Many interesting places are located in the south of the province of Burgos. South of the provincial capital, on the banks of the Arlança River, a tributary of the Arlançon River, lies the city of Covarrubias . (Cavarrubias). Covarrubias became one of the first cities conquered in the 9th century by Christians from the Moors. It was here that the culture of the kingdom of Castile was born. In the center of the city, the remains of the fortress walls have been preserved; the tower of Dona Urraca of the late 10th century, made in the Mozarab style, which was erected in honor of Count Fernand Gonzalez, the hero of Castile, who fought for the independence of the kingdom; the 15th-century Church of San Cosme y Damian, where Fernand González and many of the city’s nobles are buried and where a rare collection of old paintings is kept; and traditional wooden houses. In the vicinity of Covarrubias there is a protected area where many species of birds of prey live.
According to RECIPESINTHEBOX, downstream of the river Arlansa is the city of Lerma. (Lerma). He gained fame under the reign of one of the most famous Spanish politicians of the 16th and 17th centuries, Duke Francisco Gomez de Sandoval y Rojas (Duke of Lerma), the favorite of King Philip III. During his reign, a lot of buildings appeared in Lerma. To this day, the cobbled streets of the city, its squares and palaces remind of its former greatness. On the main city square, Plaza Mayor, surrounded by an arcade, rises the Ducal Palace. It was built by the architect Francisco de Mora at the beginning of the 17th century on the site of a ruined castle. At the corners of the palace rise 4 square towers with spiers. Today, the palace houses a luxurious hotel.. Nearby are the Dominican monastery of San Blas, the monastery of Santa Teresa, from which an arcade extends along a cliff, from where a beautiful view of the valley of the Arlanza river opens, and the arch of Carcel (once the gate of the fortress wall that protected the city), which served as a prison under the Duke of Lerma.
In the province of Burgos, it is also worth visiting the city of Santo Domingo de Silos (Santo Domingo de Silos), where one of the most famous monasteries of Spain is located.. The Benedictine abbey of Santo Domingo de Silos was founded in the 7th century, but later it was destroyed by the Arabs. The monastery was rebuilt in the 11th century in the Romanesque style and in the Middle Ages was one of the most important religious centers of the state, as well as a center of medicine. The interior gallery of the cathedral is considered one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Spain.. It is surrounded by a two-tiered arcade, on the columns and stone panels of which are depicted mythical animals, scenes from the life of Jesus Christ and medieval life, the ceiling of the gallery is made in the Mudéjar style. Here you can also see an old cypress tree, which was planted at the end of the 19th century. In addition, the monastery has preserved a rich library and pharmacy, which contains ancient laboratory instruments and containers of the 18th century, and a museum has been opened here, where archaeological finds and religious art are exhibited. In the mid-90s of the 20th century, one of the UK record companies released a collection of Gregorian chant by the monks of the monastery, which became triple platinum and the most successful recording of Gregorian chant ever released. In the vicinity of Santo Domingo de Silos, there is the natural park La Yecla (la Yecla natural park), the main attraction of which is a narrow gorge formed by water erosion in the middle of limestone mountains. A special bridge for tourists has been laid along the gorge, which is attached to its sheer walls. The natural park is home to many birds of prey (griffon vulture, golden eagle, short-toed eagle, pygmy eagle, hawk, peregrine falcon).
In the very south of the province of Burgos, where the Duero River flows, the city of Aranda de Duero is located. (Aranda de Duero) is the center of the famous Spanish wine region Ribero del Duero. It is surrounded by vineyards, and in the city center underground there are many wine cellars where tourists can taste local wines. In early September, a massive wine festival is held in Aranda de Duero for a week. The city is also known for its architectural monuments of the 15th and 16th centuries, which include the Church of Santa Maria, made in the style of Isabelino, with impressive carved reliefs of the main portal, the Church of San Juan Baptista, the palaces of Verdugo and Colmenares and the Romanesque bridge. A little to the east, the village of Penaranda de Duero is interesting with its Renaissance palace Condes de Miranda (16th century), the church of Santa Ana (16th century) and the remains of a medieval castle; as well as the city of Corunia del Conde(Coruna del Conde), in the vicinity of which there is an archaeological park that protects the ruins of the Roman city of Clunia, one of the largest cities in the Roman province of Tarraconian Spain.
