Alcobendas

This city is located 25 kilometres north of Madrid, in the upper basin of the Manzanares River.

The first documented mention of the town dates back to 1208, during the reign of Alfonso VIII of Castile. In 1369, King Enrique II gave Alcobendas to Pedro González de Mendoza as a reward for his support in the war against his brother Pedro I. The inhabitants of Alcobendas suffered a double tax burden, since they had to pay taxes both to their lord and to the town of Madrid. The tyrannical attitude of Lord Juan Arias Dávila caused several residents of Alcobendas to settle on a nearby hill and request to be residents of Madrid. Thus San Sebastián de los Reyes was born in 1492, under the protection of an anti-seigniorial policy of the Council of Madrid and the Catholic Monarchs.

In the 19th century, Alcobendas suffered French occupation from 1808 until its liberation by El Empecinado. Until 1811, the Mendoza family, and later the Counts of Puñonrostro, held lordship over the town. In 1822, the Cortes approved the boundaries of the municipality of Alcobendas that we know today.

From 1955 onwards, the first housing estates outside the city centre began to be built, such as La Moraleja and El Encinar de los Reyes. These spaces were the work camp of the leading contemporary architecture firms. Rafael Moneo, Ramón Vázquez Molezún, José Antonio Coderch, Javier Carvajal and Julio Cano Lasso give an idea of ​​the high architectural level that these housing estates possess.

Today, the city has almost 120,000 inhabitants (2023) and is positioned as a unique destination for business trips and family leisure. Its privileged location, with direct access to Madrid International Airport and the IFEMA Exhibition Centre, makes it an ideal location for conferences, events and business meetings.

The city offers a vast infrastructure for business, with a wide range of high-quality hotels and restaurants.

Alcobendas is also known for its commitment to culture and leisure. The city is home to a wide variety of themed museums, parks, and green areas, such as Parque de Cataluña and Parque de Andalucía.

Its attractions include the Alcobendas Art Center, featuring avant-garde design, the Church of San Pedro Apóstol, Casa Gibaja, and La Menina, a monumental sculpture by Manolo Valdés. In the museum world, the National Museum of Science and Technology (MUNCYT) stands out, inviting visitors to interactively discover the scientific and technological advances that have shaped human history. Also worth a visit are the FED (Spanish Basketball Federation) Basketball Museum, a unique space dedicated to the history and evolution of Spanish basketball, and the Bonsai Museum, which houses a collection of examples of this ancient Japanese tradition in a serene setting.

Alcobendas, a member of the Network of Smart Tourist Destinations, offers a complete experience for visitors, combining business, culture, leisure and nature.