Puntos de Interés
Municipality
La Cueva de Roa
The municipality of La Cueva de Roa is in the province of Burgos, in the region of La Ribera. The town is situated on the banks of the Duero river, on a wide plain just 5 km from Roa.
Despite appearances, this small riverside village does not have any caves or hollows. The name of the municipality originates from the nobleman Beltrán de la Cueva, who received in the 15th century a noble title and the lordship of several towns and villages in the area as a reward for his services.
Another theory suggests that the term originated from the presence of a large lagoon in the area, which was known as La Cava and later became La Cueva.
The Cueva de Roa was first mentioned in 1143, the year in which King Alfonso VI of León granted Roa thirty-three surrounding villages, including this town. The donation was the catalyst for the establishment of the Community of Villa y Tierra de Roa.
This village, of medieval origin, was acquired by the nobleman Beltrán e la Cueva in the 15th century from King Henry IV of Castile, in addition to the title of Duke of Albuquerque.
Following the fall of the Ancien Régime in the 19th century, La Cueva became a town council dependent on the judicial district of Roa.
The municipality is home to several notable historical sites, including the parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, which was constructed at the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th century in honour of Santo Domingo de Silos.
The church comprises a single nave with a polygonal chancel, a tower at the foot and a sacristy attached to the north side of the apse. The building is constructed from masonry and features a late Romanesque doorway set forward from the wall. It is covered by a tiled roof and supported by three archivolts.
The village also features the chapel of San Isidro and the chapel of the Virgen de la Vega, as well as an old washing fountain. The municipality is one of the constituent parts of the Ribera del Duero Wine Route.
In terms of celebrations, the most significant events are the festivities held in honour of Santo Domingo de Silos on 20 December, the pilgrimage of the Virgen de la Vega on 8 September and San Isidro on 15 May.