Santa Olalla: Romanesque Architecture, Bridges and the Río Camesa Route

The Ruta de los Menhires can end in Santa Olalla; it is approximately 12 kilometres long one way and takes around three and a half hours. The combination of a manageable route length and a clearly defined duration provides a concrete starting point for discovering the village and its surroundings by theme.

Culture and History

The Iglesia Románica de Santa Olalla was consecrated in 1174. It has a rectangular apse and a pointed barrel vault, features of an advanced phase of Romanesque architecture. The Centro de Interpretación de Valdeolea is housed in the former school of Santa Olalla and adds a dedicated exhibition venue to the village’s historical points of interest.

A notable structure in the surrounding area is the Puente de Santa Olalla. It crosses the Río Camesa just under one kilometre west of Santa Olalla, in the El Salceral area, and forms part of an unpaved side road. The stone bridge has a single semicircular arch. Its historical dating places it in the 18th century; it may have been built over an older structure.

The Castillo de Argüeso, a castle, is also located in the area around Santa Olalla. Julióbriga Roman City and Domus Museum is classified there as a historic monument. The Colegiata de San Pedro, a church, is located in the nearby area.

More village pages: Cabanzón, Rábago, Elechas, Villanueva, Nates, Samano, Corvera de Toranzo and Sel de la Carrera.

Paths and Landscape

The Ruta de los Menhires is highly suitable for cycling; at least 70 per cent of the route runs along good agricultural tracks suitable for cycling. Santa Olalla can be reached via the fields of the valley in the Río Camesa Route area. Along the Río Camesa Route, there are Galician-Portuguese oak forests containing Quercus robur and Quercus pyrenaica.

The information on route length, duration and the proportion suitable for cycling can be considered separately and gives your day planning different focal points. Anyone wishing to compare cultural structures, paths through the valley and the landscape will find several clearly distinguishable themes.

The various focal points can also be set alongside one another in the course of a day: a route with a specified length and duration sits alongside Santa Olalla’s historic structures and the landscape features along the Río Camesa. This keeps active paths, valley areas, oak forests and cultural destinations recognisable as separate themes. The mountains and peaks mentioned extend this spatial perspective beyond the immediate village landscape.

When comparing a holiday apartment in Santa Olalla, you can specifically review travel dates, room category and cancellation policies side by side. These three offer categories structure your view of the desired period, type of accommodation and the conditions under which you are planning your trip.

Nature

Alto del Cotío is a mountain in the area around Santa Olalla. Pico del Ropero, a peak, is also located nearby. Monte Bigüenzo is a mountain in the wider regional surroundings of Santa Olalla, as is Alto Abedules.

For the overarching travel overview: Cantabria.