Mercado Medieval de Chinchón
Each year in late July, Chinchón transforms Plaza Mayor and the surrounding streets into a full-scale medieval market, with over 200 stalls selling hand-forged ironwork, leather goods, ceramics and artisan food under torchlight. It is one of the most atmospheric medieval fairs in the Community of Madrid.
What to expect at the market
Stalls line every arcade of Plaza Mayor and spill into the side streets, selling everything from Toledo-style swords and hand-thrown pottery to local honey, manchego cheese and the town's signature anís liqueur in ceramic bottles shaped like monks.
Street performers in period costume — jugglers, fire-eaters, wandering minstrels with lutes — fill the gaps between stalls. The whole event runs from Thursday to Sunday, with the Thursday evening opening ceremony drawing the biggest crowds.
Eating and drinking at the fair
A row of open-fire cooking stations sets up along the east side of the plaza, turning out whole roast suckling pig, lamb chops and chorizo al vino over wood embers. Eat standing at a trestle table with a clay cup of local wine — it is exactly as convivial as it sounds.
Look for the stall run by the Cooperativa Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza, which sells Chinchón anís directly at producer prices — considerably cheaper than in Madrid supermarkets.
Mercado Medieval de Chinchón on video
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