Puntos de Interés
Municipality
El Vado
El Vado is a small village located about 3.5 km from Medina de Pomar. It overlooks the river Nela from its banks, its riverbed acting as the boundary of the municipality.
This neighbourhood was formerly known as Villaciles, but later changed its name due to the increase in trade relations and the constant passage of muleteers. The village is mentioned with this original name in the famous book Becerro de las Behetrías, where it is indicated that this name can be translated as farm of the silos or granaries. The existence of this original name is confirmed thanks to the fact that today there are still elements that were associated with it, such as the Villaciles Fountain and Our Lady of Villaciles.
Its proximity to the river Nela offers the possibility of enjoying a peaceful stroll where one can appreciate the beauty of the different bridges that cross its course, as well as control towers or mansions, used to collect taxes for the passage of goods, livestock and people.
Some of the architectural jewels of El Vado are the tower-palace of the Lord of Villaciles, located where in ancient times the river had to be forded. On the left bank, the ruins of this monumental tower, built at the end of the 15th century to control the crossing of the ford, can still be seen, as well as that of an impressive stone bridge built a century later, which facilitated transit to Aldea de Castilla la Vieja and which stands out for its three arches.
It is also worth mentioning a chapel which, although of modern construction, is based on the old structure of an earlier temple and in which a Romanesque image from the 12th century, Nuestra Señora de Villaciles, which is in a good state of conservation, is preserved.
Railway lovers will find the remains of the Santander-Mediterranean Sea Railway very close to this village, including the railway crew foreman's hut and a metal bridge, part of a line that began construction in 1924 but was never completed.
The local festivities are held in honour of Nuestra Señora de Villaciles, on the Sunday following 8th September.