Welcome to the University of Alcalá! “Entrance fees to the University included”

Hello! I'm David Alba, a certified tour guide and, most importantly, a former student of this institution. Touring the University of Alcalá with someone who has studied in its classrooms, who has walked its corridors, and who knows its stories is a truly enriching experience. On this sightseeing tour, we're not just going to see old stones; we're going to travel to the Spanish Golden Age.

I invite you to cross the threshold of history to discover Cardinal Cisneros' dream. Together, we'll unravel the secrets of the Manzana Cisneriana, the place where geniuses such as Lope de Vega, Quevedo, and Calderón de la Barca studied.

We'll start by admiring the grandeur from the outside and then sneak into the heart of knowledge. We'll uncover layers of history: from the pranks of the students of yesteryear to the solemnity of royal events.

Everything is designed to end at the most sacred place in Hispanic literature.

️ What will we visit?

· Convento de “Málaga” (Faculty of Philosophy and Letters): Our meeting point. We'll start the sightseeing tour and also learn about its history, as well as that of Calle Santa Úrsula and Calle Escritorios.
· The Parador and the Hostería del Estudiante: We'll make a visual stop at both the new Parador Actual and one of the oldest in Spain. They are benchmarks in quality and cuisine.
· Calle San Pedro and San Pablo.
· Calle Libreros: The great publishing house of the University. The printing presses that gave birth to the Golden Age.
· The façade of the University of Alcalá: After walking around the outside of the University, we'll stand in front of the façade. It's not just a beautiful wall; it's an open book carved in stone.
· The Chapel of San Ildefonso: One of Alcalá's essential treasures: art, centuries of history, and the eternal resting place of Cardinal Cisneros, where his cenotaph is located.
· Patio de Santo Tomás de Villanueva, Patio de Filósofos and Patio Trilingüe: We'll enter the three main courtyards of the University, where you can feel the atmosphere of the old “City of God” and the hustle and bustle of classic student life.
· The Paraninfo: We'll enter a privileged place, under its impressive Mudéjar coffered ceiling. This is where the Kings of Spain present the Cervantes Prize every April 23. You'll feel history beneath your feet!

And one final secret! We don't just listen; we live the experience. I have prepared a small visual challenge on the façade and a game at the end of the sightseeing tour to see what happens to the winner.

Ready to enrol in history? See you at the University!