This historic town in northern Spain has Roman and Gothic landmarks, including the 14th-century Cathedral of San Antolín. The city's main street, Calle Mayor, has medieval arcades.
Palencia sits in northern Spain's Castile and León region, where you'll find a 14th-century Gothic cathedral rising above narrow medieval streets. Walk through the Calle Mayor to see centuries-old stone buildings with wrought-iron balconies, or follow the paths along the Carrión River past the ancient Roman bridge. The 30-meter Cristo del Otero statue stands on a hilltop overlooking the city, while the nearby Villa Romana La Olmeda contains some of Spain's best-preserved Roman mosaics.
Exploring the Gothic Cathedral
Built between 1321 and 1504, the Cathedral of Palencia has Gothic arches and spires above earlier Romanesque and Visigothic foundations. Inside, you'll find El Greco's painting of Saint Sebastian and a collection of medieval Flemish tapestries. The Visigothic crypt of San Antolín lies beneath the cathedral floor, with stone walls dating to the 7th century. In the cathedral museum, you can see paintings by Zurbarán alongside medieval sculptures and gilded altarpieces from regional churches.
Parks and Green Spaces
The Sotillo de los Canónigos park stretches two kilometers along the Carrión River. You can walk or cycle on separate paths through beech trees, poplars, and chestnuts. The 2nd-century Puentecillas bridge crosses the river here, linking the park to central Palencia. There are canoe launch points and picnic tables throughout the park. Six kilometers from the city center, Monte el Viejo forest park covers 1,438 hectares on a plateau, with marked walking paths and several restaurants serving regional dishes.
Walking Through Calle Mayor
The 900-meter Calle Mayor cuts through Palencia's old town. Buildings from the 1700s line the street with stone-carved facades and iron balconies, while the 19th-century section has modernist architecture with decorative metalwork. At the southern end, Plaza Mayor contains the neoclassical City Hall and the 13th-century Church of San Francisco, where you can visit Gothic cloisters.
Local Food and Dining
Local restaurants cook lechazo (quarter portions of lamb) for four hours in wood-fired ovens, serving it with lettuce and tomatoes from nearby farms. Saldaña beans, small brown legumes with a creamy texture, appear in stews with chorizo and pork. The region's sheep's milk cheese ages for at least six months, developing sharp and nutty flavors. Nearby Cigales produces rosé wines from Tempranillo grapes.
Day Trips and Nearby Sites
At Villa Romana La Olmeda, 15 kilometers from Palencia, you can see 1,450 square meters of 4th-century Roman mosaics showing hunting scenes and geometric patterns. The Basílica de San Juan in Baños de Cerrato, 13 kilometers south, retains its 7th-century Visigothic horseshoe arches and carved capitals. The Santa María la Real monastery in Aguilar de Campoo, 50 kilometers north, includes interactive exhibits explaining Romanesque architecture.
Transportation and Access
Trains run regularly between Palencia and Madrid (2 hours) and León (1 hour). Local buses depart every 30 minutes between the train station and cathedral area. From Valladolid Airport, 45 kilometers away, you can take direct buses to Palencia's central station, arriving in 50 minutes.
