El Barrio lies on the northern slope of the Sierra de Villafranca and is a compact settlement on a hillside. Its streets follow the contours. The road from Navaescurial leads to El Barrio and ends there. The surrounding area is of great ecological and landscape importance: here, the village’s appearance and its location are closely connected. Anyone planning a stay will find a clearly defined destination whose settlement pattern and buildings shape its character.
Village Structure Between Hillside and Valley
The surrounding area includes scrubland and wooded areas. They rise to the south and become denser; because of the orography, numerous streams flow northwards towards the valley. Particularly on the eastern and southern sides, stone-built edges of the village form a façade facing the hillside or valley. The settlement pattern thus establishes a clear relationship between the built and natural environments. For travellers interested in how villages and landscapes interact, this is more than a backdrop for individual buildings: it is part of the structure of the place.
The street network is also irregular. There are bends, changes of direction, angled recesses and cul-de-sacs; outer paths enclose the built-up area in a circle. The junction of Travesía Chorrillo, Calle Altozano and Calle Sol seems to divide the entire village. It is a very irregular yet very attractive meeting place. Together with the contours, this street layout explains why El Barrio does not appear to be a regularly planned settlement.
Stone Architecture and Buildings
The buildings are predominantly made of local rubble stone. Ashlar stone adds definition to building corners and to window and door openings. One specific architectural detail can be seen at the Palacio de la calle del Sol: above its single-piece door lintel, beneath a coat of arms, is the year 1699. The village’s appearance thus brings together recurring material features and individual dated details.
The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción stands at the highest point in the village, at the end of Calle Altozano. It has a single nave and is built of ashlar; rubble-stone surfaces and a few ornaments, limited to the usual elements, define its simple design. The chancel has a vault with lunettes. The Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Las Angustias is also in El Barrio. Its main chapel has a roof structure similar to that of the church. Both buildings offer a reason to notice roof form and building materials, while their individual features differ.
Next to the church is a stone fountain with an animal trough made from large granite blocks. A spout, separate from the basin, is intended for people to drink from. The fountain, trough and church stand alongside one another as distinct elements of the village’s appearance; the fountain stands apart from the churches described through its material and dual function.
Planning a Walk and a Stay
The PR-AV 55 Navares de Bardal hiking trail is a 4.8-kilometre crossing from San Miguel de Corneja to El Barrio. It takes two hours to walk and is of moderate difficulty. Before setting off, check the trail conditions and signage on site. Since the trail ends in El Barrio and begins elsewhere, plan your return to the starting point separately, without assuming a particular connection.
If you are looking for a holiday apartment in El Barrio, you can first consider whether the village’s appearance or the walk will be the focus of your stay. The buildings and settlement pattern shape the destination itself; the crossing adds a clearly defined walk with its own stated start and end points.
Discover more destinations: San Martín Del Pimpollar, Hoyos Del Espino, Lanzahíta, Santa Lucia de la Sierra, Arévalo, Gilbuena, El Fresno, La Angostura.
For the wider travel overview: Avila.
