Villacañas
Camino de Levante
Villacañas is known for its silos — not grain silos, but underground cave dwellings carved into the clay subsoil. Families lived in these subterranean houses well into the 20th century, and several have been preserved as a museum. The constant underground temperature made them cool in summer and warm in winter — a practical response to La Mancha's extreme climate.
The town has all basic services. It's a more interesting stop than it first appears.
The silos of Villacañas were first documented in the 16th century, though they may be older. At their peak, hundreds of families lived underground. The practice declined in the mid-20th century as modern housing became available, but the remaining silos are now protected as cultural heritage — a unique piece of La Mancha's social history.
