(Pink
dotted line
on the map)
Castril de
la Peña,
a charming
small mountain
town, lies
at the base
of the Peña,
an abrupt
rocky outcrop
which houses
the remains
of an old
medieval fortress.
Its level
of preservation
is such that
it has been
given official
national status
as a "Town
of artistic
and historical
interest ".
The city route
is made up
of two stretches
that begin
at the Plaza
Árbol
Gordo, a beautiful
stone square,
and site of
the José
Saramago Centre.
The
first stretch
goes around
La Villa,
a small area
of close-knit
houses at
the foot of
the Peña.
It passes
the archway
of the Puerta
del Sol (Sun
Gate) and
the church,
a building
from the 16th
Century, and
continues
until it reaches
the tranquil
Jardines de
la Lonja gardens,
where you
can go up
to the highest
part of the
Peña
and enjoy
spectacular
views.
The
second stretch
heads up towards
the Plaza
del Cantón,
a lovely little
square which
overlooks
the densely
packed neighbourhood
of Hondo,
which is of
Muslim origin.
After walking
through these
old back-streets
the route
comes out
onto the Camino
de la Fábrica,
a pretty path
which goes
down until
it reaches
the banks
of the Castril
River, just
at the beginning
of a deep
and spectacular
gorge, lined
with a wooden
gangway which
leads all
the way along
the La Cerrada
route, a famous
walk in Castril.
After
going through
the Parque
de la Arboleda
Perdida (Park
of lost trees),
a pleasant
garden which
in summer
plays host
to various
cultural events,
the route
goes up the
steep steps
of the Cuesta
del Río
until it reaches
the historical
town centre
once more.
Going through
the Arco del
Carmen, it
comes out
into the town’s
busiest square,
Plaza Hernando
de Zafra,
which every
October is
transformed
into a bullring
for the local
bullfighting
festival.
From here,
the route
takes you
past the house
of Don Hernando
de Zafra,
which dates
from the 17th
Century, and
ends at Corralazos,
a calm area
surrounded
by gardens
and allotments
Finally,
moving through
small streets,
such as the
charming Calle
Parras and
Calle Baza
streets, it
returns to
Plaza del
Árbol
Gordo (Broad-tree
Square - its
name a reference
to the old,
emblematic
tree which
grew here
until the
sixties when
it was cut
down). Nowadays,
a beautiful
olive tree,
a tree very
much in keeping
with the olive
oil traditions
of Castril,
has been planted
in its place.
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