Alcala de Henares
"Alcalá is a college town about an hour from Madrid by train or 45 minutes by car. The Universidad de Alcalá occupies regal historic buildings that date to the 1500s. Its great hall was designed by the same architect who designed the Segovia Cathedral, and it’s Mudejar ceiling is a sight to behold. The hall is the location for an annual Miguel de Cervantes prize honoring Spanish-language writers.This is only fitting as Alcalá is best known as the birthplace of the Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote. Throughout the small city, you’ll see murals with memorable scenes from one of literature’s most famous works of satire, still beloved more than four centuries since it was first published. As Alcalá is a college town, you’ll find plenty of budget lunch spots, and options for a more refined meal as well." - MATADOR_NETWORK