Fontanillas De Castro: Vía de la Plata, Esla and Castrotorafe

Fontanillas de Castro is located on a hill beside the old Vía de la Plata, overlooking the Ricobayo Reservoir along the Esla. The landscape, architectural history, festival culture and pilgrimage connections offer different thematic perspectives for personal travel planning. Those interested in local history can focus on architectural forms, traditions, archaeological sites or festival dates.

Culture and history

The Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción in Fontanillas de Castro is a single-nave masonry building with a flat-ended chancel. On the Plaza de la Iglesia, a stone basin is located in a fountain; according to tradition, it is a reused baptismal font. El Castellón is considered a particularly interesting archaeological site area in Fontanillas de Castro. The Palomar de Fontanillas de Castro is regarded as an open-air museum of rural life and is no longer in use.

On 8 December, Nuestra Señora de la Inmaculada is commemorated in Fontanillas de Castro with a celebration in her honour. The patron saint festivities held in her honour were formerly known as «Fiestas de la Morcilla». The Fiesta del Turista takes place in summer, at the beginning of August. The two festival dates are therefore spread across 8 December and the beginning of August; these times of year can be considered separately in your own planning.

In the vicinity of Fontanillas de Castro, Castrotorafe was declared a national monument in 1931. In the vicinity of Fontanillas de Castro, the Castrotorafe bridge was built in the 12th century with twelve arches. In the vicinity of Fontanillas de Castro, the Castrotorafe ensemble comprises an enclosure, a fortress, an abandoned settlement, the ruins of a church and a bridge over the Esla. The different historical connections thus range from a medieval bridge to a later national monument designation.

Pilgrimage connections and routes

The Albergue de Peregrinos Castrotorafe is a traditional pilgrims' hostel associated with the Asociación Zamorana de los Caminos de Santiago (AZACS); payment is made by donation. The Santiago Castaño bus stop in Fontanillas de Castro is located on a route between Zamora and Villanueva del Campo. Further stops are in Riego del Camino, Granja de Moreruela, Manganeses de la Lampreana and Villafáfila. The places mentioned mark different points of reference along the same connection and complement the pilgrimage connection with a specific route.

When comparing a holiday apartment in Fontanillas De Castro, you can view travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions side by side on the respective offer pages. Personal plans involving culture, landscape and pilgrimage traditions can provide the framework for choosing accommodation before the trip and help define the desired focus.

Further destinations in this selection: Monfarracinos, Samir De Los Caños, San Esteban del Molar, San Cristóbal De Entreviñas, Manzanal de los Infantes, Padornelo, Morales De Toro, Castroverde De Campos

For the overview of the wider region: Zamora.