Sigüenza

Sigüenza Cathedral celebrated the 850th anniversary of its consecration in 2019. This majestic cathedral, the origin and foundation of the greatness of Sigüenza, rises above the whole city. Inside, it is full of masterpieces, such as the famous sculpture of the Doncel, described by philosopher Ortega y Gasset as the most beautiful in the world

Built in the Late Middle Ages as a symbol of peace ,as it symbolised the end of fortified Sigüenza and the beginning of the commercial flourish. It was also a response to the need to bridge the gap between the castle and the river Henares, where small neighbourhoods of humble people were beginning to proliferate.

The market was located in this agora, flanked by mansions that were granted to high-ranking clergymen, whose arcades are nowadays more used for catering than for shopping. Its panoramic view is dominated, at one end, by the splendid façade of the Town Hall.

From the Barranco del río Dulce Natural Park, to the south, to the town of Atienza, stretches an exceptional natural area that has hardly changed for centuries and which has formed its own ecosystem in which freshwater springs and salt marshes coexist. It is so unique that it aspires to be part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and it lies just a short distance from the city.

Located in a 16th-century palace, acquired and refurbished in 1956 with the intention of housing and protecting a large part of the rich heritage legacy of the churches of the Diocese of Sigüenza. This includes a great number of cities in what is now the province of Guadalajara. Specifically, its collection consists mainly of religious art from the 12th to 20th centuries, with numerous carvings, altarpieces and paintings of all kinds. Among them, an Immaculate Conception by Zurbarán, which is the museum’s main work. There is also a collection of archaeological objects collected in the area, but also from as far away as America, Mesopotamia and Greece.

It lies on the lower part of the city, next to the banks of the river Henares. This district was developed in the late 18th century on the initiative of Bishop Juan Díaz de la Guerra. The most striking feature of the neighbourhood is its geometric layout, in accordance with the Enlightenment ideas of the time, and the fact that all the buildings are made of the characteristic golden sandstone.

Two main streets articulate the neighbourhood, San Roque and Medina, which intersect in the square known as Ocho Esquinas (Eight Corners). The building project is attributed to Luis Bernasconi, Francesco Sabatini’s assistant. He is also the author of the Palacio de Infantes (Palace of the infantes), intended to house the cathedral’s choirboys. This building, with a superb Baroque façade, houses a cloister that is well worth a visit.

Nestled among las travesañas, which is the name given to the narrow streets of the area within the city walls, there is an old late Gothic palace, now a museum named after the young noble “Doncel” reputed to have been born here and which interior now houses a museum belonging to the University of Alcalá de Henares. Nearby lies the Paseo de la Alameda, (Alameda promenade) the main green area of Sigüenza.

Known officially as the Monastery of Nuestra Señora de los Huertos, this 16th-century building sits in the city’s lower area. It rests on the site of an ancient Visigothic church, with only tower remains surviving. Since 1940, it houses a community of Poor Clare nuns famous for their handcrafted truffles—perfect souvenirs for sweet lovers.

This neighborhood best reflects Sigüenza’s medieval character with its narrow cobblestone streets, historic buildings such as the Casa del Doncel and the Romanesque Church of San Vicente, one of the city’s three architectural gems. Remnants of the old city walls remain, including the Puerta de Hierro with its tower, Puerta del Sol, and Torre del Peso.

A short drive from the city along a winding road leads to this viewpoint behind the castle, offering the best panoramic views of Sigüenza in all its medieval glory.