A dose of nature and history The first stop awaits you in Patones, some seventy kilometres from Madrid, and split into two hubs: Patones de Arriba and Patones de Abajo. The first, packed with traditional slate architecture, will charm you with its typical houses. The second, Patones de Abajo, will please nature lovers, thanks to its Ecological Path around the village, while the three water channels crossing it are perfect for geology fans. Nearby, is Torrelaguna, whose highlight is Santa María Magdalena Church, in the main square. You can even feel like an actor for the day, since its old quarter has been the scene of numerous films over the years, including Everybody Knows, the Hollywood production The Pride and the Passion and the Spanish El turismo es un gran invento (Tourism is a great invention). Significant individuals from Spain's history are also connected to Torrelaguna, like San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of the city of Madrid, and Cardinal Cisneros, founder of the University of Alcalá de Henares.
