Spain is a country that brings together a vast heritage, a reflection of its rich history and the multiple civilizations that have left their mark on the Iberian Peninsula. This legacy is evident in its monuments and traditions. There is a city in Castile and León that has many heritage gems and a majestic hiking route. It is Saint Dominic of Silos.
What to see in Santo Domingo de Silos?
This commune of around 300 inhabitants is located in the province of Burgosin the autonomous community of Castile and Leon. Saint Dominic of Silosas the town hall website states, is “a town and a monastery of Benedictine monks”.
It is not known exactly when the first settlements were established in the city, but ceramic remains found in caves in the mountains take us to the prehistoric eramaybe in the Bronze AgeCeltiberian, Roman and Visigothic remains have also been found.
The most important monument of the city is its monastery. It is a universal jewel of Romanesque art which has today become a centre of spiritual and artistic pilgrimage. The Saint Peter’s Churchhepublic water point and the famous gorges of La Yecla These are other places you can visit.
This is the monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos in Burgos
The monastery is undoubtedly the most precious heritage of this cityIt is of Visigothic origin, it was devastated by the Arabs and rebuilt by Saint Dominic in the 12th century. The remains of this monk who died in 1073 are still preserved in a tomb dug into the rock.
This is one of the major monuments of Romanesque art. It is unique in Europe due to the importance of the sculpture of its capitals, composed of decorative plant and animal elements. It also has reliefs on the angular buttresses which reflect biblical themes such as the Ascension, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the descent from the cross, the Assumption of Mary and the Tree of Jesse.
This monastery is run by Benedictine monks who celebrate Gregorian massesThe monastery has a library and an 18th century apothecary which still has a collection of Talavera jars and a laboratory with ancient instruments.
The impressive hiking route of Burgos
About 2 and a half kilometers from Santo Domingo de Silos in the direction of Caleruega is the Yecla Gorges. This gorge is part of the natural park Sabinares del Arlanza – La Yecla very close to Lobos River Canyon. A series of bridges and footbridges allow you to explore this gorge. The route is approximately 7 kmThe estimated duration is 2 hours and the difficulty of this hiking route is low.
