The obsession with porridge has existed since the time of the Phoenicians: it is one of the oldest dishes in the world. A little more than an hour from Madrid, in Castilla-La Mancha, they are prepared with almond flour and local sausage: a nutritious and very appetizing bet in the winter months.
In honor of the Manchegan recipe, on Saturday, November 16, the Gachas Train will depart from the capital to Alcázar de San Juan (Ciudad Real). This train offers a railway-gastronomic experience passing through the fertile valley of the Tajo and the fields of La Mancha that have inspired great writers such as Cervantes and Azorín. The average price of the trip is 27.95 euros for adults and 15.20 euros for children, and tickets are available on the Alsa website.
The train departs at 10:00 a.m. from Chamartín station. During the trip, which lasts just over an hour and a half, passengers can enjoy breakfast in the cafeteria car with the rest of their fellow passengers. After 11:30 a.m., the train will arrive at Alcázar de San Juan, where visitors will be given two and a half hours free to explore the city.
At 2:00 p.m. there will be a tasting of gachas manchegas and a barbecue (all included in the ticket price) on the esplanade next to the station. Afterwards, travelers will be able to continue getting to know the town until the time to return to Madrid (18:00 h).
Alcázar de San Juan: the little treasure of La Mancha
Alcázar de San Juan is a place full of history: its geographical location – next to an important road near Toletum – made it an ideal place for trade during the Ancient Age. However, its golden age did not arrive until the 16th century: in the year 1530, very rich people and royalty lived in its La Mancha hamlets. It then became the birthplace of important intellectuals such as Diego de Torres Rubio and Juan Cobo. Some alcazareños are convinced that Cervantes himself was also born there, which is why they have a small rivalry with those of Alcalá de Henares.
In honor of Cervantes, the main square of Alcazar has a statue of Don Quixote de la Mancha. It is the Plaza de Santa María, where you can also find the Conjunto Palacial del Gran Prior, a sample of the medieval past of the municipality.
Other must-sees on a first visit to the city are the religious temples: the Church of Santa María la Mayor, the Church of San Francisco and the Convent of Santa Clara. In addition, readers should not miss the Museo Casa del Hidalgo, which explains how the nobles who inspired Cervantes to build the character of Don Quixote lived.