Argamasilla de Calatrava – Churches, Archaeology and Volcanic Landscape

The parish church of Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor takes visitors through several historical layers in Argamasilla de Calatrava. Dedicated to the Visitation of Our Lady, it was begun in the second half of the 16th century on the site of an older temple dating from the 12th to 13th centuries. The present building displays Castilian Renaissance architecture with Late Gothic vaults and Mudéjar influences.

Culture and History

The religious heritage includes the Santuario de la Virgen del Socorro. It was completed in 1592 on the site of an earlier building dedicated to Saint Sebastian. According to tradition, a Marian apparition took place in 1580; from that event onwards, the sanctuary gained particular importance as a pilgrimage site. The Santuario Virgen del Socorro can be visited at weekends.

The archaeological past is also present: the Sala de los Moros site is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) and is associated with prehistory and the period from the Chalcolithic to the Iron Age, from 2500 BC to the 5th/3rd century BC. The Pinturas Rupestres de la Ventana Natural in Argamasilla de Calatrava are likewise designated as a Bien de Interés Cultural.

The Fábrica de Alcohol is an industrial building in the industrial modernist style with Neo-Gothic influences and is one of the few surviving buildings of its kind in the province of Ciudad Real. The Antiguo Lavadero was built during the Enlightenment, between the 18th and 19th centuries, and became a social meeting place for the local women.

The Ermita de los Santos Mártires dates from the mid-16th century and is associated with a vow made during a plague epidemic, which continues to be commemorated with religious ceremonies. The Casa de la Inquisición can be visited by prior arrangement with the Town Hall of Argamasilla de Calatrava.

Nature and Trails

The geosite near Argamasilla de Calatrava combines the Laguna Blanca maar with the Cabeza Parda-Hormigoneros Strombolian volcano. Its cone is one of the largest pyroclastic cones in Campo de Calatrava. The Sala de los Moros occupies a strategically elevated position and offers extensive views over the surrounding area.

The Macizo Volcánico del Campo de Calatrava is designated a natural monument. It is considered to have geomorphological, landscape and scientific value, as well as value for its vegetation and wildlife. The area is important for endangered species such as the Spanish imperial eagle, cinereous vulture, black stork and Iberian lynx.

The Laguna Blanca and Cabeza Parda geosite is described as having a low level of difficulty and a duration of one hour; access is via an unpaved track. The PRCR13 “Embalse Vega del Jabalón” route is listed with Granátula de Calatrava, Argamasilla de Calatrava and Puertollano, and has a length of 39 km. The different route formats can be clearly distinguished for planning purposes.

Festivals and Traditions

The Voto a los Santos Quirico y Santa Julita is celebrated on 29 January. It includes a communal meal featuring a stew made with potatoes and cod. The Fiestas Patronales Virgen del Socorro take place from 7 to 9 September.

The annual celebration of San Isidro Labrador is dedicated to rural life and the agricultural traditions that form part of the history and identity of the municipality.

Planning Your Visit

The municipality’s tourist information office provides tourist information, guidance on attractions and assistance with planning visits to Argamasilla de Calatrava and the surrounding area.

Other places: Manzanares, Fuente El Fresno, Villarrubia De Los Ojos, Venta De Cárdenas, Alcoba, Navas De Estena, Almodóvar Del Campo, Montiel

For the overarching travel overview: Ciudad Real.