Discover the Villa of Molinaseca, royal and pilgrimage

The Calle Real, or Calle de los Peregrinos, crosses the historic heart of Molinaseca from the bridge to the Crucero del Santo Cristo. Along its route, traditional houses, narrow alleys and emblazoned palaces preserve their medieval essence. The Plaza del Santo Cristo, the end of the urban route, houses the 13th century cross, the Pilgrim's Monument and the monolith that celebrates the twinning with the Japanese route of Shikoku, symbol of the spiritual link between cultures.

First stop for pilgrims in Molinaseca, this seventeenth-century sanctuary keeps "La Preciosa", patron saint of the town. It has beautiful baroque altarpieces and side porches where pilgrims and reapers used to rest. These left their sickles as an offering and took splinters from the doors as relics, which today are protected with iron. The present tower was added between 1931 and 1935 to reinforce the structure against the thrust of the mountain.

This bridge of Roman origin, with seven vaults -three of them half-buried-, is an emblematic passage of the Camino de Santiago. Since the 12th century it has been a key element in the history of Molinaseca, where tolls have even been charged since 1637. The river Meruelo, which crosses it, is dammed in summer forming a river pool. Every August 17, during the patron saint's festivities, the Water Festival is held. From the bridge you can see the church of San Nicolás de Bari and its valuable baroque altarpiece.