Surrounded by pine forests and the parklands of Casa de Campo, Pozuelo de Alarcon is an affluent municipality in the west of Madrid. It’s home to some of the Spanish capital’s most famous soccer players as well as Cristiano Ronaldo, who has resided here for almost a decade.
Things to do in Pozuelo de Alarcón
One of Pozuelo de Alarcon’s most striking architectural landmarks is the Parroquia Santa Maria de Cana, a modern, red-brick church topped by a hollow tower. It was designed by the locally born architect Fernando Higueras in a Constructivist style, with a Greek cross plan and an ornate vaulted ceiling. Coincide your visit with a Sunday service to experience the church in all its glory.
North of Pozuelo de Alarcon is Parque de las Carcavas, which comprises two man-made lakes spanned by several bridges. In addition to its spurting geyser, the park is home to children’s playgrounds and benches where you can watch the world go by. Migratory birds can occasionally be spotted in the lakes alongside resident ducks.
Sprawling east of Pozuelo de Alarcon is the Casa de Campo, which is the largest public green space in Madrid. Once used as a royal hunting estate, it’s now a popular destination for locals to relax on the weekends. Stretch your legs along one of the hiking trails, explore on two wheels or get a bird’s eye view from the park’s gondola. Casa de Campo also encompasses a 20-hectare amusement park and the Madrid Zoo.
Getting around Pozuelo de Alarcón
Pozuelo de Alarcon is around 20 minutes’ drive from the centre of Madrid and 25 minutes from Adolfo Suarez Madrid–Barajas Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Subway services connect to the Pozuelo station while both trams and buses travel through the municipality.