If stones could talk

The first house, known as Casa de la Inquisición, shows on its façade the coat of arms of the Holy Office with cross, sword and palm, symbol of forgiveness. The street takes its name from the latter. Further on, a house with a semicircular arch bears a Calatrava cross. Going up, an old mansion shows a Star of David, a vestige of a synagogue. At the end, a 17th century palace displays the heraldic coat of arms of the Burgos family, topped by a lattice that confirms their nobility.

Built in 1542 by Alonso de Covarrubias by order of Ana de la Cerda, grandmother of the Princess of Eboli, the palace was restored by the University of Alcalá in 1999. From the Plaza de la Hora, its golden stone facade stands out, with a semicircular arched façade flanked by Corinthian columns and sculpted busts. On the pediment, two little love handles hold the Mendoza family coat of arms. The upper balcony was added in the 17th century to watch the bullfights. Its interior preserves plateresque coffered ceilings and Mudejar tiles.

Founded in 1437 by Franciscans in Valdemórales, the convent was moved to the outskirts of Pastrana in 1460. Reformed in the 17th and 18th centuries, it housed an outstanding library and two study chairs. The church, with a single nave and a Latin cross plan, was financed by the princes of Eboli and has Gothic vaults and coats of arms of the Mendoza family. After the disentailment in 1836, it was used for civilian purposes. Restored in 2020, today it is a cultural and tourist center.

Although its exterior is sober, the interior of this church is grandiose. It was built in the 13th century and enlarged in later centuries. The main doorway, in Gothic style, stands out for its ogee arch, pilasters and pinnacles. In 1569, thanks to the princes of Eboli, it obtained the rank of collegiate church. Their son, Fray Pedro de Mendoza, promoted its transformation, including a ducal pantheon. Inside, the main altarpiece, an image of the Virgin and a baroque organ from 1703 stand out, in addition to its valuable collection of tapestries from the 15th century.

Located in the old Market Square, this monumental fountain is a symbol of Pastrana. Its octagonal pylon and spherical cup with masks represent the stages of man. It was commissioned in 1588 by Ruy Gómez de Silva and designed by Francisco de Tuy. Remodeled in 1731 and restored in 2002 and 2022, the fountain retains traces of pitchers, testimony of its use as a meeting point. It stands out for its shape and for its deep connection with local history.

On the hill of Peña Matea, east of Pastrana, stands the monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus next to the hermitage of the Immaculate Conception. Located at an altitude of 837 meters, it offers a privileged view of the historic center of Pastrana, the valley of Valdeconcha and the fertile plain of the Arlés River, up to its confluence with the Tagus. This enclave is an emblematic point for locals and visitors, both for its spiritual value and its natural landscape.