Madriguera, in the province of Segovia, Spain, is perhaps one of the best known villages of the route called "Pueblos rojos" of Segovia, which is made up of Alquité, Villacorta, Ayllón, together with Madriguera.
It is 17 km. from Riaza, in the foothills of the Sierra de Ayllón and very close to El Muyo, the most emblematic of the "Pueblos negros" of Segovia.
It is the largest village in the sierra, although it currently has less than 25 inhabitants, and in the past it had a doctor, apothecary, veterinary surgeon, priest, secretary, foreman and slaughterhouse. Nowadays, it only has a restaurant which is only open at weekends.
Many of its neighbours made their fortune from cattle dealing and muleteering.
Madriguera is known for being the most representative of the so-called "Red Architecture" of the villages of the Sierra de Ayllón. Its farmhouse is integrated into the landscape. The reddish elements of the ferruginous stone and the clayey earth of the surroundings are used for its construction, sometimes contrasting with the grey of the slate and the white of the quartz. Most of the buildings are from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, in which the families of Madriguera built two-storey houses plus a chamber, with local stonework and some of them with remarkable ironwork on balconies and windows, made by a well-known blacksmith who lived in the village. There are also some wooden balconies typical of mountainous areas. In the surrounding area there is a source of ferruginous water and the remains of an old kaolin mine, as well as other slate and graphite mines.
Due to the restorations that have been carried out on its houses, this locality is one of the best preserved in the area. The restorations have been carried out maintaining the typical chromatism of the place.
Touristically speaking, the best thing about the village is the village itself, its streets, its houses, its surroundings and, of course, its church of San Pedro, where we can appreciate the belfry made of red stone. About four hundred metres from the village you can see a beautiful washing place that has recently been recovered from ruin.
Madriguera is a very small village. Like all the villages in the Sierra de Ayllón, it is advisable to visit them in peace and quiet, enjoying the surroundings, without rushing.
Church of San Pedro Apóstol
It stands out for its large size compared to other villages in the area, which is due to the fact that it was enlarged in several phases between 1700 and 1800.
The previous one must have been too small for the increase in population due to the village's economic prosperity.
Within its walls there is a cemetery at the entrance of which a sign reads:
Temple of disappointment I am
And school of truth
Where every voice in shouting
Begs for pity pity