 | Alcalá de Henares Flights and Airline Tips | 1 - 10 of 10 |  |
 Getting ready to board the train to Alcala by Jefie Traveling to Alcala de Henares from Madrid by train is a very quick and easy ride, which explains why so many people live in Alcala and work in Madrid. Trains depart from the Atocha station every 10 minutes, and it takes about 30 minutes to get to Alcala de Henares (trains run between 6:00 am and 11:30 pm every day). It then takes about 10 minutes (if you don't get lost) to walk over to the Plaza de Cervantes, in the historic area. Tickets for a roundway trip cost 4.90 Euros. Leave a Comment
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 A rare instance of Brianne riding the city bus. by julieann_tz I walked everywhere in Alcala. Build those calf muscles. If you want to go to the Centro Comercial you'll have to take the bus. Theme: Other
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 The deserted train on our way from Madrid to Alcal by julieann_tz While in Spain, the Cercanias train from Alcala to Madrid was victimized by a terrorist attack. Luckily, no one I knew was hurt from the attack. Nevertheless, we continued to take the train 2 to 3 times a week to Madrid for the remainder of our stay in Spain. Theme: Train
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It is very convenient and easy to go to Alcala by train. Departing from Madrid 'Atocha' (central train station), it takes approx. 45 min. to get there. Return ticket costs around €4.50 and trains run every 10 min. throughout the day. Theme: Train
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 On the guided walking tour of Alcala de Henares by Jefie, 1 more photos The first thing I would recommend doing when you get to Alcala de Henares is to head over to the tourist information center and sign up for a guided walking tour. These tours depart every half-hour or so, and last for over 2 hours. On top of learning about the history of the city, you'll get to visit several historic buildings, ending with a tour of the University of Alcala - all for only 6 Euros! I thought it was a really great way to discover the city since our guide, who was really nice and very interesting, took us to some places we might not have thought about visiting on our own. Truly the best way to start you day in Alcala! Leave a Comment Address: 1, Plaza de los IrlandesesPhone: 91 882 13 54Directions: The tourist information center is located at the end of the Plaza de Cervantes, next to the Capilla del Oidor.Website: www.alcalaturismo.com Other Contact: promotur@alcalaturismo.com
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 Facade of the Colegio Mayor San Ildefonso (1543) by Jefie, 4 more photos The University of Alcala's origins date back to 1293, when King Sancho IV of Castile created a school in Alcala de Henares. Under Cardinal Cisneros, this school was granted full university status in 1499, which makes it one of the oldest universities in the world, and was named "Universitas Complutensis". Five faculties were then established: Arts and Philosophy, Theology, Canon Law, Philology and Medicine. Spanish playwrights Felix Lope de Vega and Pedro Calderon de la Barca are among some of the University's most famous graduates. In 1836, the University was moved to Madrid, and some of the buildings of the former Alcala campus fell into disrepair. The impact of the move on the city of Alcala de Henares was very deeply felt: the population went from about 60,000 people to about 10,000 by 1900. In 1977, a new university was founded, and it is especially well-known by foreigners for its Spanish language immersion program. A visit to the university will take you through the Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso. First off, it's worth taking some time to admire the magnificient 16th century plateresque facade. Your guide will then take you through the Patio of Saint Thomas, the Patio of the Philosophers and the Patio of the Three Languages, where Greek, Latin and Hebrew were taught. The visit also includes a tour of the San Ildefonso Chapel, where you'll see a remarkable monument dedicated to Cardinal Cisneros, and the Paraninfo, an imposing hall where Ph.D. students had to defend their thesis. Guided tours last for about 45 minutes, and tickets can be bought at the tourist information center. Admission costs 3 Euros (included if you're going on the guided walking tour). Leave a Comment Address: Plaza de San DiegoPhone: 91 885 40 00Directions: Near the Plaza de Cervantes.Website: www.uah.es
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The Corral de Comedias is one of Europe's oldest theatres. It was founded in 1601, and it is well worth going on a guided tour to learn about the different improvements that have been made throughout its 400 years of existence. The Corral de Comedias started out as a modest open-air theatre, where university students would put on different plays, until a roof and some bleachers were added at the beginning of the 18th century. Significant improvements were made throughout the 19th century, only to see the Corral de Comedias become a movie theatre for most of the 20th century. It has now been restored to its original vocation, and it is still possible to see the stone floor on which people would sit to watch plays four centuries ago, and the rather primitive "sound-effect system" that was brought in during the 18th century. It's a very interesting tour and admission only costs 2.50 Euros. Leave a Comment
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Next to the Monasterio de San Bernardo you'll find the Palacio Arzobispal (Archbishop's Palace). Although it was almost completely destroyed by a fire in 1939 and is not open to the public, people interested in history might still want to take a look at the place where Katherine of Aragon, the first wife of King Henry VIII of England and mother of Queen Mary I, was born in December 1485. Catalina de Aragon was the youngest child of King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I, who held court in Alcala de Henares at the time of her birth. Also, the Palacio Arzobispal is where Christopher Columbus first met with the King and Queen of Spain, in 1486, to convince them he could reach Asia by sailing around the world. This first encounter would of course eventually lead to the discovery of America by Columbus in 1492. Leave a Comment Address: Calle de Santiago
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 Hospital de Antezana in Alcala de Henares by Jefie The Hospital de Antezana is located right next to the Casa natal de Cervantes. It was founded in 1483, and it is believed to be the oldest hospital in Europe. Rodrigo de Cervantes, the father of the famous Spanish author, worked there as a surgeon. St. Ignatius of Loyola also worked there as a nurse and cook while he was studying at the University of Alcala. Right from the start, the main purpose of the hospital was to provide free healthcare to the less fortunates. There was only room for about 12 patients at a time, which earned it the nickname of "El hospitalillo" (the little hospital). The architecture of the hospital is also very interesting since it's a beautiful example of the typical 15th century Spanish "casona", a two-storey house built around a nice inner courtyard surrounded by wooden balconies. Admission is free. Leave a Comment Address: 46, Calle MayorPhone: 91 881 94 47Directions: In the historic area.
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The Cathedral of Alcala de Henares was built between 1497 and 1516, with the addition of a bell tower during the 17th century. It is the only Gothic-style cathedral that can be seen in the entire Communidad de Madrid. The Cathedral was very badly damaged during a fire in 1936, at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. Although some priceless pieces could not be replaced, such as the original wooden retable, the restoration work that began in 1947 suceeded in giving back to the Cathedral most of its former glory. As a wedding was about to start when I stopped by the Cathedral, I only took a look around the nave; however, for a small fee, it is possible to visit the Cathedral's museum, which includes a display of religious objects and art. Leave a Comment
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Get cheap flights to Alcalá de Henares. Airports in the area include Madrid Barajas (MAD). Check flights to Alcalá de Henares when you want to visit these nearby places: Los Santos de la Humosa, Torrejón de Ardoz, Mejorada del Campo, Barajas de Madrid and Guadalajara.
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