Puente Romano de La Cabrera Road
Hidden in the scrubland along an old drovers' road (cañada real) north of Colmenar Viejo lies a remarkably well-preserved stretch of Roman road complete with original granite paving slabs and a small arched bridge that most visitors to the Madrid sierra walk straight past. Historians believe it formed part of the ancient route linking the meseta with the Guadarrama passes.
Finding it and what to expect
The site is unmarked on most tourist maps, which is precisely its charm — you will almost certainly have it to yourself on a weekday morning, with only the wind and the occasional shepherd for company.
The granite slabs are original Roman work, worn smooth by centuries of hooves and boots, and the small bridge over a seasonal stream retains its curved arch almost entirely intact.
Combining it with a wider walk
The old cañada real that passes the bridge continues northward into open dehesa landscape of holm oak and granite outcrops, making it easy to extend the visit into a two- to three-hour circular walk.
Pack a detailed 1:25,000 IGN map of sheet 508 (Colmenar Viejo) or download the track from Wikiloc before you go, as signage is minimal once you leave the main road.
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