Are you looking for a unique destination to visit this autumn? This corner of Soria is unknown to many people and hides the largest caliphal fortress in all of Europe. This town It is the perfect place for a getaway full of history, nature and tranquility. It is about Gormaz.
What to see in Gormaz, a small town in Soria?
According to the latest data offered by the INE, Gormaz It has 28 inhabitants registered in its municipality. This town is located in the region of the Ribera del Duerosouthwest of the province of Soria in the autonomous community of Castilla y León.
Gormaz is about 50 minutes by car from Soria capital along the A-11 and CL-116. Those tourists who arrive and visit can cross the Fortified Bridge of Roman origin and through which the Cid. In the 10th century it was rebuilt by the Arabs. Currently, it can only be crossed on foot or by bicycle.
You can also see the Romanesque hermitage of San Miguel which dates back to the end of the 11th century and is an ideal place for lovers of mural paintings. These were made with the fresco and tempera technique and their themes are related to biblical and military scenes. This church has a single floor, it has a square chancel and porticos with closed horseshoe arches and a double doorway.
The great attraction of the town is found in its castle. The Gormaz caliphal fortress It is one of the best examples of military architecture made by the Caliphate of Córdoba. From there you can see incredible Soria landscapes. From this municipality the passage of the Duero and the crossings between the road that linked Osma, Medinaceli, Zaragoza and Astorga were controlled.
Finally, it should be noted that Gormaz It is a striking part of the Camino del Cid.
Ormaz Castle, the largest caliphal fortress in Europe
This caliphal fortress It is considered the largest in all of Europe. It is a castle built in the 9th century that was reinforced and expanded at the end of the 10th century.
This fortification is visible from several kilometers away and sits on the narrow and elongated plateau of a hill in the Soria town of Gormaz. When you walk through the door you can appreciate the magnitude of the area. He walled space It covers about 450 meters long by 60 meters wide. Its walls are more than 10 meters high.
He castle It has rectangular towers and a door with a horseshoe arch arched by its alfiz that characterize it as one of the islamic strongholds most important. Some notable parts of this enclosure are the fortress, the keep, the cistern and the caliphal gate.
According to reports from the tourism portal of Castilla y León, in the eastern part a alcazaba where a cistern with a capacity of more than 100,000 liters. The wall that separates it from the rest of the enclosure is possibly from the beginning of the 14th century, corresponding to this period. Trastámara tower.
This unknown town of Soria It has a lot of history. If you want to visit this castle you can do so for free whenever you feel like it.
