Villanueva de los Infantes, Ciudad Real
Villanueva de los Infantes
Member of Los Pueblos más Bonitos de España
Francisco de Quevedo spent his last days in a convent cell in Villanueva de los Infantes, and a university team has named the town as the 'place in La Mancha' that opens Don Quixote. Capital of the Campo de Montiel since 1573, it gathers churches and palaces around a Plaza Mayor framed by 18th-century mansions. Wine and olives still underpin the local economy.
Highlights
- The cell in the Santo Domingo convent where Quevedo died
- Church of San Andrés, where Quevedo's remains were found in 2007
- Casa del Caballero del Verde Gabán, described by Cervantes in Don Quixote
- Mayo a las Damas on 30 April, songs sung outside young women's homes
- Wines from the town's vineyards, under the La Mancha designation
Text adapted from Wikipedia (Villanueva de los Infantes (Ciudad Real) (ES), Villanueva de los Infantes, Ciudad Real, Villanueva de los Infantes (Ciudad Real) (IT)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Population: 4,733
Things to see
Events through the year
- CarnivalPublic celebrations ending with the Entierro de la sardina
- Holy Week
- San MarcosEspantar al Diablo: country picnic and blessing of the crops
- Los MayosGroups of young men sing to their sweethearts outside their homes
- Feast of San IsidroPloughing and tractor contests, then a pilgrimage with decorated carts
- Las CrucesDecorated crosses visited at night, with toasted-grain puñao and punch
- Ferias y fiestas localesRides and outdoor bars in the Parque de la Constitución
- Verbena de Nuestra Señora de La AntiguaNight at the sanctuary before escorting the Virgin into town
- Fiestas patronalesNovenas and processions for the Virgen de la Antigua and Santo Tomás
- Pisto GiganteRecord-sized pisto cooked alongside an international folk festival
Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.
Adapted from Wikipedia (Villanueva de los Infantes (Ciudad Real) (IT), Villanueva de los Infantes (Ciudad Real) (ES)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Local food & wine
- Ensalá de limónDishThe most typical local dish: lemon, onion, oil, paprika and apple or orange
- AlfonsinosSweetSponge sandwiches with pastry cream and icing
- Manchego cheeseCheese
- La Mancha wineWineProtected-designation wine from local vineyards
- Campo de Montiel olive oilOlive oilOil under the Campo de Montiel designation of origin
- Pisto manchegoDish
Adapted from Wikipedia (Villanueva de los Infantes (Ciudad Real)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to sleep
3 places to stay within 3 km
- Hotels 1
- B&Bs and guest houses 1
- Campsites 1
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Nearby member villages
- Segura de la Sierra · 58 km
- Almagro · 63 km
- Letur · 90 km
- Baños de la Encina · 91 km
- Alcalá del Júcar · 146 km