Capilla del Oidor tourist office

Alcalá's central tourist office occupies the Capilla del Oidor, at the end of Plaza de Cervantes, next to the Santa María tower. It is the first place to go: here they give you maps and information, and from here the municipal guided tour leaves every day at 11:30. Entry to the chapel is free.

Opening hours

It opens Monday to Friday and Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00, and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 19:00 without a midday break. The town council can be reached on 91 888 33 00 and at [email protected]; the office also has its own telephone, 91 889 26 94.

The chapel, which can also be visited

The Capilla del Oidor was founded in the early 15th century by Pedro Díaz de Toledo, oidor (judge) to King John II of Castile, as a burial place for his family. It was part of the old parish of Santa María la Mayor, which burned down in July 1936; of that church the apse and the free-standing tower remain, today a viewpoint.

Inside, look at the entrance arch, with Gothic plasterwork on the intrados, and the 16th-century iron grille. The most sought-after piece is the baptismal font in which Miguel de Cervantes was baptised on 9 October 1547, moved here in 1905. There is also a facsimile of the parish baptism register with Cervantes's entry and those of four of his siblings. The neighbouring chapel of the Cristo de la Luz, Baroque from the 17th century, hosts temporary exhibitions.

The municipal guided tour

Tickets for the municipal tour "Alcalá World Heritage Site" are bought at visitalcala.es, from €8. It starts at the Capilla del Oidor and ends at the Casa de la Entrevista tourist office, at Calle San Juan, 2. Inside you see the Capilla del Oidor and the Regional Archaeological Museum, which is closed on Mondays; from outside, among others, the Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso, the Antezana Hospital, the San Bernardo monastery, the Archbishop's Palace and the Cervantes House. The ticket includes the game "Aventura Los Secretos de Cisneros", a tourist wristband with discounts and the option of booking the climb up the Santa María tower. Tickets cannot be changed or refunded.

If you prefer another format, the tourism website lists several guided-tour companies, such as Ikaro Tours, Cervantalia or CompluTour.

Services and accessibility

On the same square there is an adapted toilet cabin, and from the office starts the accessible route through the centre proposed by the town council. You can walk from the Cercanías station in about fifteen minutes; if you come by car, see the car parks near the centre.