Navalcarnero: the cave-restaurant of the Prince
Madrid is not only the capital of Spain, but also the visible head of a great and diverse Community, in many cases practically unknown to tourism in general.
A Community, made up of innumerable municipalities, by peoples with tradition and a very particular charm, part of whose essence, antiquity and fertile traditions, I already assure you, that it is worth getting to know each other.
Navalcarnero, is one of those towns, which located just thirty kilometers away from Madrid capital, has many interesting things to offer, among them, the excellence of its architecture, its wines and the variety and quality of its food.
In this sense, I want to invite you to know another of the cultural aspects of Navalcarnero, where architecture, tradition and imagination have been conjured, to offer a glimpse of uniqueness to the visitor.
Like many other towns, Navalcarnero is urbanly undermined by a series of tunnels and galleries, which constitute an authentic labyrinth - remember the famous labyrinth of King Minos, in Cnossos? - partly artificial and partly natural, the latter taking advantage of its caves and concavities and exerting engineering and design work on them, until they were converted, no longer into homes, as I showed them when I told them about the caves-housing of Cívica (https://hive.blog/hive-178708/@juancar347/civic -chronicle-of-a-cave-architecture) but in authentic places of restoration, specially designed to offer visitors and gourmets an eminently intense and actually little-known experience.
It would be the case of the restaurant-grill called ‘The Caves of the Prince', located a few meters from a Plaza Mayor - which still retains the irresistible charm of its traditional architecture, where it seems that the medieval houses sway melancholy attached to those solid columns which at the same time serve as arcades to shelter from the inclement weather and which impassively attended great historical events, such as the betrothal of King Felipe IV with Mariana of Austria- he adapted some caves from the seventeenth century, converting them into a restoration establishment, famous, among other details, for the variety and excellence of its gastronomy.
In its labyrinthine interior, from the spacious hall, decorated with interesting references to the rural environment, always metaphorical mirrors that invite the imagination to remember that eminently rural and peasant Spain, large rooms, ideal for baptisms, communions and even weddings, serve as an anteroom for access to lower floors, which, molded to the natural circumstances of the subsoil, take advantage of even the smallest nooks and crannies as an ideal space for reserved rooms, where two people can enjoy a meal or dinner in a purely private and obviously romantic environment.
Which, after all, constitutes a new fascination, which also has, as an incentive, one especially vintage designs - such as cutlery, table linen, bars and small cellars - capable of acting on the subconscious, as metaphorical machines of the time, recreating the environments of other centuries and other ways of living.
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Happy Friday, my friend
espectacular tomar una copa de vino en ese lugar!!!
Puedo asegurarte, por experiencia propia que sí. Además, aunque eso no lo he comentado en el post, este pueblo tiene también otro aliciente, como son las matanzas en febrero, donde se montan unas fiestas muy interesantes, con música popular incluida, y todo un despliegue de comida y de bebida. Aunque claro, ahora con el tema de la pandemia, al menos éstas se han suspendido hasta recobrar la ansiada normalidad. Muchas gracias por tu comentario y un cordial saludo.
Hello @juancar347, dining here must be a unique gastronomic experience. I can imagine sitting and enjoying food and wine within this series of tunnels. Cool post!
The truth is that it is a highly recommended experience, especially because of the novelty it entails and that feeling of timelessness that caves and caverns generally seem to possess, where time passes and you don't realize it. It is another way to mold and take advantage of these caves and give them a functionality, apart from what they were formerly: wineries and presses where to deposit agricultural tools. What impresses me the most is the magnificent bovería work, with those solid bricks that were used in the past and that have nothing to do with those of today, much lighter. Thank you very much for your comment. An affectionate greeting
Well said, celebrating the weekend being surrounded by timelessness and so much history while sipping wine in the good company of friends or family sounds perfect. Have a lovely one!
Thanks. Equally.
Cuevas del príncipe, así dice la cenicera, y la botella de vino también, me imagino que es un vino muy especial, de la casa, con el olor, el alma de ese lugar escondido en la tierra; que pareciera estar en el mundo de Juan Carlos en el país de las maravillas, y que, increíblemente, está a sólo treinta kilómetros de Madrid!
A esta hora, muy de madrugada, descolcho la botella de ese vino, me lo supongo tinto, y brindo.
Si empiezas tan temprano consumiendo la sangre de Baco, vas a terminar mal, mi pana, ja, ja, ja. Los de Navalcarnero, son vinos con cuerpo, en donde no falta calidad, pero también los hay de esos llamados peleones, que te pueden dejar cao a la mínima de cambio. Suele ocurrir, sobre todo, con los 'vinos de la casa', de manera que generalmente, para no llevarme el sufrimiento de resacas monumentales, suelo pedir la carta y elegir esos otros, que te cuestan un riñón, pero que el hígado agradece. Madrid es una Comunidad muy interesante de conocer, aunque no tengamos playa, ja, ja, ja. Y son muchos los pueblecitos, desperdigados a los cuatro puntos cardinales, cuya belleza y costumbres, ya te aseguro que merece la pena conocerse. Y lo más importante, siempre: vivirse. Cuídate mucho, pana. Un abrazo
Conoceré ésos pueblos bellos através de tu paso, peregrino, de tu lente y tu letra.
Un placer siempre encontrarme con tus historias.
Un gran placer recibirte en ellas, pana. Abrazos
que bien estaríamos ,mirando sus arcos cuando levantaríamos la copa y brindando por el campesino que pieza a pieza creo esa belleza
feliz sábado amigo
Pues ya sabes: cuando os animéis a hacerme una visita, reservamos mesa allí y nos damos un pequeño homenaje, que para eso estamos los amigos. Feliz sábado
que menos que Monix jajaj
Since time immemorial, natural caves have been one of mankind's most popular spaces for human habitation. Having a dining experience at the cave restaurant of Navalcarnero must be a remarkable way to peek into the layers of history and imagine how it was like to exist during that period in the past. Thank you @juancar347 for featuring this unique establishment in our community!
It could be said that yes, that in some way it is like attending a regression, a journey in time, although of course, not suitable for people who suffer from claustrophy. In addition to obviously enjoying a pleasant evening, I also like to see the extraordinary masonry work that was carried out in the past, especially as regards vaults and I think that in the photographs you can see a good example of it. This type of caves and tunnels also had their function in the great palaces and mansions of Madrid, which were subterraneanly undermined by numerous tunnels that connected very specific places, where the nobility indulged in their adventures in the most absolute privacy. In reality, tunnels and caves, whether or not they are reconditioned as dwellings or as places of restoration, there is no doubt that they are recipients of a host of stories and circumstances, very little known in reality. Best regards
Indeed, these caves are obviously not for those suffering from claustrophobia. But in a way, dining inside one is still a unique kind of experience for the adventurous explorer. Kind regards.
The beauty of the place made me speechless, if only I could go there immediately, I would.
Thank you. I hope you can do it some day or that you can find another similar place nearby where you can let yourself be carried away by a similar experience. Best regards
Hello @juancar347! What a wonderful story about cave architecture thus, it's our pleasure to let you know that your awesome post has been included in the Top 3 of Architecture Brew #23! Well done and congrats!
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Thank you. I feel very fortunate for this award. An affectionate greeting
Wow! That cave restaurant is totally unique and interesting. Loved the seating arrangements it's all so new and interesting experience.
Hope you are enjoying the weekend:)
Thank you very much for your kind comment and I am very happy that you liked this place. I hope you are also enjoying a wonderful weekend. Best regards