SORIA
This stunning route takes us to
the well-known "city of poets" nestled in a natural setting chaired
by the Duero river, a city that has a superb catalogue of religious monumental
Romanesque buildings in its medieval streets, as well as splendid examples of
civil architecture. This small but pretty town preserved partly a medieval
historic character, and places that exude a charm that has seduced travellers
and great literary artists like Gustavo Adolfo Becquer and Antonio Machado.
The trip begins with stops in
two little towns in the province of Segovia,Riaza and Ayllon, great
examples of medieval villages with abundant civil monuments, churches and
palaces where the nature and art go hand in hand.
Already in the province of
Soria, we discover three other locations that well worth a visit. The historic
center of San Esteban de Gormaz consists of a castle built on
the top of a hill, two Romanesque churches declared of Cultural Interest, the
Main Square and a sixteen eyes medieval bridge that crosses the Douro river.
Its beauty and historical vestiges have earned the declaration of Historic and
Artistic Monument.
Burgo de Osma, ancient and monumental city, offers one of the best
preserved medieval enclosures in the province of Soria. Not surprisingly, the
city has been declared a Historic-Artistic Monument too. The Gothic Cathedral
is one of the most important religious buildings in the province. But the same
resonance have the city-wall, the Episcopal Palace, the City Hall, the Mayor
street and the several squares. Still survives a famous Roman bridge and on a
nearby hill, the old Castle. In this town you can taste a delicious cuisine,
which is based on the typical products of the slaughter (sausages and other
pork products). Also typical dishes based on game (partridges, hares or quail)
and fishing (trout and crayfish). Other culinary specialties are the grilled
lamb, roast or stew, or Castilian stew (stew with chickpeas, pork, sausage,
etc…) and to round off the excellent pastries.
Calatañazor, one of the prettiest towns of Soria, stands on top of
a hill overlooking the Abión river valley, in a privileged environment. It has
an imposing bearing. Protected by a sturdy wall, the remains of a stately
castle, two churches, steep boulder cobblestone streets and houses of stone,
adobe and wood from juniper form a harmonious beauty. It was declared a
historical and artistic interest in 1962. It became internationally known in
1965 when Orson Welles used this wonderful setting for shooting “Falstaff”.
The last compulsory visits
before reaching the city of Soria are the Natural Reserve of “Sabinar de
Calatañazor” (one of the thickest and best preserved juniper forest in the
world) and the “Fuentona”, also known as “the Eye of the Sea” (a karst aquifer forming
the birth of the Abión River and is surrounded by breathtaking landscape of
moors, ravines, gullies and limestone gorges).
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