Situated in the heart of Jarama valley, in the Northeast of the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid, Torrelaguna is famous for its historical figures - it is the birthplace of Cardinal Cisneros and of Santa María de la Cabeza and it was the home to San Isidro Labrador - and for its architecture that is the reason it was declared National Historic and Artistic Heritage Site in 1974.
The most iconic place of the town is the beautiful Plaza Mayor, where we can see the Town Hall (founded by Cardinal Cisneros in 1514 as a granary) and the Church of Santa María Magdalena (one of the best examples of Madrid’s Gothic architecture holding remains of the poet Juan de Mena and the tombstone of Alfonso Jiménez, Cardinal Cisneros’s father). We can also see the Hermanas Franciscanas Convent and the Cisneros Cross that was erected in 1802 in a place that used to be Cardinal’s birth house. Cardinal is known to have been very generous with donations to make his home town a better place.
Walking around town you will also come across the remains of the old town wall from the 15th century, other religious monuments like Madre de Dios Franciscan Monastery, civil constructions like the recently renovated Alhóndiga, the Centro Montalbán or the Casa de la Cultura. Houses and mansions also deserve our attention, especially the Palacio Arteaga, the Palacio Salinas or the Casa Vargas.
As a fun fact, Torrelaguna was one of the filming locations for the film The Pride and the Passion starring Cary Grant and Sophia Loren.
In the surrounding area, you should visit the Canal de Cabarrús (built in the late 18th and early 19th century) and the Canal de Isabel II and its headquarters located outside the town. The nature in Valle Medio del Jarama is very rich in hydraulic heritage.