Tour of Villafranca del Bierzo

Description

This guided tour of Villafranca del Bierzo explores the town's monumental heritage along the Jacobean Route. Starting at the Castle of the Marqueses, a 16th-century fortress, we delve into its history before visiting the Church of Santiago. The church's "door of Forgiveness" opens in Jacobean years for pilgrims unable to reach Compostela due to health reasons. Villafranca, a Historic-Artistic Site since 1965, is deeply connected to the Camino de Santiago. Along the Jacobean Route, we pass by the castle-palace of the Marquises and stroll through Calle del Agua, admiring historic buildings like Enrique Gil y Carrasco's birthplace and the palace of the inquisitor Torquemada. The tour also includes a visit to the 16th-century collegiate church of Santa Maria, built on a 12th-century Benedictine monastery. After a 2-hour and 15-minute exploration, the tour concludes at the collegiate church.