Free walking tours in Villanueva de los Infantes and what to see

Must-sees

Villanueva de los Infantes is the historic capital of the Campo de Montiel and one of the best-preserved monumental ensembles in La Mancha. The centre is the Plaza Mayor, with wooden galleries on the upper floors and stone arcades. On one side is the church of San Andrés, which holds the remains of Francisco de Quevedo, who died in the town in 1645.

Very close is the Santo Domingo convent, where you can see the cell in which Quevedo died. As you stroll you will find many manor houses with coats of arms on their façades, such as the Casa del Arco, as well as the Alhóndiga, the old Santiago hospital and the Casa de los Estudios. Infantes is also one of the places put forward as Don Quixote's village in La Mancha.

Free tours and guided visits

There are usually no regular free walking tours in Villanueva de los Infantes, although the tourist office runs guided visits of the historic centre at weekends and at certain times of year. With a guide it is easier to understand the life of the hidalgos, Quevedo's story and the town's links with Don Quixote.

For an excursion, it is worth heading to the Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park, with a chain of lakes, waterfalls and walking routes, ideal in spring and summer. You can also tour other Campo de Montiel villages, such as Montiel or San Carlos del Valle, which has a very special Baroque square.

How long to spend

The historic centre can be seen well in half a day, or a full day if you go into the churches and stop for the details. A good way to organise it is to start with the Plaza Mayor and San Andrés, continue to Santo Domingo and spend the afternoon wandering among the armorial houses. With a second day you can go to the Lagunas de Ruidera or explore the Campo de Montiel.

Where to stay

The best choice is to stay in the historic centre, a few minutes from the Plaza Mayor. There are rural houses and small hotels in traditional buildings, some in old hidalgo homes, which let you enjoy the town once the day visitors leave. If your plan is nature routes, you can also sleep in the Ruidera area and visit Infantes in a morning.