Free walking tours in Nava de Roa and what to see

Must-sees

Nava de Roa is a small village in the Ribera del Duero of Burgos, about 26 kilometres from Aranda de Duero. Its name refers to flat land surrounded by hills, and that is how it looks as you arrive: the village in the middle, surrounded by cereal fields and vineyards. The main sight is the church of San Antolín, built in the 17th century and extended in the 18th, with a Baroque façade and Neoclassical tower. Inside are a 16th-century altarpiece and font and a large Gothic Christ.

It is worth climbing the Calvario hill. On its slopes are traditional wine cellars dug into the earth and remains of old wine presses, evidence of a winemaking tradition cut short by phylloxera and now revived by the village's wineries. At the top are the ruins of the Baroque chapel of Santa Ana, next to the cemetery. In the streets you will still see the odd timber-framed house.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free tours or regular guided visits in Nava de Roa. It is a village to explore on your own in a short time. What you will find in the area are visits to Ribera del Duero wineries, with a walk through the vineyard and a tasting, best booked ahead. From Aranda de Duero there are also visits to the underground cellars of the old town and wine routes through the surrounding villages.

How long to spend

An hour is enough to see the village: the church, a walk through the streets and the climb up the Calvario among the cellars. It makes sense to combine it with other villages in the area, such as Roa, and a winery visit, which fills a morning or a full day. To get to know the Ribera del Duero properly, plan two or three days based in Aranda.

Where to stay

Accommodation in Nava de Roa is very scarce, so people usually stay elsewhere. Roa, very close, has a hotel or two and rural houses and puts you in the heart of the Ribera. Aranda de Duero has the most beds and restaurants: staying near the old town lets you walk to dinner among roast houses and wine cellars. For peace and quiet, villages in the area have rural houses and winery stays.