In Almarza, sacred architecture, inherited customs and hiking trails sit side by side. The oldest parts of the parish church of Santa Lucía date back to the 13th century; at the same time, the Sendero Ibérico Soriano (GR-86) passes through the town in two stages. These different themes can help you tailor your stay to your interests.
Churches and townscape
The parish church of Santa Lucía is a Gothic example of Sorian sacred architecture. Its oldest parts date from the 13th century; it was expanded and improved in the 16th and 18th centuries. This makes it possible to trace its construction history from the early sections through to later alterations over several centuries.
The Ermita de la Soledad, also known as the Ermita de la Inmaculada Concepción, has an octagonal floor plan. At the Ermita de los Santos Nuevos, other details come to the fore: it dates from the 16th century, is jointly used by Almarza and San Andrés de Soria, and bears the coats of arms of the Marquises of Zafra. Together, the three religious buildings bring different aspects into focus: architectural form, building history and an explicitly shared relationship with a neighboring town.
Traditional houses also shape Almarza’s townscape. Their walls are whitewashed; at the corners, openings and lintels, dressed stone blocks reinforce the masonry. The Casa Palacio de la Familia Montenegro has now been converted into an Aula de la Naturaleza belonging to the Colegio madrileño Virgen de Europa.
Hiking trails and stages
The GR-86 passes through Almarza in two stages: Santa Cruz de Yanguas–Almarza is 21 kilometers long, and Almarza–Valdeavellano de Tera is 11 kilometers long. The second stage is therefore ten kilometers shorter than the first. These specific distances make it easy to compare the two sections by length, without prescribing a particular day’s itinerary.
The Cañada Real Oriental Soriana and other livestock drovers’ roads also cross the municipality, offering opportunities for hiking. The Cañada Real Oriental Soriana is considered an 800-kilometer drovers’ road that reaches as far as the province of Seville. Hiking and mountain biking are among the activities commonly enjoyed in Almarza. The GR-86 stages and the drovers’ roads provide different starting points for planning a trip.
Traditions and dates
El Traslado del Arca has taken place on January 6 since 1329. At around 1:30 p.m., participants make their way to the Canto Gordo boundary point on the road between Almarza and San Andrés de Soria; the point lies roughly halfway along the route. Custody of the Arca alternates between the towns: in even-numbered years it is kept in San Andrés, and in odd-numbered years in Almarza.
Another tradition is the procession of bonfires. The fires are lit along the procession route as soon as the procession approaches. A traditional market is held in Almarza on the last Sunday in July. Food and handicrafts are part of the program, along with live craft demonstrations, exhibitions of old objects and performances. For choosing when to travel, the January date of the Arca event and the market on the last Sunday in July offer different occasions to consider.
Getting there and finding your way
Almarza can be reached via the N-111 between Soria and Logroño. Since 2008, the former town hall in Almarza has housed the Centro Comarcal de Recepción de Visitantes “Serranía Norte Soriana,” a tourist information center for the surrounding area. It features an interactive model showing the location of the area’s cultural and natural resources—a guide that takes the view beyond the town to the wider region.
If you are looking for hotels in Almarza, first consider what you want to focus on during your stay: the churches and townscape, a visit for one of the events mentioned, or the hiking trails. The two GR-86 stages cover different distances; the dates of El Traslado del Arca and the market offer other points to consider when planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Tera, Matute De La Sierra, Navaleno, Retortillo De Soria, Casarejos, Cueva De Ágreda, Santervás De La Sierra, Garray.
For the broader travel overview: Soria.
