MANZANARES

manzanares, a town of spain, in the province of ciudad real, on the river azuer, a large sub-tributary of the zancara, and on the railways from madrid to ciudad real and linares. pop. (1900), 11,229. manzanares is one of the chief towns of la mancha, and thus in the centre of the district described by cervantes in _don quixote_. its citadel was founded as a christian fortress after the defeat of the moors at las navas de tolosa (1212). bull-fights were formerly held in the main _plaza_, where galleries to accommodate spectators were built between the buttresses of an ancient parish church. manzanares has manufactures of soap, bricks and pottery, and an active trade in wheat, wine, spirits, aniseed and saffron.