What to do · La Alberca and the Sierra de Francia
Old Town and Plaza Mayor of La Alberca
Information
- Price
- Free
- Duration
- 1 h 30
- Season
- All year
- Who it's for
- Everyone; cobbled, sloping streets
- With a dog
- On a lead; public streets
La Alberca was the first village in Spain declared a Historic Site, in 1940, and what you come to see is its sierra architecture: houses with a stone ground floor and timber-framed upper floors, each jutting out over the one below until the eaves of the houses opposite almost touch. That is why the streets lie in a half-light of lights and shadows, and why some have compared the layout to a Jewish quarter or the outskirts of Damascus. The walk is free, self-guided, and takes an hour or an hour and a half.
The dated lintels
Look at the doors. Many lintels have carved on them the date the house was built, along with crosses, inscriptions and religious monograms, as a profession of faith for all to see.
The Plaza Mayor, the axis of the village
Everything ends up at the Plaza Mayor: arcades on granite columns, façades with two rows of balconies, whitewash and the stone cross in the centre. At number 11 is the tourist office, which gives out the map of the urban route with the parish church and the place of the Moza de Ánimas. On the way out towards Las Batuecas is the Casa del Parque, open Friday to Sunday. To eat without leaving it, La Catedral roasts kid and lamb in a wood-fired oven.
Small museums
Besides the streets, the village has several house museums: the Sátur Juanela House Museum, the Museum of Traditional Albercano Dress and Oh! Espacio del Jamón. Ask at the tourist office what is open on the day of your visit.
The pig of San Antón and the festivals
In La Alberca a pig lives loose in the streets from June until 17 January, when it is raffled: it is the marrano de San Antón, a tradition the town hall describes on its website. The festivals with the most strength are the Diagosto, the August patron saint festival, with the traditional Albercano costumes, and the day of the Pendón, on the octave of Easter, which recalls the standard that the women of La Alberca in the 15th century seized from Portuguese troops.
Sloping streets
The streets are cobbled and sloping: wear comfortable shoes; with a pushchair, some stretches are heavy going. With a dog, on a lead.
From the village start the route to the Las Batuecas valley and the road to the Peña de Francia.
Tips
- Come on a weekday or early On Sundays at lunchtime the village fills up. First thing and late in the afternoon the streets look best.
- Look for the dates Read the lintels as you go: some houses have had the date carved over the door for centuries.
- Cured meats and turrón Around the old town there are shops selling cured meats, turrón and embroidery.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to see La Alberca?
An hour or an hour and a half on foot, without going into museums.
Do I have to pay?
No, the walk round the old town is free.
Where is the tourist office?
At Plaza Mayor 11.
Can I go to La Alberca with a dog?
Yes, on a lead: they are public streets.
What is the marrano de San Antón?
A pig that lives loose in the streets from June until 17 January, when it is raffled.
Why is the village famous?
It was Spain's first Historic Site, in 1940, for its stone and timber-framed architecture.
With young childrenAs a familyWith teenagersWith a dog
