Map of The Southern Meseta

The southern part of Spain's central meseta (high plateau) lies below the east-west running Sistema Central series of mountain ranges. In the south, it is bordered by the gentle Sierra Morena mountains which are Andalucia's northern frontier. To the west lies Extremadura while, to the east and south-east respectively, the Sistema Ibérica and Sistema Penibético separate the meseta from the coastal Levante region. The southern meseta is less extensive and lower in altitude than the northern part, and its climate, though continental like the north, less extreme, especially in winter.

Politically, the southern meseta corresponds almost exactly to the region of Old Castile, now divided into Castile-La Mancha and the region of Madrid. In addition to Madrid, the provinces and principal cities of the region are Toledo, Ciudad Real, Guadalajara, Cuenca and Albacete.