Ólvega on Moncayo: Romanesque Heritage, Trails and Mining History

Ólvega lies at the foot of Moncayo, at 2,316 m the highest mountain in the Iberian System and the province of Soria, and next to the Sierra del Madero. In the wider regional area around Ólvega, the Sierra del Moncayo is designated within the Natura 2000 network both as an SCI, that is, a Site of Community Importance, and as an SPA, that is, a Special Protection Area for birds.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Ólvega, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies on the respective listing pages. This information helps you define your personal booking parameters; for choosing the location, landscapes, trails, religious buildings, mining history and festivals can be compared as different thematic focuses.

Landscape

Mina Petra is a former open-pit mine on the slope of the Sierra del Madero. The former open-pit mine was flooded and formed a lake whose turquoise colour is attributed to the minerals.

The Camino Verde begins and ends in Ólvega and is approximately 6.3 kilometres long. It can be used on foot, on horseback and by bicycle. The Ermita de la Virgen de Olmacedo can be reached on foot via the developed Camino Verde; it is located two kilometres from Ólvega.

The Ruta Ólvega Románica is an approximately 12.8-kilometre, moderately difficult driving route through five hermitages of Romanesque origin in Ólvega. Different lengths, means of transport and the driving-route format provide points of comparison for planning your personal day trip.

Culture

The oldest surviving parts of the Iglesia Parroquial Santa María La Mayor, a section of the sacristy and the tower, both date from the late 15th century. With its crenellated crown, the tower has the appearance of a fortress. The altarpiece is considered one of the finest examples of Sorian Romanism.

The Ermita de los Mártires is the oldest religious building in the centre of Ólvega and a Late Romanesque structure from the 13th century. The Ermita de la Virgen de Olmacedo was built in the first half of the 13th century and is the last Romanesque hermitage built in the province of Soria.

The portal of the Ermita de San Bartolomé dates from the 12th century. The Ermita de San Marcos was built in the 12th century as the church or parish church of the vanished settlement of San Juan de Campiserrado. The Castillazo, also known as Torre de Campiserrado, was a medieval military and defensive complex; the foundations of the tower and the surrounding defensive wall have been preserved.

The Museo Antropológico de José Escribano has a collection of more than 7,000 pieces and presents 37 traditional occupations. At the Casa de los Pereda, a Castilian portal, a coat of arms, balconies and a roof overhang can be seen; it is also the birthplace of Carmen Hernández.

History

In some sections, the Camino Verde runs along the former mining railway, the „vía vieja“. The Molino de Almagre is a park named after a mill built there in 1700. The ore extracted from Mina Petra was ground in this mill; the large millstone has been preserved.

Local Information

Ólvega's municipal tourist information office is located in the Centro Social at Calle Doctor Salcedo 36 and provides visitors with information about the town.

Other places include Rejas de San Esteban, Fuentetoba, Ucero, Buitrago, Lubia, Arcos De Jalón, San Felices and Dombellas.

Customs and Cuisine

Every year, Ólvega commemorates the history associated with the Ermita de los Mártires by symbolically burning a castle on the Saturday closest to 14 March. During the May festival in honour of the Virgen de Olmacedo, the statue of the Virgin Mary is carried in procession to Ólvega and returned to the hermitage after the celebrations.

The Romería de San Marcos in Ólvega takes place on the Sunday closest to 25 April. The traditional celebration of San Blas includes the blessing of bread rolls and prayers for throat health. Visitors to the Romería de San Marcos can sample Culeca, a bread pastry filled with chorizo and egg.

For the higher-level travel overview: Soria.