Alcalá de Henares, Spain

Alcalá de Henares is a city in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, Spain. Located 35 km to the northeast of the Madrid city center, Alcalá de Henares has a historic core that is today recognized as a World Heritage Site. The whole city covers 87.72 sq km (33.87 sq mi) and has a population of 204,000 people (2012 estimate).

Palacio Laredo housing the Universidad de Alcalá, Spain
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Universidad_de_Alcal%C3%A1_-_Palacio_Laredo_fachada.jpg
Author: Universidad de Alcalá


Alcalá de Henares preserves its medieval feel, with cobbled streets and historic buildings. At the heart of the Old Town is Plaza de Cervantes. The entrance to the Old Town is Madrid Gate. From here runs the city's main thoroughfare, Calle del Cardenal Cisneros, all the way to the Cathedral at Santos Niños Square.

The history of Alcalá de Henares goes back to the Bronze Age. The Romans conquered the area in the 1st century BC. After the fall of the Romans, the area was ruled by the Visigoths until AD 711, when the Moors arrived. Christians under the Archbishop of Toledo Bernardo de Sedirac retook the area in 1118.

Places of Interest in Alcalá de Henares

World Heritage Site

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