Ribera Del Duero Route

We propose starting the weekend route in San Esteban de Gormaz. Highlights of the mediaeval historic-artistic site include the castle and the walled enclosure, and the two Romanesque churches (9th-12th centuries) of San Miguel and La Virgen del Rivero. Take the N-122 road that runs alongside the Duero River amongst plains, vineyards and rolling hills. A little further along there is a 9-kilometre deviation to Rejas de San Esteban, housing the Romanesque church of San Martín (12th century). We then move on to Langa de Duero (16 kilometres) with its interesting old wineries and underground presses – a tradition seen in nearly all the villages on the route. There is another deviation (14 kilometres) from Langa to Castillego de Robledo. The Romanesque church of La Asunción (12th century) houses notable mural painting from the 11th century. The monastery of Santa María de la Vid is 10 kilometres away, in the province of Burgos. Founded in the 12th century, the architecture combines Romanesque features from its foundation with Gothic and Renaissance elements from the 16th century. The next visit is to the village of Peñaranda de Duero. Presided over by the castle (15th century), highlights include the Palace of the Dukes of Avellaneda and the collegiate church of Santa Ana (both Renaissance from the 16th century), the column used as a pillory, known as the Gothic rollo jurisdiccional pillar and the Ximeno Chemist’s, founded at the end of the 17th century. Just a few kilometres away is Baños de Valdearados, where a visit to the Roman villa of Santa Cruz and its splendid mosaics (4th-6th centuries B.C.) is well worth it. Also nearby is Gumiel de Izán, housing the church of Santa María (14th century). Here we now take the Autovía del Norte motorway for 12 kilometres to Aranda de Duero, the main city on the route. The monumental highlights include the Gothic churches of San Juan Bautista (14th century) and Santa María la Real (15th century), the Palace of the Berdugo (15th century) and the notable set of underground presses. Do not miss the chance to try the famous roast lamb or grilled cutlets in one of the carveries. Continuing on the Duero River course, just 21 kilometres from Aranda is the village of Roa, housing the Gothic-Renaissance collegiate church of Santa María dating to the 16th century. A further 24 kilometres downstream on the Duero River in the province of Valladolid is the mediaeval village of Peñafiel. The mediaeval castle (11th century and rebuilt in the 14th-15th centuries) is one of the most standout examples of military architecture in Spain. The convent of San Pablo (14th-16th centuries with a mix of Gothic, Mudejar and Plateresque elements) and the setting of the Plaza del Coso make for an enjoyable architectural ensemble to visit. Also in Peñafiel is the Pintia Archaeological Centre, a visitors centre for the old Celtiberian city, located in the hamlet of Padilla de Duero (3 kilometres away). Just 15 kilometres from Peñafiel separate us from the end of the route. After crossing the wine village of Pesquera de Duero, we arrive at Valbuena de Duero to visit its famous Vega Sicilia wineries and the Cistercian monastery of Valbuena (12th-13th centuries) surrounded by the same vineyards that have accompanied us throughout the route.

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