Plan a trip to Zamora

The city of Zamora is the capital of the Zamora province in the Castile and Leon region of Northwest Spain. It is a fortress city, surrounded by well-preserved walls and gates, situated on the northern bank of the Douro River. 

The medieval-style stone bridge that crosses the Douro River into Zamora is reminiscent of the times when the city was under siege and attack. In fact, in medieval times, the city was known as “La Bien Cerada” – the well-fortified city- due to its defensive ring of three walls. The first wall remains intact today, and it has three gates, with a large citadel and the cathedral looking down from above. The citadel dates back to the Muslim period, and its guard tower, gate, and moat are well- preserved and surrounded by a park. From there, you’ll find a spectacular view of the city, the river, and the surrounding area.

Zamora’s claim to fame is being home to the most Romanesque churches in all of Europe, with the Zamora Cathedral the most renowned. The Zamora Cathedral contains a 12th century Byzantine dome with seashell-like tiles, a 13th century Romanesque tower, and a neoclassical cloister which houses the Museo Catedralicio with its impressive collection of Flemish tapestries.

Due to the important Romanesque artistic heritage in the old town, it was declared a Historic-Artistic site. In addition to the religious buildings, the old town has beautiful Renaissance-style mansions and buildings. Many of these historic buildings are now used by the local District Council, including a historic hospital building, the old town hall built at the request of the Catholic kings, the Los Momos Palace, the Cordon Palace, and the Palace of the Counts of Alba de Aliste which is today a famous parador (part of the luxurious state-run hotel network in Spain, many of which are housed in restored historic buildings).

The outstanding gastronomy of the area also attests to its rich history, and the Holy Week celebrations during the spring have been declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest. The summer is another great time to visit Zamora, when you’ll find costumed medieval Spanish folk legends guiding visitors around the city.