What to see in Soria and surroundings

Soria

If you wonder what to see in Soria and surroundings Because you plan a visit to the Castilian city, you should know that it has an extraordinary monumental heritage. In fact, it is surprising that such a small town (barely forty thousand inhabitants) has such a wealth of heritage.

As for this, it ranges from Roman times to the present, through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Baroque or Neoclassicism. Therefore, it does not fit greater variety and monumental wealth. In addition, Soria has a wide range of green areas. And, if these seem little to you, it has a wonderful natural environment and in which historical buildings are also abundant. But, without further ado, we are going to show you everything to see in and around Soria.

What to see in Soria and surroundings, from urban monuments to the natural environment

We will begin our route through Soria, whose monuments do not detract from those of Segovia o Ávila, in the center of the Castilian town. Then we will approach the landscapes and monuments of the suburbs that, however, are equally spectacular and will fascinate you. All this without forgetting the interesting museums that it offers you.

Plaza Mayor, the first thing to see in Soria

Main square

Main Square of Soria

To fulfill our plan, we started the tour of Soria in its Plaza Mayor, the authentic nerve center of the city. Porticoed and with the Fountain of the Lions In its center, which was built in 1798, it has several monuments that, by themselves, justify a visit to Soria.

This is the case Palace of the Audience, an imposing and sober neoclassical building from the XNUMXth century that today houses a cultural center. Also from the House of the Twelve Lineages, whose façade is post-Herrerian style, and of the House of the Common, today Municipal Archive. Likewise, you can see in the Plaza Mayor the Doña Urraca palace, whose current form dates from the seventeenth century, and from Town hall with its attached house, dating from the end of the XNUMXth century.

Co-Cathedral of San Pedro

Co-Cathedral of San Pedro de Soria

Co-Cathedral of San Pedro

Although it preserves remains of the primitive monastic church from the XNUMXth century, it was built in the XNUMXth following the canons of the plateresque style. It has a living room plan with three naves divided into five parts and with star-shaped vaulted ceilings. Inside it houses several chapels and the main altarpiece, the work of Francisco del Rio in the sixteenth century. Regarding the exterior, the Holy Door and the tower, with its spectacular bells.

But the great jewel of the Co-Cathedral is its cloister, declared a national monument in 1929. It is accessed through a doorway with a semicircular arch and it was built in the XNUMXth century. Three of its arched galleries with capitals that represent fantastic animals, vegetation and passages of the Biblia. From the cloister, you can also access the Refectory, which currently houses the Diocesan Museum.

Other churches to see in Soria

The church of San Juan de Rabanera

Church of San Juan de Rabanera

The Castilian city once had thirty-five parishes, but many of its churches have disappeared. However, among those that are preserved, we must recommend that you visit three: that of San Juan de Rabanera, that of Our Lady of Espino and that of Santo Domingo.

The first belongs to the late Romanesque and has been a National Monument since 1929. For its part, the second houses the image of the city's patron saint and was built in the XNUMXth century following Plateresque canons on the remains of another primitive church. As to the one in Santo DomingoIt is also Romanesque, but its greatest originality resides in its façade. It is a trinity surrounded by four archivolts with carved biblical scenes and there are only five of this type in the world.

As we told you, they are by no means the only churches to see in Soria and its surroundings. We also advise you to visit those of San Nicolás, San Ginés, Santa María la Mayor or that of San Miguel de Cabrejas.

Soria wall and castle

Walls of Soria

The walls of Soria

Moving on to the civil architecture of Soria, we will first tell you about its medieval wall. Built in the 4100th century, it was a total of XNUMX meters long and quadrangular in shape. Currently, a good part of it is preserved, although not its doors. Instead, there are still two shutters or small doors: those of San Ginés and San Agustín.

For its part, the castle, currently in ruins, was part of the wall and is believed to have been built in times of Fernan Gonzalez. Today you can see the remains of the keep, the inner walled enclosure and its access, flanked by two cubes.

On the other hand, the medieval city bridgeIt is true that it has been restored on several occasions. It is built in stone, measures one hundred and twelve meters and has eight semicircular arches. We advise you to visit it at night, as it has a beautiful night lighting.

We also recommend visiting the Charles IV bridge, dating from the XNUMXth century and the iron, built in 1929 as a passage for the railway between Soria and Torralba.

Noble palaces

The Palace of the Counts of Gómara

Palace of the Counts of Gómara

A good part of the monumental heritage to see in Soria and its surroundings is made up of noble palaces. Among them, two also stand out: that of the counts of Gómara and that of Los Ríos and Salcedo.

The first of them was built at the end of the 2000th century with a lot of influence from the Herrerian style and has been an Asset of Cultural Interest since XNUMX. Curiously, the Palace of the Rivers and Salcedo It was built by the same family that made the previous one. It is in the Renaissance style and currently houses the Provincial Historical Archive.

Along with these noble houses, you can see many others in Soria. We will highlight you the palaces of the Castejones and Don Diego de Solier, which are united, as well as that of the Provincial Council, which is neoclassical and offers you an interesting set of statues on its front.

For its part, the building of the Numancia Friendship Circle It is a beautiful XNUMXth century property. Inside, the Hall of Mirrors and the Poets Museum, dedicated to those who passed through Soria and dedicated verses to it: Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, Antonio Machado and Gerardo Diego.

Soria surroundings

The hermitage of San Saturio

Hermitage of San Saturio

Although we have left some monuments in the pipeline, we are now going to tell you about the beautiful surroundings of the Castilian city and the heritage they also have. At castle park, located where this is, you have the best viewpoints to see Soria from its highest point. However, the main green lung of the city is the Alameda de Cervantes park, where there are more than one hundred and thirty plant species.

You can also walk through the San Polo Walk and, in summer, bathe in the Sotoplaya del Duero. Just taking this path you will reach the hermitage of San Saturio, one of the most curious temples in the Castilian city and dedicated to its patron. It was built in the XNUMXth century on a series of caves and rooms drilled in the stone. Inside it houses Baroque murals and the altar also belongs to this style.

On the other hand, about eight kilometers from the city is the mount Valosandero, which is one of the favorite places for Sorians to go hiking and enjoy nature. As you walk along some of its paths, you will be able to see cave paintings from the Bronze Age.

But, if there is a place that you must see in the surroundings of Soria, this is the enclave of the ruins of Numancia, the ancient Celtiberian population that heroically resisted the siege of the Roman troops until they ended up committing suicide collectively. Specifically, it is located on the Cerro de la Muela and has recreations of the houses and other buildings of the time.

An essential complement to this visit is the Numantino Museum. It houses many of the pieces found in the site of the ancient city, but also other even older ones, belonging to the Paleolithic and the Iron Age.

Lobos river canyon

Hermitage of San Bartolomé, in the canyon of the Lobos river

On the other hand, the imposing ruins of the monastery of San Juan de Duero. Built in the XNUMXth century, we will reach it passing the Roman bridge. At present, the majestic arches of its cloister, adorned with reliefs, are barely preserved.

Finally, we advise you to visit the Lobos river canyon, even more impressive than the previous place and located in the natural park of the same name. In it, sheltered by steep hills, is the hermitage of San Bartolomé, forming a site full of mysticism. Built in the first quarter of the XNUMXth century by the Templars, it combines Romanesque with Gothic and was part of a monastery that has now disappeared.

Throughout this natural park, there are several viewpoints that you can reach by hiking trails to get magnificent views of the canyon. Among them, that of Costalago, that of Lastrilla and that of La Galiana. You can also do bike tours and even horseback riding.

In conclusion, we have shown you a lot of what what to see in Soria and surroundings. We do not have space to mention all the wonders of the Castilian city and those that surround it. But we do not resist citing you populations like The Burgo de Osma, with the spectacular Cathedral of Santa María de la Asunción and the Hospital de San Agustín; medinaceli, with its spectacular Plaza Mayor, or Vinuesa, with its wide religious heritage, located near the Laguna Negra and the glacial cirques of the Sierra de Urbión. Isn't it a great idea to visit all these wonders?


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