Navalcarnero has one of the finest arcaded squares in the Madrid region, the Plaza de Segovia, with wooden balconies, stone columns and a lively atmosphere on market days. The town has royal connections too: in the seventeenth century, King Philip IV's wedding to Mariana of Austria was celebrated here, and the house where the event took place is still pointed out. Today it is a busy market town on the southwestern edge of the Madrid metropolitan area.
The surrounding countryside is dry and open, with fields of cereals, olive groves and vineyards. Navalcarnero is one of the subzones of the Vinos de Madrid appellation, and the local wines, robust reds and some whites, can be tasted in bodegas in the area. In summer, the heat is intense, and the landscape turns golden brown under a blazing sky; in winter, mornings can be cold and frosty.
The riding around Navalcarnero is a mix of fast main roads and quieter rural routes. The A-5 motorway towards Extremadura is fast but dull, while the minor roads towards the Alberche valley and the foothills of the Sierra de Gredos are much more enjoyable, with curves and changes in elevation. The reservoirs around San Martín de Valdeiglesias are a popular destination for Madrid riders on weekends.
Navalcarnero has plenty of fuel stations, supermarkets and restaurants, so it is a good place to stop before heading into the countryside. Local bars serve tapas and traditional Castilian dishes, such as roast lamb and stews. After this stop the ride heads east towards the Alto Tajo, a wild gorge area far from the city, where the landscape and the riding change completely.