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General introduction,geography and historyThis mountain village is located on thenorth face of the Macizo de Allón at aheight of 1,190 metres. The mountain’stallest peaks are Pico del Lobo (2,273m) and La Buitrera (2,046 m). The Riazariver rises in the heart of the beechforest known as La Pedrosa, continuingfor about a hundred kilometres tomerge with the Duero at Roa, not farfrom Burgos.

The oldest known document thatmentions Riaza dates from 1235. Itrelates to an enquiry being conductedby the king’s chancellor, Gonzalo Abad,into a dispute over grazing rightsbetween the towns of Sepúlveda andFresno de Cantespino. However, theorigin of the town goes back to theCastilian repopulation programmebegun at the end of the 11th centuryafter Toledo was taken (1085) in orderto deter a Muslim counter-attack. In thecenturies that followed, betweenCastilian advances and retreats, thearea was gradually colonised,augmenting its value in terms ofpasture and forestry resources.

Roundabout 1139 Riaza wasappropriated to the archdiocese ofSegovia cathedral. In 1430 it was saidto form part of the domains of theKing’s Constable, Álvaro de Luna.

The Manor of Riaza belonged to theDukes of Maqueda from the 16thcentury until 6 August 1811, the daythe Parliament of Cadiz abolished allmanorial rights or fiefdoms, limitingabsolute real-estate ownership rights tothe nation of Spain.

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What to seeMain SquareThis is divided in two parts by theTown Hall. The present layout datesfrom 1873 when the previouselliptical shape, dominated in thecentre by the stand once used todisplay the heads of executedcriminals, was overhauled. Around1850 a cast-iron lamp-post with astone base was erected toilluminate the Riaza night life. It didduty for the inhabitants until the1960s. The south and westboundaries of the square boast lowcapped walls, supplemented byintricately rounded wrought-ironrailings. The side of the squareunder arches comprises a series ofsun-drenched summer homes,dating back in most cases to theeighteenth century. Each boasts itsoriginal owner’s coat of arms. Onehouse in particular conserves itsfamily shield in immaculate

condition and, furthermore, boastsits own baroque chapel. SimplerRiaza houses are also present.Constructed on a rectangularfoundation, they are stone-builtand of two stories. The roofs aretwo-sided and employ the curioustechnique of laying tiles with thecurved side upwards.

Town HallBuilt in the eighteenth century, itboasts three stories above groundand one below. Its mostconspicuous feature is the bell-tower that crowns the building. It

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houses the village clock, which wasacquired in Madrid and installed in1895. Behind the Town Hall is thesmallest open area pertaining tothe main square.

Church of Our Lady of theRobeThis was built in a renaissance stylebetween the last quarter of thefifteenth and the first quarter of thesixteenth century. It comprises arectangular floor plan distributedinto three naves and an apse.

To this initial construction werelater added two chapels, abaptistery, a sacristy and, finally, asquare tower to house a churchbell, crowned with wooden“flameros”, adornments designedto accentuate the delicate lines ofthe tower. Of the contents of the church wehighlight the seventeenth-centuryaltar that was installed in thechurch in 1823, having previouslydone service in the Monastery ofLa Armadilla in Cogeces delMonte near Valladolid. Itincorporates paintings attributedto the master artist Diego ValentínDíaz, representing scenes from thelife of Saint Geronimo. ChristCrucified (possibly painted in thefifteenth century) can be seen inthe Chapel of the Gentle Name. Apolychrome Crucifixion, of the16th or 17th century, presides overthe Chapel of the Nobles or of theGentlemen.

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Collection of Sacred Art Inside the church visitors can see anart exhibition comprising many ofthe most representative works ofthe people of the villages ofAlquité, Madriguera, Riaza, Riofríode Riaza, Sequera de Fresno,Serracín and Villacorta. Locatedbehind the choir stalls, within partin the bell tower, the exhibitionarea includes three rooms, eachdevoted to a specific theme.

• Room I. Romanesque and GothicArt. Here we highlight thepresence of the original portraitof Our Lady of the Mantle, datingfrom the thirteenth century.

• Room II. Renaissance andBaroque Art. This room housesvarious sculptures, the mostoutstanding of which are theVirgin of the Good Milk, whichdates from the seventeenthcentury, the Saint Joseph Holdingthe Child, and the ImmaculateConception, painted in theeighteenth and seventeenthcenturies respectively.

• Room III. Spanish silverware andliturgical objects. This roomcontains a variety of objects,ranging from a stuffed pelicandating back to the sixteenhundreds (from the seventeenth-century church of Saint Peter inAlquité), to a priest’s portmanteau,liturgical objects, and aseventeenth-century tenebrario,i.e., a triangular candlestick offifteen candles lit at a certain pointin the Easter rituals.

Hermitage of Saint JohnLocated to the north of the town,this building is set in a woodedglade, enclosed by a stone walland iron entrance way. The stonecross located in the centre of the

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lawn dates from 1553. The date1783 is engraved on one of thedoor lintels. It refers, so weunderstand, to the date of arestoration. The stone lapidariesbeneath the porch (added in the1980s at the time of a furtherrestoration) give us to understandthat the hermitage is located on aformer cemetery. The hermitagehouses a number of “pasos”, thebox-like floats decorated withreligious carvings for use in theEaster parades. Two such figures,those of St James the Apostle andJohn the Baptist, can also be seenin the hermitage.

Hermitage of Saint RochThis was erected in execution of avow following the plague epidemicof 1599. Built on a rectangularfoundation, the façade shows thetown crest, reminding onlookers ofthe significant contribution of thetown council to the cost of itsconstruction. It was restored in the1980s when a porch, supported bystone pillars, was added. Thebuilding houses the woodenimages of Saint Isidore and SaintChristopher.

SurroundingsHermitageIt is located 4.5 kilometres fromRiaza on the road leading toSantibáñez de Ayllón. Thehermitage is located at an altitudeof 1,400 metres on the so-called“Mata Serrana” ridge in the midstof a mixed forest of oak andreplanted pine. It stands on the siteof the church of the former hamletof Hontanares, which wasabandoned and acquired by theRiaza town council in the early 15thcentury. Hence, the presenthermitage replaces an earlier

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building. Its construction in theyear 1606 was funded entirely bythe donations of churchgoers.Alongside the hermitage is ahospice that contains an altarpiecepresided over by a painting of OurLady of Hontanares, flanked by theglorious images of Saint Lucia andSaint Blas.

Viewing point of Peñas LlanasTo reach the viewing point visitorstake the road that runs behind thehermitage. The look-out point islocated at a height of 1,440 metresand encompasses the entireSegovian plain. Four separateprovinces may be decried from thisvantage point: • Montejo de la Vega de laSerrezuela, on the border withBurgos.

• El pico de Grado, on the frontierwith Guadalajara.

• Somosierra, on the border withMadrid.

• On clear days, the UrbiónMountains, in the province ofSoria.

From the car park of the viewingpoint visitors may take the roadthat leads to the so-called “Springsof the Three Drops”.

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Route of ColourTaking the road SG-VIII we progressfrom Riaza to Santibánez de Ayllón,the first of the eight locationscomprising this route.

The Yellow VillagesThese outlying villages arerecognisable by the yellow (andwhite) quartz of which theirbuildings and outlying walls aremade, either exclusively or incombination with other materialspresent in the area.Alquité: The name is of Araborigin, appearing in the records forthe first time in 1123 as “Alchité”. Itadopted the present spelling in theeighteenth century. It is located atan altitude of 1,280 metres on ahillock dominated by the Church ofSaint Peter, whose most notablefeature is the portico with its threemagnificent archivolts.Martín Muñoz de Ayllón: thislocation had slate quarries thatprovided the roofing of the Palace ofLa Granja and the flooring of

Segovia Cathedral. Of particularnote is the church of Saint Martin ofTours, the patron saint of the village.

The Red VillagesIn some parts of the Ayllón Hillsthere is a substratum of reddishrock rich in ferric nitrates. The localbuildings are thus constructed ofbaked reddish clay, which takes itshue from rocks of the surroundingcountryside. Villacorta: a village founded at analtitude of 1,092 metres above sealevel, having as its centrepiece thechurch of Saint Catherine, notablefor its Romanesque doorway andsixteenth-century mudejardecoration. Just outside the villageitself can be found two pigeonstage-posts, a Roman bridge thatcrosses the Vadillo river, a restoredwindmill and the Saint Roquehermitage.Madriguera: situated at a heightabove sea level of 1,138 metres,Madriguera was an active centre oftrade and services for the outlyingarea. It had its own council house,

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casino-cum-hotel and chemist’sshop. The church, dedicated toSaint Peter, with its open bell toweris in keeping with the splendour ofthe town’s heyday, when it boastedno fewer than 750 inhabitants.Many of its beautifully carvedwooden balconies survive. Nearthe village is an old clay mine and aspring famed for the ferrousproperties of its waters.

Black VillagesThese villages of the Ayllón Hillsare known for their singulararchitectural features, in particular,the black and dark greys of theslate employed in building thehouses and barns.Becerril: situated at an altitude of1,241 metres above sea level, it isknown for its church, Our Lady ofthe Assumption, a circularRomanesque building with amagnificently preserved interiorthat includes an original altarpainting. On the outskirts of thevillage there are mines devoted toiron and “ampelite”, a kind of soft

slate. There is also a splendid groveof holly bushes and rowans.Serracín: this was built on thefoothills of the Pizarral mountain ata height of 1,230 metres above sealevel. Of its church, known as theNativity, only the bell towerremains. On the hill known asMingohierro two silverworks wereset up, together with a slate mine.El Muyo: refrences to this hamletgo back to 1587. Of special note isthe church, the Holy Martyrs (SaintCornelius and Saint Ciprianus),which retains in its interior a gothicprocessional cross knowncolloquially as a “ripped-off”(desgajo) as Christ’s arms are carvedto imitate the boughs of a tree.El Negredo: The curious fact aboutthis village is that the Church ofVallehermoso (a Romanesquefoundation boasting a finerenaissance portal) lies without thevillage boundary whereas, mostunusually, the hermitage,dedicated to Our Lady of theRosary, is located inside the village.

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Other places of interest inthe areaOff the route but within access viathe N-110 where it diverges toFresno de Cantespino, are: Aldeanueva del Monte: thishamlet belonged to the Constableof Castile, Álvaro de Luna, beforepassing to the hands of the Countof Miranda. Its church, ofRomanesque origin, is devoted toSaint Anthony. The hermitage,devoted to St John, is located onthe outskirts of the villaje.Barahona de Fresno: this villageretains some of the original clayhouses typical of the area. Ofparticular interest is the church ofSaint Cristopher, of Romanesqueorigin, which has a semi-circularapse prized for the decoration onthe borders of the ledges and therounded window.

Beech wood of la Pedrosa

This is included in therecommended Natural Sites ofCastile and León. It lies betweenRiofrío de Riaza (Segovia) and

Majaelrayo (Guadalajara) on thenorth face of the Ayllón range at analtitude of 1,430 metres andoccupies a total area of some 87hectares. Together with another twobeech woods, that of the “TejeraNegra” in the province ofGuadalajara and that of the Montejode la Sierra in the province ofMadrid, this is a fine example ofwhat was once the humid woodedcarpet of Spain’s Central MountainSystem, particularly that part knownas the “Sierra of Ayllón”. One of the most attractive featuresof this setting are the beech trees,high and broad in shape. It isinteresting to note how thebranches of these beeches start atpoints quite low down the trunk ofthe tree. This is because for manyyears these youngest brancheswere used to supply a chair factorythat operated up until the mid-twentieth century in the town ofRíofrío de Riaza. Unadvised, thetrees continue to sprout them. At the feet of these botanicalgiants, amid ferns, mosses andlichens, you can trace the first

waters of the Riaza river, which aftera course of some 100 kilometresflows into the Duero River where itcrosses the Burgos town of Roa deDuero. The breadth of the colourpalate in these landscapes is wellworth the effort made. The red of the beech woods iscounterpoised by bare rock facesand the quartz outcrops thatseparate the beech from the oakgroves that clothe the foothills ofthe mountains. It is worth notingthat beech is, on the whole, a treethat thrives in moister, morenortherly climates, making thePedrosa forest an exception to therule and the southernmost beechforest not only in Europe but in theworld as a whole.Despite the dramatic climatic swingsthese trees have to put up with – drysummers, lack of mist or fog, andminus-zero winters), these forestsmaintain their splendour and aregradually expanding in size. At thislevel the majority of the trees arerelatively young, with the older treeshigher up the hillside where they areharder to reach. Mingled among the

beech are examples of oak,chestnut, hawthorn and holly, as wellas thickets of heather, blackberryand other fruit-bearing bushes.

Ski resort and mountainadventure park

La Pinilla – Riaza Valley

365 days of mountain sportand adventureLa Pinilla is known by winter sportsenthusiasts as the best ski resort inSpain’s Central mountain rangethanks to the variety, quality andextent of the ski runs. The resort’ssystem of artificial snow uses morethan 184 cannons with a capacity tocover 70% of the total runs. Its liftscan cope with 12,000 skiers perhour. It is the only resort in theCentral Mountain System having acable car that takes skiers to theheart of the ski station. Thanks to its privileged location, LaPinilla can offer its installations andski runs to the several million peoplewho live less than an hour away by

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car. It is located just 45 minutes fromMadrid-Barajas airport. To improvevisitors’ skiing experience the resorthas arranged for the followingnovelties to be available for theupcoming season: a specific, wellsignposted “customer attention”zone; a Snow Garden designed forchildren from three to seven years ofage; the start-up of the La Pinilla Skiand Mountain School; and theconstruction of the inn “La PinillaAlbergue” located at the bottom ofthe runs and having a capacity for 50persons. In the summer season, “Multi-Adventure Time”, the station offersa wide range of sports and outdooractivities for all ages: Tyroleantraverse, archery, rock-climbing,mountain biking and, as a specialattraction, a permanent mountain-bike park (the first in Spain) with nofewer than five dfferent descents atvarying degrees of difficulty. If youdo not own a bike, there is a hire

service that will enable you to enjoythe facilities offered by Specializedto the full. Always intent on improving andgrowing the resort, each year thestation organises a growingnumber of sporting events. Ofthese, we may mention the variousinternational events we haveorganised such as the Maxi-Avalanche Championship and theLa Pinilla “Teva Raid”. Of these wewould highlight the variousinternational competitions such asthe European MaxiAvalancheChampionship and the Teva-LaPinilla Raid. This sportingbackground makes the station oneof the leading destinations forthose who delight open-air sport atany time of the year.

Other SportsAll who want to make the most oftheir stay in Riaza to practice their

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favourite sports shout take intoaccount the wide range of all-year-round activities organised by theSki Station, as well as the idealenvironment surrounding the townitself, perfect for walkers, mountainbikers and horse-riders. In addition,you can take advantage of:• A Sports Centre, complete withcourts for basketball, tennis, indoorfootball, etc.• A spectacular municipal court forthe Spanish wall-game “pelota”.There is a second court behind themain one. Both are to be found inthe El Rasero council park, whichalso boasts a large open space forother activities.• Fully equipped football (soccer)ground, known as “Las Delicias”. • Various courts for differentactivities (paddle, tennis, five-a-side football, etc.) as well as agymnasium and a municipaloutdoor swimming pool, all

located within the grounds of theRiazza Camping Bungalow park.

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Other places worthvisitingLa NeveraThe former wash-house for thevillage, it is located opposite thehermitage of Saint John. It employstwo cannons supplying massiveamounts of water. In 1897 it wasgiven a major overhaul.

El EscorialThis is near the exit of the village,close to the road SG-VIII. Itconsists of a strong stone wall, asmall watersource, and a bathingfacility for sheep and goats. Thelast major reform was carried outin 1879.

El Rasero ParkLocated on the east of the town,this is a large grassed area as arecreation park. We highlight the18 stone crosses that come intotheir own on Good Friday. Theoldest cross dates back to 1550,while the newest is really new,brought into to replace abreakage.

ArtesaníaRiaza is a town known for its skills inwoodworking and restoration.There are also a variety of antiqueshops, together with a private artgallery.

How to eatThe typical dish of the town is roastlamb. Of late dishes using thewealth of wild mushrooms in theregion have begun to compete. Wedraw attention to the town’sstrength in puddings and sweets,particularly those made using apastry base, as well as its luxurioushoney.

Let’s party!Local fiestas• San Blas, 3 February.• Santa Águeda, 5 February.• Mayday, 1 May. Celebrated withfolk dancing in the square.• San Gregorio, 9 May. Patron Saintof Riaza. On this day the typicaldish is cod stew.• Month of July. Internationalspeed-painting competition knownas the “Villa de Riaza” contest.• Virgin of the Shawl, 8 September.Patron saint of the village. The dateis celebrated by a sung and dancedCastilian mass, followed by dancingand a formal procession, led by theeffigy of the Virgin Mary• Pilgrimages to Hontanares, whichtake place from the first to thesecond Sunday following the Day ofthe Virgin of the Shawl. Throughoutthe week the town celebrates itsannual holiday period.

How to get thereLocated to the north-east of theprovince of Segovia, bordering onSoria and Guadalajara. The towncan be reached quickest via theN.1 (Madrid-Irún) exiting at exitpoint N-110. It is 75 km fromSegovia and 120 km from Soria.

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Diseño y maquetación: Juan Cabrero Remaquetación: Paulino Lázaro Enero 2014

AYUNTAMIENTO DE RIAZAPlaza Mayor, 140500 Riaza (Segovia)Tel. 921 550 016 - Fax 921 551 032ayuntamiento@riaza.eswww.riaza.es

CAPITALProvincial Tourist BoardPlaza Mayor, 9 40001 SegoviaTel.: 921 466 070 / Fax: 921 460 492www.segoviaturismo.esinfo@segoviaturismo.es

Tourist OfficePlaza Mayor, 10 40001 SegoviaTel.: 921 460 334 / Fax: 921 460 330www.turismocastillayleon.comoficinadeturismodesegovia@jcyl.esVisitors Reception CenterAzoguejo, 1 40001 SegoviaTels.: 921 466 720 / 21 / 22Fax: 921 466 724www.turismodesegovia.cominfo@turismodesegovia.com

Other tourist information pointsTourist Information Point in the City WallsPlaza del Socorro, 2 y 3 40001 SegoviaTel.: 921 461 297www.redjuderias.orgBus stationPo Ezequiel González, s/n 40002 SegoviaTel.: 921 436 569informacion.estacion@turismodesegovia.comAVE (high-speed rail) stationEstación Segovia-GuiomarCtra. de Juarrillos, s/n 40195 Hontoria(Segovia)Tel.: 921 447 262informacion.ave@turismodesegovia.com

Association of Official Tour Guides of SegoviaTel.: 691 117 197www.guiasdeturismodesegovia.esguiasdeturismodesegovia@yahoo.esCentral Reservations Office of Rural Tourismin Castille and LeónTel.: 902 203 030www.castillayleonesvida.comAssociation of Rural Taxis in SegoviaTel.: 645 836 373Para cualquier traslado a la provinciawww.segotaxirural.com

PROVINCEAyllónPalacio de Vellosillo, 1 40520 AyllónTel.: 921 553 916www.ayllon.esturismo@ayllon.esCuéllarPlaza del Castillo 40200 CuéllarTels.: 921 142 203 / 140 014Fax: 921 142 076www.cuellar.esturismo@aytocuellar.esEl EspinarPlaza de la Constitución, 140400 El EspinarTel.: 921 181 342 / Fax: 921 182 316www.elespinar.esturismo@aytoelespinar.comMaderueloC/ de Arriba, 5-6 40554 MaderueloTel.: 921 556 089 / Fax: 921 556 122www.maderuelo.comaytomader@gmail.comPedrazaC/ Real, 3 40172 PedrazaTel.: 921 508 666 / Fax: 921 509 944www.pedraza.infoturismo@pedraza.infoReal Sitio de San IldefonsoPaseo de los Dolores, 1 (Edificio del Ayto.) 40100 La Granja de San IldefonsoTel. y Fax: 921 473 953www.turismorealsitiodesanildefonso.cominfo@turismorealsitiodesanildefonso.comRiazaAvda. de Madrid, 2 40500 RiazaTel.: 921 550 430 / Fax: 921 551 032www.riaza.esoficinaturismo@riaza.esSepúlvedaMuseo de los FuerosC/ Santos Justo y Pastor, 840300 SepúlvedaTel.: 921 540 425www.sepulveda.esturismo@sepulveda.es

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• Sports and adventure• Walking tourism• Cycling Segovia – Cycling through Segovia– Cycling through Segovia map

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• Monuments• Tourism for everybody• Religious tourism• Corporate tourism• Rural tourism• Health and Spa tourism• Nature watching• The Little Giant of the Mountains

• The Domesticated Forest• Witnesses of a Bygone Era• Lord of the Water

DRAWINGS AND OTHER BROCHURES• Santiago trail from Madrid• San Frutos trail Segovia• The Isabel the Catholic route• The San Medel route• Geocaching• Heritage city• World Segovia in the movies• Map of the province• Emotions Horizon• Opening hours of monuments• Tourism in Segovia

TOWNSAguilafuenteAyllónCabañas de PolendosCantalejoCarbonero el MayorCocaCuéllarEl EspinarFuentidueñaMaderueloMartín Muñoz de las PosadasNavafríaPedrazaPrádenaReal Sitio de San IldefonsoRiazaSepúlvedaTuréganoVillacastín

www.dipsegovia.es921 11 33 00

www.turismocastillayleon.com902 20 30 30

www.segoviaturismo.es921 46 60 70

Ayuntamiento

de Riaza

www.riaza.es

921 55 00 16