El Álamo: Camino, Churches and Festivals

El Álamo brings together historic religious buildings, the Camino de Guadalupe and recurring festivals. When planning your stay, you can consider whether a stage of the pilgrimage route, the town’s history or an event date is the main reason for your trip. Specific details of individual festivals may vary from one edition to another.

Churches and local history

Today’s Parroquia Santiago Apóstol stands on the foundations of an earlier church, founded in 1474. Plans for its replacement were drawn up between 1964 and 1965, and it was completed in 1974. The site therefore brings together the history of the former church and the period when the later church was built.

The Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad is the oldest surviving building in El Álamo and is believed to date from around the middle of the 16th century. It stands at the center of an avenue that follows the route of the former Camino Real de Extremadura. According to tradition, the hermitage housed the body of Saint Isidore for one night.

The Corpus Christi celebration is also part of the town’s religious tradition: it has been celebrated in El Álamo since 1582. It includes a procession through the town’s streets with the Santísimo Cristo de la Salud.

Camino de Guadalupe and outdoor routes

The Camino de Guadalupe passes through El Álamo on its route between Madrid and Toledo and can be travelled on foot or by bicycle. The route’s second stage runs between Móstoles and El Álamo and is 19 kilometers long. This distance refers to that stage.

The outskirts of El Álamo offer a variety of natural landscapes. An eight-kilometer route passes through Las Dehesillas and follows the Guadarrama River. Check the route and local conditions before setting out. There are also various cycling routes around El Álamo; if you plan to cycle, check road conditions in advance.

El Álamo has equestrian centers offering options for experienced riders as well as people looking for an easy ride through the countryside. If you are interested, confirm current availability locally.

Festivals and event dates

The Gran Feria Medieval de El Álamo began in 1996 and has been recognized as a Feria de Interés Turístico de la Comunidad de Madrid since 2016. It covers a route of just under two kilometers and features around 200 artisans; these figures may change from one edition to another. The program includes jousting tournaments, birds of prey displays, activities for children, medieval weddings and concerts. Individual events may also vary from one edition to another.

The patron saint celebrations in honor of the Santísimo Cristo de la Salud take place from August 31 to September 5. The San Isidro festival is celebrated annually from May 9 to 15; the program includes sporting events and San Isidrock, among other activities. For both festivals, if you are traveling for a specific event, check the information for the relevant year.

As part of the San Isidro celebrations, a communal Cocido madrileño has been prepared at Coto and served to those in attendance for many years. Check in advance whether the communal meal will be offered at the edition relevant to your visit. Historically, wine growing was the most important form of agriculture in El Álamo.

Getting to El Álamo

Bus route N505 connects Madrid (Príncipe Pío), Navalcarnero and El Álamo. As routes and timetables are subject to change, check current connections and times before your trip. El Álamo can also be reached via the M-404.

Discover more destinations: Jardín De Serracines, Vaciamadrid, Meco, Algete, Galapagar, Tres Cantos, Las Herreras, Alcalá De Henares

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