Palencia

About Palencia

Palencia in Castilla y León is a small city built on an ancient settlement that is best known for the iconic Cristo del Otero, a statue of Christ that looks down over the city. The river Carrión runs through Palencia as it did when the Vaccae tribe settled here thousands of years ago and were conquered by the Romans in the 2nd century BC. Palencia began its development into a city in the 11th century and was an important centre for the cloth industry by the 15th century.

Today, the city contains much beautiful architecture such as the Roman bridge of Puentecillas, the Palacio de la Diputación Provincial from the New Castilian Renaissance and the cathedral, nicknamed "La Bella Desconocida" (The Beautiful Stranger), a mixture of three distinct styles which can be observed in the area beneath the building, where the Cripta de San Antolín is situated, containing Visigothic and Romanesque elements. Inside are carvings from the high altarpiece by Felipe Bigarny and panels painted by Juan de Flandes.

Wonderful churches

There are also many wonderful churches such as the churches of San Francisco, San Juan or San Lázaro. The most significant church however is San Miguel with its Gothic tower and large windows and inside the monastery of Santa Clara you will find a statue of the Cristo Yacente de la Buena Madre. However, what you absolutely cannot miss on a visit to Palencia is the imposing presence of the Cristo del Otero, an art deco statue of Christ created in 1931 by architect Victorio Macho that stands over 20m tall looking down upon the city from the hill, the Carro del Otero.

Climb or drive up Carre del Otero where you'll receive a great view for miles around but at the foot of the hill you can also enjoy a small chapel and the museum of Victorio Machowho chose to be buried here under his most famous work. Other museums in the city include an archaeological museum containing numerous finds from the Prehistoric age, Roman times, Celtiberic culture and the Middle Ages; a museum dedicated to Jerome Arroyo, a Palentian architect from the 20th century; and the Foundation Diaz-Caneja, a museum of contemporary art.

Festivals

The city also celebrates several fiestas, including the area's greatest festival, the Fiestas de San Antolín that are celebrated on the 2nd September, and the Fiestas de la Virgen de la Calle, dedicated to the patron saint of the city on the 2nd of February. Traditionally, on the 1st January the Bautizo del Niño (Baptism of the Child) is celebrated in the Iglesia de San Miguel and the city also holds some local food festivals.

Shopping and eating

Palencia's best shopping can be found on the Calle Mayor, the city's main artery which is a long street characterised by the arcades that travel three quarters of its length down one side, giving a traditional ambiance. The province has much great food to offer and Palencia's restaurants are the place to try these local specialities including dishes such as menestra de verdures (vegetable stew), lechazo (suckling lamb), beef from Brown Alpine cattle, cheeses, and pastries flavoured with almonds.