If you have ever visited the beautiful and very lively city of Madrid, Spain, you are already well aware of the enormous number of sights and attractions it has to offer those who tour it. What you may not know, however, is that there is also a wealth of things to do and see in the many towns and municipalities that surround the Spanish capital, including several in the municipality of Talamanca del Jarama. To help you become more familiar with this tiny Spanish town, below we have put together a brief overview, one that includes some interesting facts and information regarding its location, history and the many sights and attractions that make it so special.
Talamanca del Jarama: Overview
Talamanca del Jarama is one of the many towns that together make up the Autonomous Community of Madrid. It is situated to the north of the Spanish capital, on the border of Castilla-la Mancha, in the center of the Iberian Peninsula. Its land, which stretches out over the natural region of the Countryside of Henares, along the middle stretch of the Jarama River, is home to the town’s 3,100 inhabitants, and its density of 79 residents per square kilometer makes it a very comfortable place in which to live.
Talamanca del Jarama has a rich historical, cultural and artistic heritage dating back to Roman times. The structures or parts of structures that remain standing from this medieval era reflect both the Romanesque and Romanesque-Mudejar styles of architecture, and are, in fact, some of the most significant examples of these styles to be found anywhere in the Madrid region. As you walk through Talamanca de Jarama you can still catch glimpses of the fortified wall that once surrounded and protected the town, a feature that was very characteristic of the Castile in the Middle Ages, especially during the extended conflict between the Christians and Moors.
The local people of Madrid region see Talamanca del Jarama as an ideal place to get away from the crowds and pollution of the city. Its northern location translates to temperatures that are much cooler than they are on the blazing streets of Madrid, and its unique natural environment, with fauna and flora as beautiful as it is diverse, makes it a great place for nature walks, hikes and bird watching.
There are many sights worthy of note in Talamanca del Jarama, not the least of which is the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista, or Church of San Juan Bautista. The church was built in the late 12th century or early 13th century in the Romanesque style, although today this style can only be seen on the apse of the church. The remainder of the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista was demolished in the 16th century and rebuilt according to the Renaissance style so popular during that time period. In 1931, the church was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural—a special designation meaning “Cultural Point of Interest in Spain.”
Other attractions worth checking out when visiting Talamanca del Jarama include the Old Roman Bridge, the Carthusian Monastery and the so-called Ábside de los Milagros (also known as El Morabito), a mid-13th century church that is now a historical landmark.
