Museums and buildings offer different ways to explore the history of Villarejo De Salvanés; the route to the Santa María archaeological site connects archaeological traces with an agricultural landscape. This distinction can help you plan your trip: you can focus on exhibitions, historic architecture, the esparto grass tradition or the landscape, without turning them into a fixed itinerary.

Museums and buildings

The Torre del Homenaje houses the first Museo de los Tercios Españoles. It presents the history of the municipality and its castle in the context of Spanish history. The Iglesia de San Andrés Apóstol offers a different architectural feature: the church of the Military Order of Santiago was built in the style of a fortress. The Casa de la Tercia serves as a multipurpose hall and hosts numerous temporary exhibitions.

The Museo del Cine also focuses on a distinct historical subject. It is located in the former “Cine París” and is considered Spain’s first professional and technological film museum. In Room B, a complete film projection booth from each decade of the 20th century is on display—from the Lumière brothers’ first cinematographs to the latest models of our time. The combination of early film technology and later models makes the passage of time within the exhibition easy to follow.

Esparto tradition and archaeological traces

Traditional esparto grass spinning was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Community of Madrid by Decree 32/2025 of 28 May 2025. The free weekly esparto workshops at the Museo Etnográfico offer a practical complement to the cultural history. As their frequency should be confirmed before your visit, it is advisable to enquire in advance. This allows you to discover the subject not only through its recognition, but also through the craft itself.

The route to the Santa María archaeological site is for travellers who want to explore archaeological remains and the landscape together. It passes the ruins of a medieval hermitage: the building had two naves separated by two pillars and stood near the source of the San Pedro stream. The route offers wide panoramic views and crosses a patchwork agricultural landscape with extensive dry fields.

Other traces along the route include the remains of a Carpetanian hillfort. The historical horizon reaches back to the Bronze Age; the hillfort ruins themselves are described as Carpetanian. North of the Santa María archaeological site are also the remains of a Roman road, which may have been the Vía del Esparto. This cautious classification is important: identifying it as the Vía del Esparto is a possibility, not a certainty.

Another historic structure is the Fuente lavadero del Cañuelo complex, built in 1776 and restored to its original form through archaeological work. The surrounding area includes Portuguese oaks and holm oaks, elderberry and thyme. Rabbits, hares, foxes and wild boar are also among the animals found there. This makes it different from the collections and buildings: the focus here is the interplay between historic infrastructure and the landscape described.

Events and travel planning

Feria AgroMadrid is a recurring event for agricultural and livestock products: the exhibition promotes and sells these products and has been held annually since 1984. Dates and programmes may vary from year to year. La Pasión de Villarejo also has a long history: the event has been held since 1980 and was declared an event of tourist interest by the Community of Madrid in 2013. Its dates and staging may vary, so check the details for the year of your trip.

Bus routes 351, 352 and 353 may be useful for getting there. They depart from Ronda de Atocha and stop in Villarejo de Salvanés. Check the timetable before departure. For recurring events, the date of each event is a specific point to consider when planning; the cultural and landscape themes, by contrast, offer different ways to focus your stay.

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For the main travel overview: Madrid.