If you are planning to visit Madrid, Spain during an upcoming holiday, you should really think about taking some time out of your busy tour schedule to make a stopover in Chinch\u00f3n.\u00a0 Situated a mere 45 kilometers from Madrid, Chinch\u00f3n is a small Spanish town with a rich history, one that features a number of interesting sites and lively attractions to visit.\u00a0 Below we have provided a brief overview of Chinch\u00f3n, including a brief synopsis of the town\u2019s history and some information regarding its most important sites.<\/p>\n
Chinch\u00f3n:\u00a0 Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n History<\/strong><\/p>\n From a historical standpoint, the town of Chinch\u00f3n dates back to the time of the Carpathians, albeit shortly thereafter civilizations such as Rome, Visigoth and Arab also found home there.\u00a0 The area was under Muslim domain until 1139, but was later conquered by the troops of King Alfonso VII of Castile and became part of the Segovia Council.\u00a0 In the 1400s, it became known as a Villa by decree of King Henry IV of Castile, demonstrating the town was growing and becoming more prosperous.<\/p>\n Towards the beginning of the 17th<\/sup> century, Chinch\u00f3n was transformed into one of the greatest cities of its day, as Philip V of Spain was proclaimed king of the Plaza Mayor of the Villa during the War of the Spanish Succession.\u00a0 In 1845, the Society of Harvesters<\/em> was founded in the Villa, a group made up of neighbors who harvested grapes and celebrated wine, the region\u2019s most significant product.<\/p>\n Since the 20th<\/sup> century, Chinch\u00f3n has belonged to the Community of Madrid.\u00a0 Its historical and cultural richness earned it the declaration of \u201cHistoric Artistic Area\u201d in 1974, a distinction recognized under the general direction of Fine Arts.<\/p>\n Chinch\u00f3n:\u00a0 Sites and Attractions<\/strong><\/p>\n The most important location in Chinch\u00f3n is the Plaza Mayor, a classical medieval plaza from the 15th<\/sup> century located in the center of the town.\u00a0 Its structural harmony and proportions, characterized by its irregular shape and simple arrangement, make it one of the most beautiful town squares in the world.\u00a0 All of its elements are organized and hierarchical, with the highest level of the plaza boasting houses with three galleried bases and 234 wooden balconies, called \u201cclaros<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 When visiting Chinch\u00f3n, tourists will find most of the town\u2019s shops and restaurants in the Plaza Mayor, many of them ancient caves that have been transformed into bodegas.\u00a0 The square is also occasionally used as an improvised theater and a venue in which to stage bullfights.<\/p>\n Another important attraction in Chinch\u00f3n is the Church of the Ascension, constructed in the 15th<\/sup> century and renowned for its blend of styles ranging from Gothic to Baroque.\u00a0 Inside the church is another rare treat:\u00a0 a painting by Spain\u2019s Francisco Goya called the Asunci\u00f3n de la Virgen.<\/em><\/p>\n Adjacent to the Plaza Mayor is the town\u2019s famous Clock Tower, which was formerly connected to the ancient Our Lady of Grace Church that was destroyed during the War of Independence.\u00a0 The tower was restored in 1713, but the church has remained buried.<\/p>\n The Lope de Vega Theatre is another must-see attraction when visiting the town of Chinch\u00f3n.\u00a0 The theatre was built back in 1891 in memory of the famous Spanish writer Lope de Vega.\u00a0 Other highlights of the town include the 7th<\/sup>-century San Antonio Hermitage, the oldest religious structure in town, and the 17th<\/sup>-century Lady of Mercy Hermitage located nearby.\u00a0 Finally there is the Ethnological Museum, a great place to explore the history of the town.\u00a0 The museum features a number of ancient tools and instruments that tell the story of Chinch\u00f3n from the very beginning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you are planning to visit Madrid, Spain during an upcoming holiday, you should really think about taking some time out of your busy tour schedule to make a stopover in Chinch\u00f3n.\u00a0 Situated a mere 45 kilometers from Madrid, Chinch\u00f3n is a small Spanish town with a rich history, one that features a number of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2863,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-madrid"],"yoast_head":"\n