Discover everything Alcalá de Henares has to offer!

All E.I. students are invited and encouraged to participate in activities and excursions planned by the Center throughout the year. Learn about Spanish culture and travel Spain while you learn to speak Spanish. The activities include visits to local historic and cultural sights, informal dinners, sports activities, and more. It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to get to know one another better, as well as gain a better understanding of the culture and lifestyle of the country.

Orientation and Local sights

Every Monday there is an afternoon orientation which includes a tour of the city. Following the orientation, that same afternoon, all E.I. students may visit selected local historical and cultural sights of Alcalá de Henares, such as:

Palacio Arzobispal. Archbishop’s palace. Gothic, Mudejar, Renaissance and Baroque styles.
Monasterio Cisterciense de San Bernardo. St. Bernard Cistercian Monastery founded in the seventeenth century.
Catedral Magistral. Magisterial cathedral. Traces of Gothic style and an Herrerian tower.
Birthplace Museum of Miguel de Cervantes (author of Don Quixote). Reconstruction of a house from the period with a Cervantine library.
Calle Mayor. Main Street connecting the Medieval and Renaissance quarters.
Plaza de Cervantes. Old town square formerly used as a fairgrounds and marketplace.
Colegio Mayor de San Idelfonso y Colegio Trilingue. St Idelfonso Residence Hall and Trilingual Students’ Quarters. Main core of the old university, including the university church, an impressive assembly hall and three cloisters.
Yacimiento arqueológico Complutum y museo. Complutum archaeological dig and museum. Remains of Roman city.
Palacio Consistorial. Town Hall. Former convent whose plenary hall is decorated with stucco carvings. Specimen of the polyglot Bible.

There are a variety of activities planned for weekday afternoons

Fiesta de Bienvenida
On the first day of a course there is a party to welcome new students, to which all E.I. students are invited. In this way the arriving students meet the ongoing students and are easily incorporated into the schools friendly atmosphere.

Fiesta de Graduación
Once per month on the last Friday of the course students get together to celebrate the last day of the course and receive their Certificates. Several classes present musical or theatrical presentations, followed by a party with a goodbye toast to the departing students.

Video at the E.I. Center
Opportunity to view Spanish films or international films dubbed in Spanish.

Cena Internacional
Informal dinner at a local restaurant. Usually typical Spanish cuisine, but occasionally a restaurant with another particular international cuisine or decoration.

Vamos de Tapas
Learn about the Spanish custom of going for “tapas” and try Spanish foods. Who could resist this delicious way to spend an afternoon!

Noche de Tertulia
Spend an afternoon in the company of your classmates and professors practicing the fine art of conversation in pleasant surroundings in a local café.

Canción Española
Learn to sing all types of Spanish songs, from the most traditional to the latest pop hit.

Deporte
Spend an afternoon playing a particular sport. A variety of sports activities depending on the season, such as tennis, soccer, swimming, basketball, billiards.

Juegos de mesa.
Play some Spanish board games or learn card games with the Spanish deck of cards.