Free walking tours in Caleruega and what to see

Must-sees

Caleruega is a village in southern Burgos province, in the Ribera del Duero area, known as the birthplace of Saint Dominic de Guzmán, founder of the Dominicans. Its oldest monument is the Torreón de los Guzmán, a medieval tower linked to the saint's family. Next to it stands the convent of the Dominican nuns, with its cloister, the 16th-century convent church and the choir, which occupies the old church associated with Alfonso X the Wise.

The crypt holds Saint Dominic's well, a place of pilgrimage, and in the complex you can see the museum devoted to the saint and the medieval hall. In the upper part of the village is the parish church of San Sebastián, with good views. The hillsides are riddled with traditional underground wine cellars, and about two kilometres away are the remains of the abandoned village of San Martín de Bañuelos.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free walking tours in Caleruega. The usual format is the guided visit of the monumental complex, which includes the convent, the crypt and the Saint Dominic museum. For nature there are guided routes around the area and the Las Loberas trail, which you can do on your own. If you come from Aranda de Duero, Caleruega fits nicely into a day route through the villages of the Ribera.

How long to spend

Half a day is enough for the tower, the convent, the crypt and a walk among the wine cellars. If you also do the Las Loberas trail, allow the whole day. With two days you can round off the visit with Gumiel de Izán, where Saint Dominic spent part of his childhood, and Peñaranda de Duero, with its castle and main square, a short drive away.

Where to stay

Caleruega has a small choice of rural houses and places to stay in the village, a few steps from the tower and the convent, and it is a very peaceful place to sleep. For more variety, Aranda de Duero is about twenty minutes away and has hotels of every kind, as well as good food.