Castille and Leon offers an amazing array of cultural destinations, and specifically Palencia, with its Gothic Cathedral known as “The Unknown Beauty”.
It is also an excellent point of departure to explore the region’s extraordinary Historical and Artistic Heritage: from the Camino de Santiago, the Romanesque and Renaissance tours, to the most avant-garde Contemporary Art.
The region is a land of contrasts, with picturesque villages and magnificent churches, full of artistic treasures commissioned in the days of its greatest splendour and still preserved today, away from the crowded tourist routes, and making every visit an unexpected discovery.
You can visit the most important archeological site of the Roman Imperial period and its magnificent mosaiques; Spain’s oldest Christian visigoth basilica; the remote locations chosen by Cistersians and Benedictines, with their wonderful romanesque cloisters; or follow the Baroque Organ route or that of the Mudéjar panelings, which only exists in Spain.
To schedule your trip we have prepared a map with our favorite destinations, but there are much more…
Palencia Baltanás is the capital of Cerrato, a region between Palencia, Valladolid and Burgos. From the 13th century onwards, the town of Baltanás belonged to the Master of the Order of Santiago. The continuous wars forced the Crown to look for other economic resources, and with the necessary Papal Decree, in 1543 Philip II signed the sale of the village
Palencia When you’re approaching Támara, always surprises to see, arising between the endless fields of wheat, the monumental tower of this Church-Cathedral, perhaps the largest temple in the province after the Cathedral of Palencia. Example of transition from Gothic to Renaissance, it contains so many master pieces that only this justifies a visit: baptismal, gates, altarpieces, stained glasses, pulpit… But the
Palencia Discovered in 1968, the Roman Villa La Olmeda, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Hispanic Roman world. Typical “Peristyle House” with central garden surrounded by galleries, rooms, corridors, porches, towers, thermal area, necropolis with burial goods… It’s a splendid palace of the Late Roman Empire (4th century AD) Its whole area excedes the 4.400m2 with
Palencia San Martín de Frómista (11th century) is one of the Romanesque churches more complete and pure of Spain. Is a model of harmony and proportions which had much influence as it was an important crossroad until 15th century. The awful expropriation of 19th century led to its total ruin. Nowadays is too much restored, and many of the capitals
Becerril de Campos, Cisneros, Paredes de Nava y Fuentes de Nava Tierra de Campos (‘Land of Fields’) is a region that stands out as the birthplace of the artistic and cultural revolution the Renaissance constituted in the Iberian Peninsula. In four of its towns -Becerril de Campos, Cisneros, Paredes de Nava and Fuentes de Nava- you can find one of
The province of Palencia is one of Europe’s largest concentrations of Romanesque monuments. Each one has its own peculiarity and special charm due to its artistic aspects, its location or the route that must be followed to reach it. But what they all have in common is that they offer us a complete lesson in history, art and culture. From
Palencia During the 12th century, Villasirga was the main centre in Castile of the Order of the Templars. Essential stage of the Camino de Santiago, represents the richest example of transition from Romanesque to Gothic. The White Virgin is already mentioned in the Cantigas of King Alfonso X el Sabio, masterpiece of spanish medieval lyric poetry of 13th century. Altarpieces, paintings
Palencia With a rich medieval history, see of royal councils, Court and birthplace of the Marqués de Santillana (key player in the social, political and litterary time), it has always been an important stage of the Camino de Santiago. Of the numerous monuments, highlights the Romanesque churches of Santiago, with a stunning Pantocrator, and Santa María del Camino. Crossing the river
We are in one of the most important wine production regions of Spain, between D.O. Ribera del Duero, Cigales, Rueda and Arlanza, where you can visit some of the wineries that have recently choosed avant-garde projects of great impact, as those designed by Pritzker Architecture Awards Sir Richard Rogers and Sir Norman Foster. www.bodegasportia.com www.bodegasprotos.com