Ciudad Real, Municipality in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Ciudad Real lies on the southern part of the central Castilian plateau at an elevation of 625 meters and organizes itself around Plaza Mayor. The urban center displays wide streets, rectangular squares, and buildings from different periods that shape the character of a provincial capital.
King Alfonso X founded Villa Real in 1255 as a royal settlement to strengthen control over the region and limit the power of the Military Order of Calatrava. The settlement received city status and its current name in 1420, consolidating its position as a regional center.
The 14th-century Church of San Pedro displays Gothic features and holds several baroque altarpieces inside. Visitors can observe religious processions throughout the year that keep the local Holy Week tradition alive and involve residents of all ages.
The high-speed train connection to Madrid takes about 50 minutes, and regional trains reach other towns across Castilla-La Mancha. The city center is easy to walk around, and most sights lie less than 15 minutes apart from each other.
The surrounding area contains over 300 volcanic structures, including cinder cones and maars, forming a striking geological landscape. Some of these formations lie just a few kilometers from the city and offer a glimpse into the volcanic past of the region.
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