{"id":20670,"date":"2010-05-10T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2010-05-10T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.clubvillamar.com\/blog\/uncategorized\/alcala-de-henares-the-city-of-storks\/"},"modified":"2018-02-23T17:55:00","modified_gmt":"2018-02-23T17:55:00","slug":"alcala-de-henares-the-city-of-storks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clubvillamar.com\/blog\/spain\/alcala-de-henares-the-city-of-storks\/","title":{"rendered":"Alcal\u00e1 de Henares \u2013 the city of Storks"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n

The name Alcal\u00e1 de Henares<\/strong> <\/a>means \u201ccitadel on River Henares\u201d and the historical center in this city is designated by UNESCO as one of the World Heritage Sites. This city is situated 35 Km from Madrid and is at a height of 588 m above sea level. Its population is about 200,000. This city is also known as the University town and the Cradle of Cervantes.<\/p>\n

The city centre has a large number of cobbled winding streets and historic buildings. This city attracts a lot of foreign students studying Spanish language and literature. It is also known for the white storks population and migratory storks come to this place because of the river Henares.<\/p>\n

History<\/strong><\/p>\n

This city had inhabitants even at the time of ancient Greeks \u2013 Copper Age period<\/strong><\/a>. It was conquered by the Romans in the first Century BC. Visigoths took over this city from Romans and the city declined in this period. In the year 711 Moors founded al-qal’a, meaning citadel on a hill nearer to the existing location. The Christians abandoned the Arab site and preferred the original site. During Spanish Civil War this city suffered severe damage.
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\nClimate<\/strong><\/p>\n

This city\u2019s climate is continental Mediterranean; its summers are dry and hot whereas winters are cold. Rainfall occurs during autumn and spring. Maximum temperature goes to 40\u00b0C in July and August and minimum temperature is below 0\u00b0C in December and January.<\/p>\n

Art and Culture<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The following are the important museums and monuments:<\/p>\n

Universidad Antigua\u00a0\u2013 is situated at the centre of the old town in Plaza de San Diego. It was founded by Cardinal Cisneros,<\/strong><\/a> also known as Cardinal Jim\u00e9nez in the year 1496. It contains a Great hall and an auditorium featuring a marvelous picturesque facade.<\/p>\n

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Capilla de San Ildefonso<\/strong> \u2013 university chapel \u2013 is built next to Universidad Antigua\u00a0and is dedicated to Cardinal Cisneros; this has the tomb of Cardinal Cisneros made from Italian marble.\u00a0Its ceiling is superb and its walls are stuccoed intricately.
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\nHoly and Illustrious\u00a0Cathedral<\/strong> \u2013 was built during the period 1497 to 1514, this houses the Saints Justus and Pastor<\/strong><\/a>.
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\nCervantes Birthplace Museum<\/strong> \u2013 is located in the birthplace of Cervantes and was built in 1547.<\/p>\n

Cuisine<\/strong><\/p>\n

The following dishes are popular in this city:<\/p>\n

Albaladejo of trout.<\/p>\n

Lamb of the village.<\/p>\n

Migas<\/strong> – traditional breakfast.
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\nOlla podrida<\/strong> \u2013 a Spanish stew made from pork and beans.<\/p>\n

Potatoes and eggs with a spicy pork sausage seasoned with garlic.<\/p>\n

La costrada<\/strong> – pastry covered with chopped almonds.<\/p>\n

The above dishes find place in Miguel de Cervantes<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s literary works and the recipes are recreated.<\/p>\n