What to visit?
QUÉ VISITAR
Calles y Plazas
PLAZA DEL ALTOZANO
Right in the centre of Albacete we find this square, which stands out for being surrounded by magnificently maintained gardens and the statue of the cutler. It is an ideal place to start your visit to the city of Albacete and to take your first photographs. Below this fountain is the Albacete Peace Interpretation and Awareness Centre, in an old Civil War air-raid shelter dating from 1937.
PASAJE LODARES
The Pasaje de Lodares is a commercial and residential gallery in the city of Albacete. Located between Tinte and Mayor streets, this building is an example of modernist architecture from the early 20th century. The Pasaje de Lodares in Albacete is, together with the Pasaje Gutiérrez in Valladolid and the Pasaje del Ciclón in Zaragoza, one of the only three examples of this type of gallery that remain in Spain.
CALLE ROSARIO Y CALLE ANCHA
Marqués de Molíns, Tesifonte Gallego, Rosario, Concepción, Mayor, Tinte, Caba streets, etc. These are the most central and busy streets in the city of Albacete, where most of the shops are concentrated, where visitors can shop and have tapas or eat in a multitude of terraces.
Museos
MUSEO ARQUEOLÓGICO
The Museum of Albacete represents the historical and cultural development of the province of Albacete, as an integral part of the historical, artistic and cultural heritage of Castilla-La Mancha and is a valuable archive for provincial archaeology.
MUSEO CUCHILERÍA
It is the first museum of its kind in Spain and joins three other cutlery museums in the world, together with those in the cities of Solingeun (Germany) and Thiers (France). United under the Albacete Declaration, in defence of the cutlery sector with the slogan: ‘three cities, three museums, three countries’. Rooms dedicated to the history of the cutlery sector, to awards from cutlery competitions organised by the APRECU (Association of Cutlery and Allied Trades), to European and international cutlery, the artisan's workshop, the scissors room, audiovisual areas and various temporary rooms are some of the exhibition spaces that make up the museum.
PARQUES Y JARDINES
EL PARQUE DE LA FIESTA DEL ARBOL
Located as a continuation of the fairgrounds, it houses the famous Deposito del Agua (future viewpoint of the city due to its height of 68 metres) and where the future tourist reception centre is planned.
EL PARQUE ABERLARDO SÁNCHEZ
Popularly known as ‘El Parque’, it is often said to be the ‘lung’ of the city. With large pine forests and a variety of herbaceous species, you can also find ducks, squirrels, ideal for children, for its swings and play areas. It covers an area of 11 hectares and is in the centre of the city, inside it is the Archaeological Museum.
PARQUE DE LOS JARDINILLOS
One of the oldest parks, according to sources, it dates back to the 19th century, and its gate is a recreation of the old iron gate of the Feria. In its central promenade there is a fountain inside a pond of irregular and curious shape, with an abundance of water lilies, to which we must add the magnificent 19th century pavilion, designed for open-air musical concerts and the Caseta de los Jardinillos, a place for concerts and cultural events, which is a key part of the celebrations of the Albacete Fair.
EL PARQUE DE LA PULGOSA
La Pulgosa is a peri-urban park with an approximate extension of 40 hectares belonging to Albacete This pine forest has been for decades a place for recreation and family meals, its proximity to the city has made this place together with Los Pinares del Júcar the favourite places for weekend picnics. La Pulgosa has three concrete multi-sports courts, a skating rink and a BMX circuit for bicycles. It has a couple of large grassy meadows where it is very common to play football.
PARQUE LINEAL
From 1855 the railway line entered Albacete from the northwest and passed through the city to the southeast. Today this space is occupied by this park, with a multitude of corners that have transformed the area, although without forgetting its origins, as the railway traffic light in what was known as Puente de Madera (Wooden Bridge) and the locomotive located in the area in front of the Fábrica de Harinas (Flour Factory) remind us. A long promenade crosses the city, along the old railway line. This park currently houses a full-scale representation of the Solar System, giving it the characteristics of an open-air museum.
JARDÍN BOTÁNICO
With a total surface area of 68,697 m2, the Albacete Botanical Garden is divided into five main areas: the entrance area, the entrance square, a third area which, apart from the greenhouse and the shade-house, is dedicated to collections of plant material typical of the ‘40th parallel’ and arranged in three concentric rings, from which spaces are organised radially, the area of the lakes, with two lagoons, one endorheic and the other karst, and the last one, at the back, where the natural area is located.
TEATROS
TEATRO CIRCO
The Teatro Circo de Albacete is one of the monuments of the Castilian-La Mancha city of Albacete, maintaining a dual functionality for both theatre and circus performances, making it unique in Spain and one of only six 19th century circus theatres in the world. The Circus Theatre is located in Isaac Peral Street, 200 m from our hotel, very close to the Plaza del Altozano, the Palace of the Provincial Council of Albacete, the Palace of the Court of Justice of Castilla-La Mancha, or the Provincial Museum of Albacete.
TEATRO DE LA PAZ
Located on the outskirts of Albacete, in an easily accessible location, it has a capacity of 645 seats. The Teatro de La Paz is a theatre owned by the Provincial Council, and is one of the largest in the city of Albacete. It is usually used as a stage for school theatrical performances.
AUDITORIO MUNICIPAL
Located in the same building as the Town Hall, it regularly hosts musical concerts and theatrical activities. It has dressing rooms and a box office. The total capacity is 560 people. In the hall of the Auditorium, pictorial and photographic exhibitions are held.
PUEBLOS
CHINCHILLA
To visit Chinchilla is to return to the past and discover one of the most charming towns in Spain, declared to be of tourist interest. Chinchilla is castle and walls, palaces, Arab baths, temples and convents. At its heart is the Plaza de la Mancha, where many of its numerous monuments are located. The two magnificent façades of the Town Hall are worthy of admiration. Continuing along the route, you can delight in contemplating the Archpriestly Church of Santa María Del Salvador, full of Gothic elements. The Ceramics Museum, a great example of provincial pottery, is also of interest. Fascinating is the castle, protected by a crenellated wall and thirteen towers, with an impressive entrance with a drawbridge.
JORQUERA
From a cultural point of view, Jorquera offers us an interesting tourist route, made up of its main monuments and the remains of the ancient cultures that have marked the municipality. Moving between Gothic and Renaissance, we come across the Church of Santa María de la Asunción, which houses interesting works such as a 16th century processional cross or a canvas of the contemplation of the body of Saint Francis. Among other places of interest, we can stop to contemplate the remains of the ancient wall of Jorquera, an Almohad construction from the 12th century.
ALCALÁ DEL JÚCAR
Spectacular, picturesque, exceptional... Many are the adjectives that can define the municipality of Alcalá del Júcar, as soon as it appears before our eyes, its beauty obliges us to stop and pay homage to it. One of the must-see sights is the castle, made up of a pentagonal tower and two circular turrets. The Parish Church, with a single nave in the shape of a Latin cross. The Roman Bridge, an obligatory stop on the Royal Road from Castile to Levante, whose great importance meant that it was eventually converted into a dry port or customs house. On the other side of the river, on the mountainside, stands the Plaza de Toros, unique in its style due to its irregular shape.
RIÓPAR
Riópar has a historical and cultural centre made up of Riópar Viejo and the present-day Riópar. It is probably one of the most beautiful places in the province. Among other things it hides: Nacimiento del Río Mundo. After a route through the Parque Natural de los Calares del Río Mundo y de la Sima, we enter a valley of enormous vegetation, where the Río Mundo is born. But there is much more. The Cueva de los Chorros is where the river is really born. To get there, you have to ask for permission to go up with an authorised guide. For those who miss museums, you can enjoy the Museum of the Royal Factories of San Juan de Alcaraz, whose heritage includes industrial jewels, such as machinery from Napoleonic France. Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, it also houses pieces of bronze craftsmanship considered to be among the best in the world.
