Discover Saldaña: History, Festivals and Holiday Apartments

Culture and History

Plaza Vieja dates back to the 10th and 11th centuries; large parts of the ensemble seen today date from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Completely lined with arcades, Plaza Vieja is distinguished by its homogeneous design. The buildings have two floors: the lower floor features open galleries with wooden supports on stone bases, while the upper floor consists of enclosed areas made of rammed earth and clay, or exposed brickwork with a framework of wooden beams. By Decree 143/1996 of 30 May, Plaza Vieja and its surroundings were protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural) in the category of “Historic Ensemble”.

A hill with the ruins of the Castillo de los Condes de Saldaña borders the town centre directly. The sparse remains belong to the former fortress that dominated and defended the settlement. The surviving structure of the Castillo features limestone ashlar blocks on its inner and outer faces; the infill consists of rubble stones bonded with lime-and-sand mortar. The Iglesia de San Pedro now houses the Museo Monográfico de la Villa Romana de La Olmeda.

The Centro Javier Cortes – La Casona is a Renaissance building with an almost square floor plan. Its living quarters are arranged around a large, likewise square arcaded courtyard. Construction of Puente Viejo began anew in 1588, and it has 22 semicircular arches. For centuries, it has served the town as its most important connection with the south.

River Landscape and Trails

Parque Javier Cortes lies on the right bank of the Carrión. The park covers more than 30,000 square metres and stretches between two bridges within the town. Hiking trails in Saldaña have been documented; a route brochure can be downloaded. Those wishing to organise the town’s various highlights can consider its historic buildings, river landscape and trails separately, without combining them into a single programme.

Festivals and Regional Products

Every October, Saldaña hosts the Feria de la Alubia at the same time as the festival of Santa Úrsula. The fair showcases food products from the comarca. The main focus is the white kidney bean grown in the Vega de Saldaña, described as the region’s most valuable culinary product.

The Mercado Romano takes place in Saldaña on the third weekend of July. Its purpose is to promote Saldaña and its comarca through their historical and archaeological heritage and to enhance the craft tradition existing in Saldaña and its comarca. The two event dates provide a timeframe alongside the buildings, river landscape and hiking trails described as available year-round.

When comparing holiday apartments in Saldaña, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions on the respective offer pages can provide the practical framework. Cultural sites, the river landscape, hiking trails and events can stand alongside one another as separate focuses of your planning.

Other Places

Cevico De La Torre, Támara De Campos, Villoldo, Ledigos, Lomas, Guardo, Husillos, Astudillo

For the higher-level travel overview: Palencia.