Soria

A tranquil city celebrated by poet Antonio Machado, set along the Duero River amid pine forests. It offers a peaceful escape with Romanesque monuments and stunning natural surroundings.

Things to do

• Monasterio de San Juan de Duero — Wander the ruined Romanesque cloister with its striking interlaced Mudejar-influenced arches beside the Duero River.
• Ermita de San Saturio — Climb to this octagonal hermitage carved into a riverside cliff, one of Soria's most photographed landmarks.
• Concatedral de San Pedro — Visit this Gothic-Renaissance church with a fine Romanesque cloister tucked behind its main structure.
• Paseo del Espolón and Machado sites — Stroll the poet's favorite promenade and see the monument honoring Antonio Machado, who taught and wrote here.
• Laguna Negra de Urbión — Drive into the Sierra de Urbión to this glacial lake immortalized in Machado's verses, ringed by dramatic cliffs and pines.
• Numancia archaeological site — Explore the excavated remains of the Celtiberian city famed for its heroic resistance against Rome.
• Iglesia de Santo Domingo — Admire one of Spain's finest Romanesque facades, richly carved with biblical scenes.

Food to try

• Torreznos de Soria — Crispy fried pork belly strips, a beloved local specialty often served as a bar snack with wine.
• Migas sorianas — Fried breadcrumbs cooked with chorizo, garlic, and pork, a hearty traditional Castilian dish.
• Setas y níscalos — Wild mushrooms from the surrounding pine forests, grilled simply or sautéed with garlic and jamón.
• Caparrones rojos — A slow-cooked red bean stew typical of the region, often prepared with pork products.
• Queso de Burgo de Osma
• Ochío — A traditional flatbread often flavored with pork fat and paprika, unique to Soria's baking tradition.

Local customs & good to know

• Embrace slow, late meals — Restaurants typically serve lunch around 2pm and dinner after 9pm, following Spanish rural custom.
• Tapeo around Plaza Mayor — Locals gather for an evening tapeo crawl through the bars near the main square, ordering small bites with each drink.
• Respect quiet rural rhythms — Soria is one of Spain's least populated provinces, so shops and sights may close early or midday—plan accordingly.
• San Juan festivities in June — The Fiestas de San Juan feature traditional bull-running events and the symbolic Móndidas procession, rooted in medieval history.