What to see in Navalcarnero: the plaza de Segovia, wine caves and wine in south-west Madrid

The thing most worth seeing in Navalcarnero is its old town, with the plaza de Segovia, one of the loveliest arcaded squares in the Madrid region; the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción; and the caves dug beneath the houses in the centre, where wine was traditionally made and stored. Added to that is a unique piece of history, as this is where King Philip IV married Mariana of Austria, and a winemaking tradition kept alive today by the wineries of the Navalcarnero sub-area of the Vinos de Madrid appellation.

Navalcarnero lies in the south-west of the Madrid region, next to the A-5. For centuries it was linked to Segovia, hence the name of its main square. Its history took a turn when the town hosted Philip IV's royal wedding, an episode local people are still proud of. Today it is a growing town, with new neighbourhoods around a well-preserved old town.

Plaza de Segovia

It is the town's classic postcard: an enclosed Castilian square, with arcades on columns, long balconies and the town hall. Café terraces and bars make it the centre of local life and the setting for many of the festivities. It is the best starting point for exploring the streets of the centre on foot.

Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción

A few steps from the square, the parish church is the town's main religious monument, with a tower that rises above the rooftops. Inside it keeps altarpieces and works of art of interest, and its history is tied to the town's period of greatest splendour.

The caves and the wine tradition

Beneath many houses in the centre lies a network of caves dug into the ground, which for generations were used to make and keep wine at a stable temperature. Some have been restored and can be visited, sometimes inside restaurants or wineries. The tradition lives on in the area's wineries, which belong to the Vinos de Madrid designation of origin, and in the town's Wine Museum.

A stroll through the streets of the centre

Between the square and the church, the streets keep traditional houses, large doorways and courtyards. Wandering aimlessly, popping into a shop selling local produce and finishing with a glass of wine on a terrace is the best way to get to know Navalcarnero.

Navalcarnero is a good base for exploring south-west Madrid. Very close by are towns such as El Álamo or Sevilla la Nueva, with quiet centres and countryside all around, and towards Madrid lie Arroyomolinos and Móstoles, with more shopping. If you enjoy trips to historic towns, you may also be interested in what to see in Aranjuez, another must-see linked to the monarchy, or the mountains around Valdemorillo, to the north-west.

Navalcarnero has no train station, and from Madrid you get there by car on the A-5 or by intercity bus. From Barajas, by public transport, you have to cross the capital and combine several modes of transport, which is impractical with suitcases. If you are flying in to visit family or staying in the area, the taxi from Navalcarnero to the airport runs in both directions at a fixed fare: pickup at your terminal with your flight number or at your door on the day you leave, at any time.