Just over the border in the province of Toledo, less than 20 minutes from Aranjuez, Ocaña has one of the largest and most harmonious main squares in Spain. It was begun in 1777, under Charles III: rectangular, with arcades of 18 arches on the long sides and 17 on the short ones, and two floors of balconies topped with dormers.
On the edge of the old town stands the Fuente Grande, a monumental fountain begun in 1573 by the town council, in the Herrerian style, with drinking troughs and a huge washing area. It was declared a historic-artistic monument in 1976.
Round off the visit with the church of San Juan Bautista, the 15th-century Palacio de los Cárdenas and the Teatro Lope de Vega, in a former Jesuit college.
What few people tell you
- In summer the Plaza Mayor becomes an open-air theatre.
- The Fuente Grande's washing area could be used by more than 300 women at once.
- It's the closest day trip of all: under 20 minutes by car.
Sources and official links
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