🇪🇸 ALBACETE ~ Deceptively quiet… Siesta time does not apply! : SPAIN

I’m just curious to see what this town holds as it’s on the way to Valencia and so I decided to stay here overnight and find out – I go in with no expectations and don’t care what I find tbh, it’s another experience 🙂

LOCATION

Located mid way between Valencia and Madrid- is around 2.5hrs from Madrid

The largest city in Castilla-La Mancha is situated on a vast, flat stretch of farmland

A fairly small old town with its main train station up north and with easy access by foot

Arriving at the modern train station of Albacete, it was onyl a 5min walk to my hotel and 10mins into the old town centre

🇪🇸 TRAIN STATION ~ “Albacete Los Llanos” : ALBACETE / SPAIN

Albacete Train Station Blog post

I had a small single room at Hotel Castilla which was comfy and overlooked one of the main streets

🇪🇸 REVIEW ~ “Hotel Castilla” : ALBACETE / SPAIN

Albacete Hotel Review

Albacete has a population of around 175,000

The aviation industry is one of the main economic engines of this city – Los Llanos air Base and school of pilots is based here

**Provincial Palace of Albacete** – a stately building which has a modern feel to it as well – this is the seat of the Albacete Provincial Government and an auditorium

The main Street leading into the centre of town

I was expecting this place to be like Alcazar, all quiet and empty as I was there around 3pm, quite the opposite… It was TOTALLY pumping! The bars especially were full already and so much was happening all this chattering and noise it was pretty cool!

A fairly small town centre and main areas are towards the south where the city park is and then the castle and cathedral area

The main pedestrian street with apartments and shops along the side – this side of the city has a modern feel to it

Restaurants were packed and people out drinking and eating – a very young vibe here

Albacete has really nice buildings scattered around with a bit of history

**The city park** – there are lovely little gardens inside with fountains and a museum – made specifically for the people of Albacete to enjoy

**PLAZA DE TOROS DE ALBACETE** – The bull fighting ring of Albacete

**Parque de los jardinillos** and this really interesting Temple in the middle of a fountain

CATHEDRAL OF SAN JUAN BAUTISTA

A Roman Catholic church – which has cathedral status is one of the main ancient buildings in the city

The facade is Romanesque style and has a unique look with a rounded curved look one side and square in the other – it’s quite beautiful!

The murals on the inside on the walls were something else! Such details!

The inside also has some beautiful Gothic chapels with star vaults

Colourful and gorgeous religious scenes depicted on every bit of the inside walls – each wall was detailed and so artistic

**The Castle of Hortelano** – now the Municipal Museum of Knives and Cutting Tools and it’s been modernised in 2004, I would have loved to see what it was like originally!

Used to be a mansion in the early 20th c. and then became the headquarters of an insurance company, University council building, Headquarters of the local police and city council building and now a museum

Relaxing with a beer and chips in front of the cathedral

EASTER SUNDAY PARADE

I heard the trumpets and the music from my hotel and I’m like I’ve gotta go and see what’s going on!

Its Easter week and Albacete is renowned for its rich artistic and cultural heritage

Many locals were lining the streets and looking at those marching, the locals were so nicely dressed up and many elderly well dressed and huddled in groups chatting and enjoying themselves

There was a procession down in the old town on Easter Sunday with a huge tree and a large sculpture of Jesus on a donkey and everyone was holding Palms, dressed up in their best and celebrating, so nice to see!

The huge palm and scuplute being carried by around 30+ men in white and blue

The marching band – everyone had really serious faces

I continued exploring as I had another hour before I had to be at the station

Found some interesting and beautiful buildings

**Pasaje de Lodares –** considered one of the most beautiful streets in Spain!

The idea was to create a luxury commercial and residential gallery like those in Milan or Naples. Today, it is one of the only three Modernist galleries in Spain, one also in Valladolid and Zaragoza