Pastrana is a medieval town in the province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain, around 25 miles southeast of Guadalajara. It is notable as the site of the imprisonment of the one-eyed Princess of boli by Philip II of Spain after a court scandal in 1573, and also as the home of several Flemish tapestries depicting the attack of Alfonso V of Portugal on Morocco in 1470.
As is the Spanish style, Pastrana is centered around a square, La Plaza de la Hora (usually referred to as “La Plaza”, in English “the square of the hour”), which is overlooked by the Palacio Ducal, the aforementioned Princess’ palace and prison rolled into one. Legend has it that she would be allowed to gaze out onto the square from the window of the room she was confined to (presumably through her good eye) for one hour a day, from whence came the square’s name. Fanning out from La Plaza are narrow, cobbled streets lined with houses, bars and shops. The main street leads to the Iglesia de la Asuncin, in whose museum the tapestries are kept, and also a painting by El Greco. Further along are the old Jewish and Arab quarters.
Important events are Semana Santa at Easter and La Fiesta in August, a week of events, such as concerts, parties and bullfights, with the town congregating in La Plaza every evening for a night of live music and dancing.
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