Albacete Capital City

With around 143,000 inhabitants, Albacete is the most populous city of the the Autonomous Region of Castilla la Mancha. Albacete’s name comes from the Arabic "Al Basit", which means ‘the prairie’, a name that reflects its open horizons, not only literally but culturally and in terms of its innovation and presentation.

Walking through the city one can get an idea of the social metamorphism that it has undergone over the centuries. Old ideas have given way to new schools of thought in terms of urban living and the new has encroached on the old town in a way that covers old civic planning wounds of days gone by. Trees provide welcome shade along wide avenues and well-kept kept gardens provide havens of peace and quite, far from the bustle of a thriving and modern metropolis. The city still evokes the memory of the knife-makers of earlier days and there are plenty of reminders of these wilder times in the form of statues and organised walks.

There’s a strange dichotomy between the old and the new in Albacete, but there’s no doubt that, after spending a few hours in the city, the visitor realises that in this town, life is sweet.

More information: http://www.visitclm.com/lugares/albacete/albacete/

Places Worth a Visit

The impressive cathedral of Albacete was built over the foundations of an earlier mudéjar temple. Work began in 1515 but was stopped in the 16th century, a feature that resulted in a distinct journey through time as the building was not completed until, during the 1920s, it was completed by a team with a different viewpoint on life.

The Knife Museum of Albacete contains a unique collection of the products that have, for many centuries, marked the character and industry of the local population. Knife sellers were a common sight plying their wares to early morning train travellers. There is a legend that says you should never give a knife from Albacete as a gift as this could mean that the friendship could be cut off. To avoid this it’s important that money should be exchanged – you sell it for a simple token. This ensures that the friendship will continue.

Important Festivals and Fiestas

24 June, the Fiestas of San Juan, the patron saint of Albacete.

7th to the 17th of September is the Feria of Albacete. This festival has been organised since time immemorial in honour of the Virgen de los Llanos. Bullfights and an animal fair are the most noted events although the streets are filled with people partying into the wee hours. This is a great time to taste some of the gastronomic specialities of the town including a heavy, yet delicious, dish called atascaburra. The name says it all.

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