Consuegra is well placed for a longer windmill-and-castle circuit. Campo de Criptana, 45 km south, has another spectacular row of mills overlooking the plain — and a stronger Cervantes pedigree. Almagro, 80 km south, has a beautifully preserved 17th-century corral de comedias (open-air theatre). The walled city of Toledo, 65 km north, makes an obvious extension if you have a second day.
For a quieter detour, Tembleque (24 km north) has one of the most photogenic Plaza Mayors in Castile, with three-tier wooden balconies running around all four sides.