This year marks the 400th anniversary of the first publication of Cervantes’ Don Quijote, one of the most famous and important books/characters in world literature. There are a number of events going on in Madrid to mark the event throughout the year but you may be interested in paying a trip to Cervantes’ Birthplace Musuem, in the city of Alcalá de Henares just outside Madrid (35 minutes by train).Here is an overview of the museum from the website:

The Cervantes Birthplace Museum is a monographic museum owned and run by the Autonomous Region of Madrid, and housed in the building where, the scholars tell us, the writer was born. It brings to life the various areas of an affluent household during the 16th and 17th centuries, recreating an environment intended to provide visitors to the rooms with a sense of the former residents as they went about their daily lives.

The museum, which has been in existence since 1954, organises workshops for children, talks, concerts and book launches.

Getting There
Atocha Train Station (See ‘Cercanias’ section on Renfe website)
Opening Times
Tuesday to Sunday: 10 am to 6 pm