Lomas combines birdwatching in the Tierra de Campos landscape with a local history visible in church art, memorial sites and traditional architecture. For your planning, you can focus on nature observation and cultural history separately—or make both themes central to your stay.

Birdlife and Viewpoints

The entire route of the Ruta Ornitológica de la ZEPA lies within the “Camino de Santiago” Special Protection Area for Birds. The section through Lomas de Campos offers opportunities to observe great bustards, peregrine falcons, little bustards, lesser kestrels and Montagu’s harriers. Possible sightings therefore include both large and smaller bustard species and various birds of prey; however, individual sightings are not guaranteed. Birdlife gives this section its own character.

The Mirador de Lomas de Campos was inaugurated in 2011 beside the former church of San Cristóbal and is included in the Tierra de Campos viewpoint route, “Vigías del Mar de Campos”. The exhibition there is devoted to the Tierra de Campos landscape, the stars and birdlife. The Torre-Mirador de San Cristóbal is also considered a birdwatching spot for great bustards. In Lomas, different perspectives on the landscape and nature can be enjoyed side by side.

Church Art from Different Centuries

The first documented mention of the parish church of San Cristóbal appears in a document issued by Alfonso VI on 25 November 1093. The church contains polychrome wooden carvings of Saint Anne and Saint Christopher dating from the 16th century. Coats of arms from the 17th century, associated with the Farjado, Lomas and Guevara families, remain on the vaults. Together, the early mention, the figures and the coats of arms provide different points of reference for exploring the church.

The Capilla de Santa Ana adds further details to this picture. The year it was built, 1957, is shown above its entrance in Roman numerals: MCMLVII. The chapel houses a very old polychrome wooden carving of Saint Anne, whose origin is unknown. After restoration, the figure returned to its place above the main altar on 12 June 2011. The chapel’s small bell is the only surviving relic of the four bells from the old bell tower of San Cristóbal.

Memorial Sites and Regional Architectural Styles

The Ruta Ornitológica also includes a spring at the site of the former settlement of Fuente Muñoz. The spring commemorates the area where the Battle of Golpejera was fought. Local memory of the battle is associated with Lomas and Villarmentero de Campos on the left bank of the Way of St James. This adds a historical perspective on the landscape to the birdwatching.

The dovecotes in Lomas de Campos and other parts of Tierra de Campos are also considered a distinctive example of the province’s characteristic traditional architecture. They add another regional architectural style to the churches and chapels. The traditional festival calendar includes a summer festival on the feast day of Saint Anne and another festival on the third weekend in September. If you want to plan your trip around one of the festivals, check the specific dates for the year in question.

Getting There and Finding Accommodation

From Palencia, the route follows the C-615 to Villoldo and then the P-981 towards Santillana. Lomas is four kilometres from Villoldo, before Villalcázar de Sirga. Roads and signposting may change, so check your route before setting off. When looking for a holiday apartment in Lomas, consider what you want to focus on during your stay: birdwatching, church art or historical memorial sites all offer different starting points for planning.

Discover more destinations: Ledigos, Amayuelas de Abajo, Salinas De Pisuerga, Cardeñosa De Volpejera, Santa María De Redondo, Melgar De Yuso, Velilla Del Río Carrión, La Serna.

Go to the main travel overview: Palencia.