A Tour of the City of Zamora - Its Historical Texture, Cultural Richness and Stunning Views

Hello everyone. Last month we visited Zamora. This city belongs to the autonomous region of Castilla y León. We began heading toward the city center starting our tour just a short walk from the main square, Plaza Mayor. When we arrived there was an event taking place, with food being prepared. We reached the administrative building. As in many cities of Castilla y León, storks live directly on the administration building.

There are various cafes and buildings here. But first, I would like to talk about Zamora's climate. It’s not just a continental climate; it’s even hotter. Rainfall is scarce, quite dry, very cold in winter and can get extremely hot in summer. For example, the night we went, it was minus 5 degrees. Quite cold for Spain.

We passed by a large cathedral and headed toward the Douro River. Some of the local products here include rice, different wines, magnets... and bread from Portugal is also sold here. Since we are close by, it’s probably good. Overall the border is quite symbolic since we are within the European Union.

Then we passed by the theater. Zamora with a population of almost 60000 is generally considered a very clean city. There’s almost no industry here, so tourism and agriculture are at the forefront. There are no large industrial facilities. It seemed that the restoration of an old building was underway and next to it stood a large library building. We walked past historical buildings from the past. One of them, this church, was initially built in the 10th century ad. Of course, there are also plaques related to historical monuments. It’s almost like an open-air museum.

From here the view of the Douro River opens up. Along the river, there are many settlements. The first place that comes to mind is Toro de Cilis. We had also done a tour there. The riverside has particularly fertile soil. The famous Ribera del Duero wine region isn’t far from here either. After walking a bit further, the river became more clearly visible and there was a small bridge. If you look at the surrounding landscapes, it’s not exactly mountainous terrain; instead, it’s more of a flat region.

Then we started heading towards the second cathedral. We passed through old streets and reached the Santa Maria Magdalena Church. Zamora was strategically important during the Reconquista Wars. Many battles took place here. There are numerous Romanesque-style buildings. The city is quite rich in this architectural style. Anyone interested in this style can definitely take a tour for religious structures and other things.

We arrived at another cathedral building. Behind each one lies a history. It’s astonishing to see so many buildings. We saw another souvenir shop where anyone who wishes can buy various figurines. We bought ourselves a figurine. Additionally, many buildings have crosses and knight figures. Souvenir shops also have plenty of products related to these. If you’re interested in such gifts, you can easily find them.

We then climbed to a scenic spot near the cathedral and castle. From here, the middle reaches of the Douro River could be seen beautifully. It’s no small river; it’s quite a serious one. I think there’s a beach-like place in Silis. Maybe there’s a similar spot there too. Despite it being winter, flowers were blooming.

Later we reached the Zamora Cathedral. It has a beautiful dome, small but elegant. We headed toward the inner courtyard where there is a small park. You can approach the castle walls and observe the city. Then we entered the Zamora Castle. I want to point out that entrance to the castle is free. In some places, there are paid entrances, but here it’s free. Old structures have been preserved here and some are being restored.

We climbed the walls overlooking the city. From here, the view of the cathedral opened up magnificently. What a wonderful panorama. On the side, the general views of Zamora unfold. There are old, small houses, as in every city. We climbed to the highest point of the castle. We enjoyed the view in the other direction. And I think it’s time to say goodbye from here. I hope you found the Zamora tour interesting. With my best wishes.