THE secret route of Ampudia

The square, dedicated in 1968 to the benefactor Francisco Martín Gromaz, is located next to the remains of the wall and the old gate of the old fence. In its surroundings stood a fountain with trough and wash house of the nineteenth century. It preserves traces of old entrances and historic facades, as well as a pavilion from 1997. The 18th century house known as Casa del Alba, an example of traditional architecture in wood and clay, stands out. The square is today a symbolic space that recalls the urban history of Ampudia.

Former main road of the medieval layout of the town, it retains a secondary air and in decline, although it still shows its historical importance. In it lived noble lineages of the fifteenth century, whose coats of arms and coats of arms remain on doorways and houses. The door with a semicircular arch and large voussoirs, with the Ayala and Basurto coats of arms, reflects its stately past. Here resided Doña María de Ayala, linked to the court of the Catholic Monarchs. The street was also home to the town's textile industry and connects with the nearby Calle de los Yeseros.

Religious and cultural center of the town, the atrium stands out for the majestic Collegiate Church of San Miguel, built between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, with a tower of 62 meters erected by Bishop Fray Pascual de Ampudia. The temple, restored in 2021, is a spiritual and architectural symbol. Next to it is the Town Hall, located in the old 17th century Town Hall, and the Museum of Sacred Art, founded in 1637 in the old Franciscan convent. The complex is today a focal point for celebrations, events and historical memory.

Formerly the Plazuela de las Carnicerías, its name is due to the presence of markets and the celebration of bullfights and bullfighting festivals in the past. In this space, next to the Mesón de Ampudia, bullfighting stands and stands were organized. Doña Josefa Gromaz Street connects the square with the Ronda de la Rasilla, which was used for animal transit and water drainage. The place reflects the commercial and historical pulse of the town, where daily activities, brotherhoods and events that marked the social life of the municipality were mixed.

The starting point is located at the foot of the castle, on the slope where ancient springs converge. From there you can enjoy the panoramic view of Tierra de Campos and the wind farm that dominates the horizon. The fortress, a symbol of stately power, was surrounded by wall cubes and linked to the hermitage of Santiago. In its surroundings prospered wineries that no longer exist. The tour of the village invites you to discover its medieval core, the narrow streets and its toponymy linked to the wall and ancient local traditions.

At this crossroads is the niche of San Juan Bautista, a reminder of the hospital and brotherhood linked to this saint. Here was also the Hospital of Santa María de Otero, active until 1946. Duque de Alba Street, formerly called San Juan, hosted local festivities and retains traces of urban history, such as the house with wooden coffered ceiling or the tourist office, located in the old hospital. This crossroads, loaded with symbolism, recalls the tradition of assistance, festivities and devotion of the town over the centuries.

The Plaza Vieja and Calle Corredera are emblematic of Ampudia, recognizable by their arcades, with 258 posts of which 41 are made of stone. The square, formerly called Constitucional, was the scene of bullfights and festivities and today hosts popular celebrations, presided over by the sculpture of the coat of arms of the town. In the Corredera, with lintels dating from 1631 and coats of arms of families such as Castrillo, Villafañe, Peña or Delgado, there are niches and restored houses that evoke centuries of history, tradition and culture alive in the heart of the town.