Free walking tours in Zamora and what to see

Must-sees

Zamora has more Romanesque churches in its historic centre than any other city in Europe, and you notice it on every street. The cathedral, with its dome covered in stone scales, is the main visit. Beside it are the castle and its gardens, with views of the Duero. Along the Rúa de los Francos you reach the Plaza Mayor, with the church of San Juan de Puerta Nueva and the old town hall.

Go down to the river to cross the Puente de Piedra and see the Aceñas de Olivares, old flour mills by the bank. Look out too for the Puerta de Doña Urraca and the stretch of wall beside it. The city also has a Modernista route with early 20th-century façades scattered around the centre. To understand its Holy Week, one of the best known in Spain, visit the Holy Week Museum.

Free tours and guided visits

Zamora has pay-what-you-wish free tours that cover the old town from end to end. They usually explain the siege of Zamora and the legends of the Cantar de mio Cid, the Romanesque churches, the walls and the Modernisme. They last about two hours and finish near the cathedral or the castle.

Among paid visits, guided entry to the cathedral and its museum, with its Flemish tapestries, is worthwhile. Outside the city, the most common trips go to the Arribes del Duero, with a boat ride through the river canyons, to nearby Toro and its Collegiate Church, or to the Visigothic church of San Pedro de la Nave.

How long to spend

One well-used day is enough to see the main sights. Spend the morning on the cathedral, the castle and the upper town, and the afternoon on the river, the mills and the Plaza Mayor. With two days you can go into more churches at leisure, follow the Modernista route and eat without rushing. If you add a third, keep it for the Arribes or Toro.

Where to stay

The best area is the historic centre, between the Plaza Mayor and the cathedral. Everything is a few minutes’ walk away and the streets are quiet at night. Calle Santa Clara and around is another good option, more commercial and with plenty of tapas bars. If you are driving, look near Avenida de Portugal or the Duero bank, where parking is easier.