Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Duruelo de la Sierra
The municipality of Duruelo de la Sierra is in the Pinares region in Soria province. It has an area of 44.55 km².
The name of this municipality alludes to the source of the river Duero, a natural phenomenon found within this municipality. This territory is of particular interest due to the presence of the Sierra de Urbión and the peak of the same name.
Archaeological evidence indicates that settlements in the area date back to the Neolithic period. This is evidenced by the discovery of numerous pottery fragments from that period in the area. The Mozarabic architectural style is evident throughout the site, particularly in the necropolis established around the church, which also features two Caliphate arches. Subsequently, the municipality experienced a period of depopulation until its second foundation in the 15th century at the direction of the Council of Soria.
The town's heritage includes the church of San Miguel Arcángel, which was constructed between the 10th and 17th centuries. This means that the church incorporates elements from different historical periods. The church is a single nave construction with three bays and a chancel. The tower, some Mozarabic horseshoe-arched windows and a Gothic image of the Santo Cristo de las Maravillas, dating from the 14th-15th centuries, are particularly noteworthy. The area surrounding the church also boasts a medieval necropolis, which houses around a hundred graves, including sarcophagi, tombs made of flagstones and others excavated in the rock.
The town of Duruelo has a long-standing tradition of timber production, with the local European red pine forests playing a significant role. This is managed in accordance with the traditional approach known as "the luck of the pines". This fact makes the municipality an exemplar of cooperativism in the wood processing industry for furniture in the whole province of Soria.
The municipality of Duruelo de la Sierra holds its principal festivities between 14 and 17 September in honour of the Santo Cristo de las Maravillas. However, it also celebrates other festivities at different times of the year, such as the popular pilgrimage of Santa Marina, held on 18 July.