Discover the illustrious characters of the Villa

The present temple was built over a previous one, highlighting its Gothic style, visible mainly in the exterior rose window. Inside, there are the tombs of Count Fernán González, his wife Doña Sancha and his daughter Doña Urraca, near the altar. You can also see the sarcophagus of Princess Kristina of Norway, located in the cloister of the sixteenth century. The choir houses an impressive 17th century Iberian organ, and the museum features the famous triptych of the Adoration of the Magi.

The statue of Princess Kristina of Norway was a gift from the people of Tønsberg to Covarrubias in 1978. Three identical statues were placed: one in Bergen (Kristina's hometown), one in Tønsberg (her point of departure to Spain), and this third one in Covarrubias, where she is buried. Kristina, born in 1234, was the daughter of King Haakon IV and married Philip, brother of Alfonso X, in 1258. After her death in 1262, her body was transferred to Covarrubias. In 2011 the Olav Chapel was inaugurated, fulfilling a promise of Philip.

This is the oldest and best preserved example of the traditional architecture of Covarrubias. Its structure includes a stone base and a wooden structure filled with whitewashed adobe on the first two floors. On the first floor was the stable, where the animals lived with the family, providing warmth to the upper floor, where they lived. The first floor, with arcades, allowed them to work in the open air, while the upper floor was used as a storehouse. It is said that this house was the home of Doña Sancha, infanta and abbess, and that a tunnel connected it to the Fernán González Tower.

It is said that Count Fernán González ordered the construction of this tower in the 10th century as a defensive element. The matacanes, stone protrusions that protected the tower by throwing oil or stones, and the saeteras, elongated windows from which arrows were shot, stand out. Originally, the tower had battlements at the top, replaced over time by a hipped roof. With a height of 22 m and walls up to 4.5 m thick, this tower is known as the "Torreón de Doña Urraca", in reference to the legend of his daughter, who was locked up there by her father to reflect on her future marriage.

This building, commissioned by Philip II in 1575 in Covarrubias, was a thank you to Doctor Vallés, a native of the town, for alleviating his gout pains. Its original purpose was to house the documentation of the adelantados of Castile and the first frontiers of the kingdom. To prevent fires, the structure was made of stone and iron, without wood. The original 16th century grillwork is preserved, as is the large coat of arms of Philip II on the facade, which stands out for its size and preservation, although incomplete. In the 18th century, it was reinforced with buttresses.