Ucles

Uclés owes its historical relevance to the La Mancha chapter of the Order of Saint James, which chose this town as the capital of their territory.

The main attraction in this town is the monastery, built by Francisco de Mora, follower of Herrera, back in the 16th century. Also known as the "Escorial de La Mancha" or "Little Escorial", the monastery was arranged about a harmonious square courtyard, two storeys high, which dates from the 16th century, and has a magnificent underground reservoir at its centre. A remarkable feature of the façade is the Churrigueresque main front, which has a sculpture of Saint James the Apostle. The church, with only one nave, was built on the northern wing, and has an original by Francisco Ricci, as well as the remains of Rodrigo Manrique, grand master of Santiago, and of his son, Jorge Manrique.