Ciudad Real is the capital of the province of the same name, set in the flat plains of La Mancha in central Spain — the landscape that inspired Cervantes' Don Quixote. It's a quiet regional city with a well-preserved old centre, surrounded by vineyards that produce some of Spain's most prolific wine output.
The Cathedral of Santa María del Prado and the Puerta de Toledo, a 14th-century fortified gate, are the main historical landmarks. The old centre is compact and walkable, anchored by the arcaded Plaza Mayor. Outside the city, the windmills of Consuegra and Campo de Criptana are the region's most photographed sights, an easy day trip that puts you firmly in Quixote country.
Ciudad Real is also a gateway to the Tablas de Daimiel National Park, a wetland reserve about 30 km north, where migrating birds stop in large numbers in spring and autumn.