Ermita y Cerro de los Ángeles
Perched on a modest hill just inside Getafe's municipal boundary, the Cerro de los Ángeles holds the remarkable distinction of being the geographical centre of the Iberian Peninsula — a fact marked by a monument and a striking hilltop hermitage that rewards the short climb with panoramic views across the Castilian meseta.
The monument and its meaning
A large stone monument marks the exact geodesic centre of Spain, making this one of those rare spots that feels genuinely significant rather than manufactured. The original monument was destroyed in the Civil War; the current version, restored in the 1960s, incorporates a Sacred Heart statue that is visible from the surrounding plain.
The Ermita de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles beside it is a simple, whitewashed chapel that has drawn pilgrims since the medieval period. It is still an active place of worship and the interior, when open, is beautifully austere.
The views and the walk
From the summit (only about 670 metres above sea level, but elevated enough above the flat meseta to feel significant), you can see the Madrid skyline to the north, the Sierra de Guadarrama beyond it, and on clear winter days the silhouette of the Sierra de Gredos to the west. It is one of the most satisfying panoramas in the entire metropolitan area.
The walk up from the car park takes under ten minutes on a paved path. Go at sunset when the light turns the limestone golden and the city lights begin to appear on the horizon — it is quietly spectacular and almost nobody from outside Getafe knows about it.
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