Munching in Sigüenza

Posted by By Gwen at 5 September, at 12 : 13 PM Print

Last June my family and I went to Sigüenza, Guadalajara for the weekend and were pleasantly surprised. We stayed at the Parador. This splurge was well worth it, since we were staying in a 12th century medieval castle, with its protective wall, overlooking the town.

One of the most amusing sights we had when we parked behind the wall before entering the stately building was an adorable Seat 600 (Spain’s first family car), festooned with balloons and a sign that read “Just Retired”!

In fact, so many sights in the town and surrounding area are medieval that it becomes a leitmotiv for the trip. I found this town to be a veritable treasure in many ways–for historical sightseeing, but also for hiking (there are several nice long walks on old paths that lead from town to town, or up into the mountainside), and also for meals. Of course! We can’t go anywhere without sampling the local fare. And we were not disappointed–from original tapas and entertainment at Gurugú to upscale and celebratory at Calle Mayor. Gurugú (such a funny name) is also a historical landmark. The tavern has been around (with several different names) since the 17th century. It has always been a meeting point in the center of town, offering not just grog and grub, but also amusement. The present owners have kept up the tradition. Some of their recipes are centuries’ old, such as the Dulce del Pelegrino, based on a 12th century recipe, while others recall Spain’s Moorish legacy, such as the caramelos de faisán or morcilla. The Dulce del Pelegrino, meant to remind us of the pilgrim’s progress on the Camino de Santiago (hence, the conch shell), is a surprising sweet with a surprise ingredient. Served with a sweet liquor. For, quite literally, a true taste of Spanish history, I would highly recommend a visit to Sigüenza.

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