Free walking tours in Peñaranda de Duero and what to see

Must-sees

Peñaranda de Duero is a medieval town in the Ribera del Duero of Burgos, a short distance from Aranda de Duero. Above it rises the castle, on a long ridge, with a keep from which you can see the whole valley. Below, the Plaza Mayor brings together arcaded, timber-framed houses, and on one side stands the jurisdictional pillar, a stone column recalling the town's former seigneurial power.

On the same square is the Palace of the Counts of Miranda, or Avellaneda, a Renaissance building with a two-storey courtyard and coffered ceilings. Next to it is the former collegiate church of Santa Ana, with its Baroque doorway. Another curious visit is the Jimeno pharmacy, an old apothecary that keeps its furniture and ceramic jars. Beneath the town lie cellars dug into the rock.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free tours in Peñaranda de Duero, but there are guided visits you can book. These include tours of the former collegiate church of Santa Ana, the climb to the castle keep and a visit to an underground cellar with a tasting of Ribera del Duero wines. The rest of the historic centre is easy to explore on your own, and the drive from Aranda de Duero is very short.

How long to spend

Allow half a day for the square, the palace, the collegiate church and the castle. Add a cellar visit with tasting and lunch in town and make it a full day. With two days you can explore other Ribera villages, such as Coruña del Conde, with the ruins of Clunia nearby, or Aranda de Duero and its network of underground cellars.

Where to stay

Peñaranda has few places to stay, almost all rural houses and small hotels in the historic centre, near the Plaza Mayor and at the foot of the castle. Staying here leaves you the town almost to yourself in the evening. For more choice, Aranda de Duero is the natural alternative, under twenty minutes' drive away, with hotels and wineries for continuing the wine route.