At least on paper, September in Madrid promises to keep everyone entertained: free concerts, local festivals… And on the 11th and 12th, Heritage Nights in Alcalá de Henares. This event is held every year in the 15 Spanish cities recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites with the goal of bringing together heritage, citizen participation, and contemporary creation through free activities in their historic centers.
In Alcalá de Henares, these activities include, for example, concerts, outdoor exhibitions, dance and craft workshops , the Complutense Symphonic Band Parade on the 12th at 9:00 p.m., and the circus and fire show Drak Frama ( on the same day at 10:00 p.m.).
Almost all of them are completely free ( with the exception of the Concerts on the City Walls), and many are designed for the whole family. Additionally, participating in these events offers the added appeal of taking place in venues within the town’s historic center, such as Plaza de Cervantes or Plaza de los Santos Niños.
The museums and monuments that will remain open until midnight in Alcalá de Henares
To mark Heritage Nights, iconic monuments (including some that are usually closed to the public) will open their doors free of charge during evening hours in the participating cities. In Alcalá de Henares, the historic sites that will extend their hours on September 12 are:
- The Cervantes Birthplace Museum will be open from 10:00 a.m. to midnight.
- The Archaeological and Paleontological Museum will be open from 10:00 a.m. to midnight.
- The Capilla del Oidor will be open from 10:00 a.m. to midnight.
- The Santa María Tower will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to midnight.
- The Roman archaeological sites of Complutum, the House of Hyppolitus, and the Antiquarium will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to midnight.
On the 12th, there will also be guided tours, such as “Tales and Legends of Alcalá” at 6:00 p.m. (departing from the Capilla del Oidor) and “Alcalá and St. Ignatius of Loyola” at 6:30 p.m. (departing from the Casa de la Entrevista). The “Discover Alcalá by Night” tour will take place on both September 11 and 12 at 9:30 p.m., departing from the Casa de la Entrevista.
Free music and theater performances
Many monuments will also host free music and theaterperformances that offer a different perspective on heritage. Among these are:
- The Ruins of Santa María, where the Schola Cantorum of Alcalá de Henares will perform a concert on the 11th at 9:30 p.m. and the comedy *Hippolytus and Laetitia* will be staged on the 12th at 8:30 p.m.
- The Church of the Hospital de Antezana, where “Music by Candlelight” will take place on the 12th from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- The Chapel of San Ildefonso at the University of Alcalá will host two concerts as part of the International Plectrum Festival on the 11th and 12th, starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be picked up in advance at the box office of the Teatro Salón Cervantes.
- The Corral de Comedias, where the performance *Emigradas* by the Cienfuegosdanza company will take place as part of the Escena Patrimonio festival. Free tickets will be available at the theater box office starting one hour before the performance begins on September 12.
However, the “Concerts on the City Walls” will not be free; these include performances by Valeria Castro at the Huerta del Obispo on the 11th at 9:00 p.m. and by Miguel Ríos on the 12th at the same time. The complete program for “Heritage Nights” in Alcalá de Henares can be found on its website.