Officially this section is part of yesterday’s 32 km stage from Modúbar de San Cibrián but we preferred to shorten that day to spend some time in Mecerreyes and allow an easier walk to Covarrubias. It’s possible to walk on the road but we took the path through the forest, 2 km further but much more tranquil.
Cid sculpture, by Ángel Gil Cuevas reaches a total height of 7 metersThe path between Mecerreyes and Covarrubias This a a truffle area but special permission is required to collect them
Covarrubias (pop 521) is is a medieval town listed as one of the The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain. There’s a common theme to all the buildings in the old centre unaffected by modernity.
We entered Covarrubias through the Arch of the Archive of the Advancement of Castile (16th century)Entering Covarrubias – the streets are decorated for a festival It happened that the Fiesta de San Cosme and San Damian was on this weekend Plaza de Doña Urraca, the main square Most of the buildings in the old town retain their traditional construction style, based on adobe and framed beamsThe town rubbish bins are made in the same style as the buildingsSt Thomas Church, originally built in the 12th century but this is 15th century Woman shelling almonds outside her house Tower of Fernán González, defensive construction from the 10th century 16th century stone cross and jurisdictional pillarA street in Covarrubias An old, still functioning doorThe Gothic Collegiate Church of San Cosme is from the 15th century and stands on the foundations of two previous temples The urban wall was partially demolished in the 16th century to allow better ventilation of the town during the plagueTo get our strength back we had the local speciality Olla Podrida (Rotten Stew) Red beans, ribs, blood sausage, chorizo and pork bellyWine has been produced in this region since the 10th century. At Covarrubias Bodega everything is done by hand. We bought a bottle of Adabía de autor – Tinta del País (Tempranillo), 2 years of oak and 2 years in the bottle, very niceMedieval Bridge of San Pablo over the Arlanza River on the way out of town
