourist office, in the old town hall on Plaza de Segovia, organises guided tours for groups by prior booking, including the church and the Interpretation Centre, and on some Sundays routes around the hermitages and murals. Several local wineries offer visits to their cellar caves with wine tasting.

How long to spend

About three hours are enough for the old town, the square and the church. If you add a winery visit and lunch in town, allow a whole day. It is an easy trip from Madrid. If you coincide with the Golden Age Royal Market or the Wine Fair in spring, you will see the town at its liveliest, though also at its busiest.

Where to stay

The most convenient choice is to sleep in or around the old town, near Plaza de Segovia, to do everything on foot. The choice is limited, with few hotels and some apartments, so book early for festival dates. If you cannot find a room, Móstoles is very close, and Madrid offers every option less than an hour away.