Ribera del Duero
This is a grand Renaissance palace with a fine plateresque entrance, double-arched patio and beautiful ceilings in various styles. Guided tours run at…
Must-see attractions in Castilla y León
Castilla y León
This church stands out for its tall Gothic tower with a castle-like turret. San Miguel's interior is unadorned and austerely beautiful. According to…
Castilla y León
The evocative 14th-century Plaza Mayor is noteworthy for its ancient columned arcades. There are so many fine angles to get the perfect photo, but only…
Burgos
The splendid Arco de Santa María was once the main gate to the old city and part of the 14th-century walls. It now hosts temporary exhibitions, but its…
Castilla y León
At the far (northwestern) end of town – go any further and you'll fall into the valley – stands the lonely Castillo de Pedraza, unusual for its intact…
Ribera del Duero
This state-of-the-art winery in the shadow of Peñafiel's castle wall produces one of Ribera del Duero's better-known wines. It produces both reds and…
Ávila
One of the city's prettier churches, the light, sandstone exterior of the Iglesia de San Pedro (dating from the 12th or 13th centuries) is a pleasant…
Castilla y León
Even if you've nothing to post, the correos (post office) is worth stopping by to admire the magnificent artesonado (wooden Mudéjar ceiling), stained…
Castilla y León
The early-12th-century Iglesia de San Tirso, at the western entrance to town, is an important stop on the Camino de Santiago. It's known for its pure…
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Encina
Castilla y León
The Gothic-Renaissance Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Encina, up the hill past the tourist office, is very impressive – especially its 17th-century,…
Burgos
Located just west of the cathedral, this is a solid 14th-century Gothic structure with an unusual porch and a Museo del Retablo with a display of some 18…
Convento de San Antonio El Real
Segovia
About 1.3km southeast of the aqueduct, this was once the summer residence of Enrique IV. The Gothic-Mudéjar church has a splendid ceiling. It's still a…
Segovia
The centrepiece of the stunning Plaza de San Martín, this is a Romanesque pièce de résistance, with the segoviano touch of a Mudéjar tower and arched…
Ribera del Duero
One of the biggest of the Ribera del Duero wine producers, with a number of other wineries in the region. It produces excellent reds from the tempranillo…
León
Don't miss the fabulous Farmacia Alonso Nuñez at number 3. It dates from 1827 and, aside from the displays of anti-wrinkle creams and condoms, the…
Castilla y León
This fine, aesthetically restored castle of 11th-century origin is filled with local sculptures; you can also climb the tower and walk the ramparts. The…
Monasterio de San Andrés de Arroyo
Castilla y León
The Monasterio de San Andrés de Arroyo is an outstanding Romanesque gem, especially its cloister, which dates from the 13th century. Guided tours (in…
Ribera del Duero
Paths lead up the hill, past ancient wine cellars, to the ruined castillo (castle) which seems to be returning into the earth. There are fine views over…
Monasterio de Santa María del Parral
Segovia
Ring the bell to see part of the cloister and church; the latter is a proud, flamboyant Gothic structure. The monks chant a Gregorian Mass at noon on…
Castilla y León
This 16th-century former convent has an extravagant retablo (altarpiece) by Fray Jacinto de Sierra, as well as a wide-ranging collection of sacred art…
Castilla y León
The southern doorway of this church is considered the city's finest for its preponderance of floral motifs. The interior has the austere simplicity so…
Iglesia de San Juan de Puerta Nueva
Castilla y León
Iglesia de San Juan de Puerta Nueva provides a lovely Romanesque centrepiece for the central Plaza Mayor. Right outside, there's a fine statue of hooded…
Ávila
This quiet parish church dates from the 16th century and contains the font in which Santa Teresa was baptised on 4 April 1515. The church can be visited…
Burgos
Just west of the cathedral, in the Iglesia de San Esteban, the Museo del Retablo has a display of some 18 altars dating from the 15th to 18th centuries.
Castilla y León
Housed in the Roman ergástula (slave prison), the Museo Romano has a modest selection of artefacts and an enjoyable big-screen slide show on Roman Astorga.
Castilla y León
Southwest of the town centre, this monastery features a fine Renaissance cloister and the striking alabaster tomb of Beatriz de Portugal, wife of Juan I.
Castilla y León
A block north of the Plaza Mayor is the majestic, sandstone 16th-century Palacio de los Condes Gomara. It can only be admired from the outside.
Ribera del Duero
Offers excellent wine tours and tasting, close to Peñafiel. It is particularly proud of its reds; the 2012 rosé deserves a special mention.
Burgos
Just south of the car park in Burgos' Parque de Castillo is a mirador (lookout) offering great views of the cathedral and across the city.
Segovia
Not far down the hill northwest of the Plaza Mayor, this beautiful church has a lovely, six-level sandstone tower and a baroque interior.
Castilla y León
Across the park from the train station, this church has a Renaissance facade and an enormous plateresque altarpiece in the main chapel.
Salamanca
This Dominican convent is home to the city's most beautiful cloister, with some decidedly ghoulish carvings on the capitals.
Iglesia de Santa María La Nueva
Castilla y León
This pretty church is actually a medieval replica of a 7th-century church destroyed by fire in 1158.
Salamanca
Housed in the former residence of Queen Isabel's doctor, this museum is more interesting for the picture of tranquil Salamanca residential life in its…
Castilla y León
The archaeological site of Atapuerca, around 15km west of Burgos, has long excited students of early human history. Archaeologists made their greatest…
Castilla y León
This interpretation centre sits atop the site of an ancient Roman villa where stunning floor mosaics were found. The visit begins with a video…
Burgos
Crowning the leafy hilltop Parque de Castillo are the fortifications of the rebuilt Castillo de Burgos. Dating from the 9th century, the castle has…
Salamanca
Romanesque Iglesia de San Martín is wedged among houses, but is a pretty encore to the adjacent Plaza Mayor. The south portal in particular is worth…
Convento y Museo de las Úrsulas
Salamanca
A late-Gothic nunnery founded by Archbishop Alonso de Fonseca in 1512, the religious museum here is fairly modest, with some interesting paintings by Juan…
León
This stately house dates from the 19th century and was built by Segundo Sierra-Pambley, who founded one of the first schools in the region in 1887. The…
