If you take the N234 southeast of Burgos, a worthwhile stop some 35km out is the 7th-century Ermita de Santa María de Lara, close to Quintanilla de las Viñas. This modest Visigothic hermitage has some fine bas-reliefs around its external walls, which are among the best surviving regional examples of religious art from the 7th century. The interior is rarely open.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
19.04 MILES
This Unesco World Heritage–listed cathedral, once a former modest Romanesque church, is a masterpiece. Work began on a grander scale in 1221; remarkably,…
18.77 MILES
This exceptional museum just across the river from the old quarter is a marvellously told story of human evolution. The basement exhibitions on Atapuerca …
Colegiata de San Cosme y Damián
5.16 MILES
This evocative 15th-century Gothic church is home to Spain's oldest still-functioning church organ, and has a gloriously ostentatious altar, fronted by…
Monasterio de San Pedro de Arlanza
5.26 MILES
These haunting ruins on a rise above the Río Arlanza show traces of both Gothic and Romanesque elements but the sense of elegant abandonment is what…
Abadía de Santo Domingo de Silos
11.58 MILES
The cloister and museum of this revered monastery is a two-storey treasure chest of some of Spain's most imaginative Romanesque art. The overall effect is…
19.34 MILES
A 30-minute walk west of the city centre on the southern river bank, this monastery was once among the most prominent in Spain. Founded in 1187 by Eleanor…
17.48 MILES
Located in peaceful woodlands 4km east of the city centre, this monastery contains a trio of 15th-century masterworks by Gil de Siloé, the man responsible…
16.04 MILES
Crowning the summit of the old town, the massive Plaza Mayor is fronted by the oversized Palacio Ducal, notable for its courtyards and 210 balconies. The…
Nearby Castilla y León attractions
1. Colegiata de San Cosme y Damián
5.16 MILES
This evocative 15th-century Gothic church is home to Spain's oldest still-functioning church organ, and has a gloriously ostentatious altar, fronted by…
5.16 MILES
This squat 10th-century tower dominates the remains of the town's medieval walls. It's especially pretty as a backdrop to the river from outside the walls…
3. Monasterio de San Pedro de Arlanza
5.26 MILES
These haunting ruins on a rise above the Río Arlanza show traces of both Gothic and Romanesque elements but the sense of elegant abandonment is what…
4. Museo Los Sonidos de la Tierra
11.48 MILES
This engaging museum showcases musical instruments, such as drums and lutes, from the region and from around the world.
11.56 MILES
Notable for its pleasingly unadorned Romanesque sanctuary dominated by a multidomed ceiling, this is where you can hear the monks chant vespers six times…
6. Abadía de Santo Domingo de Silos
11.58 MILES
The cloister and museum of this revered monastery is a two-storey treasure chest of some of Spain's most imaginative Romanesque art. The overall effect is…
12.09 MILES
A mere 1.3km down the back road (BU911) to Caleruega from Santo Domingo de Silos, the spectacular Desfiladero de Yecla, a splendid gorge of limestone…
8. Pasadizo del Duque de Lerma
16.02 MILES
The Pasadizo de Duque de Lerma is a restored 17th-century subterranean passage that connects the Palacio Ducal with the Iglesia Colegial de San Pedro…