Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Roa
Roa, formerly known as Roa de Duero, is a municipality belonging to the Ribera del Duero region, located in the province of Burgos, on a spur at an altitude of 820 m, on the banks of the Duero River.
The town of Burgos has a long and distinguished history, dating back over 2,500 years. Its strategic location has ensured its continued importance throughout the centuries.
During the prehistoric period, the arrival of the Vacceans in Roa led to the settlement becoming an important centre of population. Following the Roman invasion of the peninsula in the 1st century BC, the settlement was renamed Rauda.
In 912, García I of León, a prominent figure in the Christian conquest of the lands near the Duero, assumed responsibility for the repopulation of Roa. In the year 975, this town, which had been established as a defensive boundary for the conquered lands, became a battlefield between Christians and Muslims.
In 1143, during the reign of Alfonso VII of León, the town of Roa was granted a series of privileges. However, one notable event in the municipality's history is the construction of the wall of Roa, commissioned by Queen Violante of Aragon, widow of Alfonso X of Castile. The structure is a solid, high, double-walled and crenellated walled enclosure with six access gates, of which only a few remnants remain today.
The history of Roa is intertwined with that of numerous historical figures. Among them are Cardinal Cisneros, who died in the municipality in 1571, and Juan Martín Díez, known as El Empecinado, who was executed in the main square in 1825.
The town's monuments include the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, which was constructed in the 16th century and is in the town's main square. The temple is a single-nave hall plan structure from the late Gothic period. It features a prominent Gothic doorway, a neoclassical altar, and a 12th-century Gothic style Christ figure.
The chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Vega is open to the public. The temple is situated 4 km from the town centre and was constructed in the 16th century. The Church of San Esteban, a simple yet elegant structure, is situated adjacent to the southern wall. It boasts three naves and a defensive tower dating back to the medieval period.
The city's civil architecture includes notable monuments such as the monument to the grape harvester, the monument to Cardinal Cisneros, the monument to El Empecinado, the Cross of San Pelayo (16th century) and the bridge over the river Riaza (7th century).
Regarding the celebrations, the most significant are those held in honour of San Roque and Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, the patron saints of the town. The bullfighting festivities commence on 14 August with the chupinazo and conclude on 19 August. It is also worth noting the twice-yearly pilgrimage of the Virgen de la Vega, held on the second Sunday in May and 8 September.