iii. Castile-La Mancha
Often called New Castile to distinguish from itsmeseta
mater on the northern side of Madrid, the La Mancha
side of Castile can feel large and lifeless.The endless
scorched plains account for more than 15 per cent
of Spain’s land but support little over four per cent
of its people. However, here, in towns and villages
unchanged for centuries, the whirlpool of Roman,
Visigoth, Muslim, Christian and Jewish culture that
created modern Spain is as deep as anywhere.
Regional capitalToledo captures it best with dark
medieval streets and a brooding fortress. Cuenca’s
medieval houses grip the side of a nosebleed-inducing
gorge, while sand-coloured castles like those at
Belmonte and Calatrava la Nueva have withstood heat
and battle with varying degrees of success.The rich
wetlands ofTablas de Daimiel and often deserted
upland strips of Sierra de Alcaraz and Montes deToledo
bring some relief from the arid air of summer.Wandering with the Don
The most famous character to roam La Mancha’s
plains was of course Don Quixote.Tourist board leaps of
faith aside (they link the most random sites with the
character), a few of the sights that Miguel de Cervantes
brought to life through his idealistic, laughable hero
400 years ago can still be seen today.The windmills that
loomed menacingly overEl Quijoteand his chunky
sidekick Sancho Panza still line some of the region’s
gentle ridges, while the town of ElToboso makes much
of the restored house of Dulcinea, the object of Don
Quixote’s affections.25- Identity: the
building blocks of
2. Literature
and philosophy
3. Art and
architecture
4. Performing
arts
5. Cinema
and fashion
6. Media and
communications
7. Food and drink 8. Living culture:
the details of
The name La Mancha
comes from the Arabic
manxa, meaning
‘parched earth’.Plain living
What do people do to
survive in the wide open
spaces of Castile-La
Mancha? A substantial
number make wine
(Castile-La Mancha
has the world’s largest
single area under vine)
or Manchego cheese,
while other producers
grow saffron crocuses,
olives and wheat.Fests of faith
The festivals of Castile-
La Mancha tend to be
deeply religious affairs,
often involving a solemn
procession through
town. The piety reaches
dramatic heights in
the small village of
Hiendelaencina each
Easter when The Passion
is recreated, complete
with local men hoisted
up on crosses.