Ventisquero de la Condesa

The Ventisquero de la Condesa is a snowfield in the Sierra de Guadarrama that covers several hectares and forms a long, narrow strip of accumulated snow. This formation sits in a mountainous area where the Manzanares River originates.

From the 17th to the late 19th century, this snowfield was an important source of ice for the region. Snow was transported by mule-drawn carts to Madrid and nearby towns, where it was used as a natural cooling agent.

The name comes from Francisca de Silva y Mendoza, a noblewoman who held the titles of Marquise of Santillana and Countess of Real de Manzanares. Locals connect this place to the aristocratic past of the Madrid region.

The snowfield sits at a higher elevation in a mountainous region and may be difficult to reach or appear thinner during warmer months. The best time to visit is late winter and early spring, when the snow cover is most visible.

A stone wall was built at this site to maximize snow accumulation and make harvesting easier. This structure shows how people deliberately modified the landscape in the past to better use natural resources for economic gain.