Among hills, hermitages and beautiful sites
Alcubillas is located in the centre of the Campo de Montiel district, between San Carlos del Valle and Villanueva de los Infantes. When getting close to Alcubillas, the first things we see are its two hills, which blend in with the typical landscape of Campo de Montiel, highlighting the environment.
It is under the historical jurisdiction of the Military Order of Santiago since 1213, and it was considered village in every document dated after 1575. This date is carved in a stone of the south façade of the church, next to the choir window. In 1243 Alcubillas was documented as a defensive tower and parish.
Its castle or defensive tower, played an important role. The main fact in the History of Alcubillas, in the XVI century (in the year 1539) was its joining the Crown and the Royal Heritage, becaming thus independant from Montiel, and adquiring its status of village (what meant a certain autonomy in its municipal management).
From the Hills near Alcubillas magnificent views of the village and the Campo de Montiel district can be enjoyed
Church of Santa María Magdalena
It has its origin back to the first years of XIII Century, formerly being a fortress functions of fortress. It was rebuilt into a church in 1577 showing a transitional renaissance style, with gothic as well as renaissance elements.
The central nave is of a solid granite stone, that is carved in the corners, doors and other parts of the building. The rest of the building is built in common sandstone. The nave has a rectangular floor with two side attached little chapels with windows.
Partial view of Alcubillas from the resting site of don Quixote’s route.
Its inner space is very harmonic; the stone columns and the arches and vaults show a beautiful slim and clean line. Specially important are the wooden arched beams located behind the vaulting and the wood panelling ceiling that support the choir and the doors. The rectangular apse is beside the lateral chapels, the sacristy and the spiral staircase attached to the south end. The choir stands out because of the simplicity of its balustrade. It is located at the foot of the church, as usual, and its square shape ends up in the corners by big squinches that give way to the octogonal space of its tower.
The tower’s location is different from usual in churches built in the same period of time and it is composed of an octogonal body, put on top of a square one that corresponds to the choir.
It is likely that an important refurbishing was carried out in 1915, as it is shown by the doors beside the pulpit. To access to the church there are to doors beautifully nailed. A third door that formerly was the main one, was bricked up in 1973. Latelly, some images and other worship related objects have been recovered. The Virgen del Rosario image is an antique that stands out because of its beauty, it is the Patron Virgin and it is highly venerated in Alcubillas
The castle of Alcubillas
On top of the hill of the Cross and occupying the summit, we see the remains of a fortress, the castle of Alcubillas. Still, the remains of the walls and foundations can be seen. Also the remains of scattered pottery from the Iberic to the Middle Ages period, can be found. The castle had a strategic location, with a sight of 360º and due to the plains of the Campo de Montiel, a lot of kilometers far can be seen from it. It can be reached along a wooded and nice boulevard that links the hill to the village.
The hermitage of the Calvario
It is the oldest in the village and it is located within its limits. The date of construction was found in 1910 and it was restored afterwards. It has a quadrangular aisle with side windows.
The hermitage of San Anton
It was built in 1931 and no doubt its arquitecture is the worthiest in the village. It has a rectangular aisle where the image of the Saint is. The four granite columns that support the portico are very art worthy. This hermitage is located on the upper side of Alcubillas and from it, sights of Alcubillas’ hills and other beautiful sites can be seen.
The hermitage of San Isidro
Is is the most recently built, in 1960, and it is located in the outskirts of the village. It can be reached along a boulevard, the same one to go to the castle hill. It has a plain rectangular aisle enough to keep the image of the Saint. Nevertheless, nowadays, it is the most popular, as on the 15th of May, San Isidro Saint’s day, a popular pilgrimage is celebrated in the surroundings of the hermitate. Not only the Alcubilla’s pilgrims take part in this pilgrimage, but also guests, foreigners and people born in Alcubillas but resident away, who come to the fiesta turning the hill into a cheerful site of worship to San Isidro.
Other places worth visiting
Alcubillas is part of don Quixote’s route and has a resting site for those who may need it. To walk along the ways close to the village and to find out the old water wheels that once provided water to the orchards and vegetable gardens, the three stone bridges close to the village, the nice promenade that links the village to the hills, to go up the hills and to enjoy the beauty of the Campo de Montiel… these are other options for those who seek a peaceful atmosphere, a place to rest or to have adventures.
INTERESTING FACT!
The gold ring
Around 1970, a farmer found a gold ring in the estate of “Las Zanjas”, in Alcubillas. The ring weighed more than 30 grammes and had a purity of 22 karats. This ring is kept in the Province Museum of Ciudad Real.
The ring is made of very pure gold, seal round shaped, from which it arises two feline heads with open gullets drilled.
It is a unique piece due to the high quality of the gold that it is made of and due to its oriental decoration.
Fiestas and traditions
San Antón
It takes place on the 17th of January. The previous evening, a fire is lighted in front of the hermitage of the saint, located in the tiny square of the quarter called “Cerrillo de San Antón”. On the 17th of January, a mass service is celebrated in the hermitage.
The Mayos
Usually, they are celebrated on the last day of April and the evenings from the 2nd to the 3rd of May. The “Mayos” are rymes that are sung played with guitars, “bandurrias” (lute-type instrument), lutes, etc. The worship to the Holy Cross lasts all night long, and people sing and pray the mayos. The tradition stands that the person who dresses the Cross, offers “limoná” (lemonade), “puñao” (a handfull of nuts) and sweets to the visitors.
San Isidro
On the 15th of May a very popular pilgrimage is celebrated on the hill where the hermitage is located.
Corpus Christi
The fiesta of Corpus Chirsti is not celebrated on a fixed day. It consists on a procession carrying the custodia, under a canopy, that goes along several streets decorated with flowers, plants and altars with fine ornaments
August Fair
It is celebrated within the first fortnight of August (on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) at the village Park.
October Fair
The Virgin of the Rosario is the Patron Virgin of Alcubillas and the fiestas are celebrated on the first Sunday in October. On this day a solemn mass and a rosary are celebrated. There is also a procession to carry along the streets the image of the Virgin on its float
