Villanueva de los Infantes is a municipality and city in the southeast of the Ciudad Real province (Spain), in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha.
Since 2017 Villanueva de los Infantes has been a part of the network “The most beautiful towns in Spain“.
A part of the Don Quixote Route.
It has been designated by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid as “El Lugar de La Mancha” (The Place in La Mancha) mentioned at the start of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. It is also known as the place where Francisco de Quevedo died; his remains were found in 2007 in the church of San Andrés Apostol (St. Andrew’s Church). It is possible to visit the room in the convent where Quevedo spent his final days. The convent is now the church of Santo Domingo (Saint Dominic) and this room is situated inside it.
Tourism and main attractions
Villanueva de los Infantes is a National Historic Site.
Religious architecture:
Church of San Andrés Apóstol
Villanueva de los Infantes – Convent of the Dominicans
Church of the Trinity
Church of Santo Domingo
Convent of Santo Domingo – Hospedería Real
Dominican Church “La Encarnación” – Auditorium
Church of the Poor Clares (Old Fountain)
Chapel of the Remedy
Santiago Hospital
Oratory of Santo Tomás de Villanueva
House of the Inquisition (facade)
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Antigua
Civil architecture
Main Square
Alhóndiga – House of Culture
Arc’s House
Comedy House (Part of the facade)
Colegio Menor – Casa del Estudio
Palace of the Rebuelta
Melgarejo Palace
Palace of the Crossbowmen
House of the Knight of the Green Gabán (popularly known as this)
Rueda Palace
Gastronomy
Among the most typical dishes we find Galianos, migas, tiznao, stoned eggs, garlic and Manchego pisto. The Manchego cheese stands out from both the town and the surrounding towns.
Its wines belong to the Denomination of Origin of La Mancha and its oil to that of Campo de Montiel. The most typical and indigenous dish of the town is the “lemon ensalá”, which is made with juice and pulp of lemon, onion, oil, paprika and apple or orange.
How to get to?
Distances to the main cities of the community:
From Ciudad Real 51 min (63.9 km) via Autovía del IV Centenario/CM-45 and Cd Real-Valdepeñas/CM-412
From Albacete 1 hr 57 min (200 km) via A-43
From Cuenca 2 hr 22 min (234 km) via A-43
From Guadalajara 2 hr 34 min (272 km) via A-4
From Toledo 1 hr 37 min (169 km) via CM-42 and A-4
From Madrid 2 hr 18 min (222 km) via A-4
Main information
Area: 135 sq. km (municipality)
Coordinates: 38°44′03″N 3°01′00″W
Population: 4 869
Languages: Spanish
Currency: Euro
Visa: Schengen
Time: Central European UTC +1
