What a delightfully named place! Don’t you agree?!
Where will you find it? Just a short 50km southeast of the capital city, Madrid.
Come see why Madrileños flock there for their long weekends and Sundays out…take a trip and see what attractions that Chinchón has to offer!
Time out
Whether you’re planing a trip to Madrid to see in the New Year with the crowds or a post Christmas shopping break to take advantage of the January sales – Spanish style – then remember to take an afternoon out to discover the town of Chinchón. Fashionable families from the capital city find their way here on the many puentes in the Spanish holiday calendar – that’s, for example, when a National day off falls on a Tuesday and they bridge it with the preceding Monday to extend the break – one thing this country knows how to do well is take time off and enjoy `me-time’! Why not?
Chinchón - your first view
Why Chinchón?
Besides the fact that it’s a relatively short distance from the big smoke of the city, Chinchón has many attractions for the day tripper. It is often described as the most unique and picturesque areas of the Madrid region – not a bad recommendation…it has also been given the title of Historic Artistic Site since 1974.
Have you tried Anis? It’s made right here. It’s the Spanish equivalent of Pastis or Ricard in France – an excellent digestif after a heavy meal, and a winter warmer to sip as you sit admiring the Madrileños whilst sitting at an outside café in the fabulous circular Plaza Mayor of Chinchón. More of the hard stuff later!
Lunch in the Plaza Mayor - Chinchón
A famed Plaza
You might recognize the setting of the Plaza Mayor – it was used in the 1956 film version of the travels of Jules Verne - Around the World in Eighty Days. It’s also the splendid setting for some famous events today. As you sit admiring the 235 flower strewn half timbered balconies – called claros – of the plaza, you mind find that drink hard to swallow as this was the place for public executions during the Spanish Inquisition – eek.
Also the beloved town of my hero Orson Welles – who stayed here in Chinchón and made two movies, The Immortal Story and Chimes at Midnight. He was a well known customer at the local bars where he enjoyed a morning Anis with his coffee and always made it clear that he would like his ashes scattered there, unfortunately they ended up in Ronda.
Since medieval times long past, it was also the scene for jousting contests, and famous bullfights – in fact - a bullfighting fiesta has been held here every October since 1923.
Garlic lover´s paradise!
One clove or two?
If you don’t happen to like the theatre that is a Spanish bullfight -a dying art in every sense - perhaps you’d prefer to arrive one week later when Chinchón hosts the famous October Garlic Festival. Vampires beware!
Garlic has been cultivated and harvested around these parts since the 18th Century, so yes, I guess they really do know their onions!
Pop along to the Saturday morning market any week, again held in the Plaza Mayor, and look out for the old guy selling the stuff – he’s a bit of a legend around here and has been selling his smelly wares as long as anyone can remember.
Engage him in conversation and apparently he’ll throw you a bulb or two and some herbs for free!
Garlic in every form, raw to cooked, strung prettily and in different colours, in every food as far fetched as Garlic ice cream is available…forget Come Dine, instead Come Smell With Me!
What’s up next?
You might just be here in the New Year to take in the sights of Madrid – but arrive in February - around the 15th – and you can play your part in Carnaval.
All of Spain takes part in this festival, it’s a Catholic thing involving parades and celebrations prior to the season of Lent.
The first year we were here having just arrived the kids took part at school, and there’s a Youtube video of my then 11 yr old son wearing a skirt, waving cheerleader pom-poms and looking bewildered! (I won’t add the link – I’m not that cruel!)
The most famous Carnaval or Carnival in English would of course have to the big one in Rio de Janeiro – but travel short haul to Spain instead and see how the Spanish do it!
Spend a week or longer to take in all the sights, have a browse through these holiday homes on the books at Spain Holiday and choose a nice base for all the family.
Religious feast days have of course as with every Spanish village town and city their own fiestas and party times. August sees the Virgen de Gracia y San Roque which runs over the 15th and the 16th – or a month later on the 20th September and it’s the turn of Nuestra Señora del Rosario...take your pick!
Just a wee dram...
The hard stuff
Back to the Anis. It has been made here seemingly forever – the first factory The Real Fabrica de Anises was on site in 1700 and today you can visit the distillery which is just an 11km stagger outside town. You can watch the stuff being made, and of course taste the different types of Anis, the best part of the tour which are as follows:
- Anis Dulce – as the name suggests, a sweet one and 35º proof alcohol
- Anis Seco – the dry one, a little stronger at 40º proof
- Seco Especial – not for the lily livered! A whopping 70º proof – it might just be a taste but please don’t drive afterwards!
If you fancy more than a little taste of Anis, or indeed want to try some of the local wine, then plan your visit towards the end of March instead, when the annual Vino y Anis Festival runs – yes you guessed it, again held in the Plaza Mayor!
Put your feet up in the Plaza!
More sights of Chinchón
If you can see straight after all that – there’s plenty more to feast your eyes on here in Chinchón. Start at the top and have a look at Condes Castle – perched high overlooking the town and all of the festivities. The Ethnological Museum in town carries a huge range of ancient tools and instruments – giving you an insight to the history and past times of the area. The clock tower in the Plaza Mayor is worth as look as well as being an excellent meeting place. Don’t miss the Church of the Ascension where you can view a painting by Goya - the famed Asunción de la Virgen. Goya was regualrly seen taking his easel out into the main square to paint there – look out for modern day future greats today!
Eating out
It really is a picturesque town – explore the restaurants, cafés and bodegas some of which are hewn out of the cave – like rock, the shops of the Plaza are unique and worth browsing for a pleasant afternoon. Expect to eat meat and lots of it, roasted lamb smothered in buttery garlic (!) sauce - cordero al horno de leña con ajo. Sample all the local wines, not just at the fiesta – Chinchón was once the main wine supplier to the Royal Household. They make a mean brandy here too….but you’ve probably had enough!
Make 2012 your year to visit the sights sounds and smells (!) of this loveliest of towns – and raise your glass – remember though instead of Chinchin, say Chinchón!
FLICKER CREDITS GO TO: Jose.Madrid/ Ana Asuero/guillermo_fernandez/mi_desvan/
