This small city is located in Madrid Community, just 22 miles from Madrid city center, and with over 2,000 years of history. Although it is known that in prehistory times there was a human presence, the first relevant historic records begin from Roman settlements. The main Roman settlement was the city of Complutum, which reached about 10,000 habitants and had some municipality organization in the year 74.
With the Muslim conquest in the 8th century, the Alcalá area ceased to be important to the Romans. Jewish, Muslim and Christian settlements were established, though all of them separate. Since 1209 the center of power in the city was the Palace of the Archbishops, a major architectural complex. On January 20, 1486, the first interview was held between Queen Elizabeth I of Castile and Christopher Columbus to discuss financing the trip to the Indies, which ended in the discovery of America. In Alcalá is located one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 1293 with the name Complutense, but later named Universidad de Alcalá. Miguel de Cervantes is a renowned Spanish writer, born in Alcalá de Henares in 1547 and baptized in the Church of Santa Maria. In front of the church is Plaza Cervantes in honor of him. His birthplace was opened as a museum in 1956. Also near the university is the cathedral; the chapel was built in 414, but over the centuries the building has been destroyed and rebuilt on several occasions. This historic center of Alcalá was declared UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998. In summary Alcalá de Henares is the perfect place for a half day visit.