Alcolea De Calatrava: Volcanoes, Trails and Fossils

Alcolea De Calatrava lies on a plain surrounded by mountain ranges, lagoons and volcanic cones. Volcanic formations, trails through the landscape and traces of the town’s history shape the themes you can discover here.

Volcanoes and Landscape

The Peñarroya Volcano is protected as a natural monument. Cerro de la Santa Cruz is a Strombolian volcanic cone with two clearly defined craters. Immediately to its north lies the Peñas del Bú maar, also known as Laguna del Bú. The two names refer to the same maar. Together with the surrounding plain, these features create a varied landscape of volcanic cones, lagoons and mountain ranges.

The location of the livestock drovers’ routes is also part of this landscape: the Cañada Real Segoviana runs along the foot of Cerro de la Santa Cruz, on its northwestern flank. This brings a volcanic formation and a historic route together at a named point in the landscape. The Peñarroya route offers panoramic views of the Sierra de las Medias Lunas. For navigation, both individual geological features and views of the surrounding mountain landscape are therefore worth noting.

Hiking Trails and Routes

The route to the Peñarroya Volcano and lagoon starts on the Colada del Camino Ancho drovers’ route in Alcolea De Calatrava and leads into the natural monument. From there, you can choose a circular route that descends to the area around the seasonal lagoon. The option of taking a loop and descending to the lagoon area gives this route a different focus from a tour centered mainly on panoramic views of the Sierra de las Medias Lunas.

Two important branches of the Segoviana and Soriana drovers’ routes cross Alcolea De Calatrava and have been restored for hiking. A section of the Cañada Real Segoviana also serves a recreational purpose: the municipality restored it as a natural area for residents to enjoy and spend their free time. So, alongside the route to the natural monument, you can explore the historic drovers’ routes as part of the local trail and landscape heritage.

For a mountain biking tour, the Geopark lists a circular route through representative volcanoes of Alcolea De Calatrava. The points named include Volcán de la Santa Cruz and Volcán de Peñarroya; the route runs via El Martinete and back to the municipality. The options described therefore differ by mode of transport and route: the route to the natural monument is described as a walking trail, while the other loop is a mountain biking tour. Booking and operating information may vary, so check the latest route details when planning your trip.

Fossils of Las Higueruelas

The Las Higueruelas paleontological site in Alcolea De Calatrava is one of the most important Iberian sites for Pliocene and Pleistocene vertebrates. It contains numerous fossils of mastodons, gazelles, deer, horses, rhinoceroses, hyenas, cheetahs, birds, giant tortoises, amphibians and fish. The wide range of animal groups shows the diversity of the finds preserved here.

The Museo de Ciudad Real, near Alcolea De Calatrava, offers another perspective. It features a presentation of the fauna and ecological setting of Las Higueruelas, including the mastodon specimen Anancus arvernensis. The site and an exhibition about its surroundings thus offer two different ways to explore the region’s natural history.

History and Local Traditions

Alcolea De Calatrava’s origins date back to the Islamic period. In the 13th century, the town became the seat of a commandery of the Order of Calatrava; this is documented at least as early as 1285. Another historical detail can be seen in the parish church tower: it belongs to Purismo Renacentista, a style that developed in the second third of the 16th century. These details span the town’s early origins, its medieval history and a specific architectural feature.

The festivities in honor of Saint Scholastica take place on February 10. They include a procession with the traditional distribution of Saint Scholastica’s gifts, a fireworks display in the square, folk dances and games for all ages. The program combines religious tradition with community activities, with the procession, distribution of gifts and celebration in the square forming distinct parts of the same event.

Local traditions also take place at set times in May: Mayo de la ventana is sung at dawn on May 1, while El Mayo a la Cruz is celebrated at the local hermitage on the evening of May 3. These dates add a cultural perspective on the town to its history and trails. When planning your stay, you can focus on volcanic landscapes, hiking or mountain biking routes, fossils or local traditions, depending on your interests.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Mestanza, Puerto Lápice, Porzuna, San Carlos Del Valle, Almadén, Puebla del Príncipe, Herencia, Tomelloso

For the main travel overview: Ciudad Real.