El Boalo

El Boalo is the capital of a municipality in the Sierra de Guadarrama at about 980 meters elevation and encompasses three interconnected villages near Madrid. The area spreads across hilly terrain with traditional village structures set against the surrounding mountains of the region.

The settlement began during the Reconquista when shepherds from Segovia established communities that later became part of the realm of Manzanares. These medieval foundations shaped the structure and character of the place that remains today.

The Santa María la Blanca Church in Cerceda shows the religious roots of this place with its late medieval architecture. Visitors can see artworks from different periods that reflect how people have lived here for centuries.

The village sits in hilly terrain and is best explored on foot since the village centers are compact and easy to walk through. The best time to visit is during warmer months when the mountain area is pleasant and walking trails in the area are accessible.

Near Cerro el Rebollar, a Visigoth cemetery was found in 1960 that revealed remains from ancient times buried in the earth. These discoveries show that people lived in this area long before it became a medieval settlement.