about soria

Location of Soria

The province of Soria is a plateau in north central Spain, lying on the most easterly limits of the autonomous region of Castilla y Leon.  Soria has over 10,000 sq km (3861 miles) of beautiful landscapes and diverse geography, which act as a backdrop to the large concentration of medieval castles, Romanesque churches and timeless villages. All of which lie in close proximity to each other. 

The Soria province sits at an average height of 1000 meters (3280 feet) above sea level.

Soria is known for its pure clean air, due to its expanse of forests, nature parks, grazing lands and lack of heavy industry. One of the many reasons Spanish Footsteps has chosen the province of Soria to base its walking tours. 

Features of Soria

The province of Soria  has a population of approx 93,000, of which 40% live in its capital, also called Soria. The rural exodus of the 1960’s resulted in a loss in the subsequent years of around 42% of the population.  Currently Soria has 8.8 inhabitants per sq km compared with an average in Spain of 87.2 and 116 in Europe. This makes Soria one of the least populated areas of Europe and the perfect place to unwind.

With its abundance of charm and tranquillity, Soria beckons you to explore its nature, medieval castles, forests, history and gastronomy.

To the north of the province lies the’ Picos Urbión’ mountain range, often snow capped in winter.  This mountain range cradles the awe inspiring glacial lake Laguna Negra (Black Lake) and nearby the mountains give birth to the mighty Rîo Duero (River Duero) which eventually ends its course on the coast of Portugal. 

In the north west of the province you find the ‘Pinares’ (Pine Region) known as ‘Green Soria’ with the largest forest mass on the Iberian Peninsular.  The timber industry is the main source of income here and the stylish wooden furniture produced is one of the most sort after in Spanish homes.

To the west the Rîo Lobos (River of Wolves) has carved its way through the limestone to create the Canyon Rîo Lobos protected nature park.  The canyon walls rise to heights of 200 metres (656 ft) in places, and the sunburst red and cream hues add another colour to your surrounds.  On one of our tours you stop in the Canyon Rîo Lobos to contemplate why the Knights Templar built their isolated hermitage here.

To the South East the River Duero starts to mature and nourishes the first vines in the wine region of the Ribera del Duero, home of the highly prized Vega Sicilia wine.  It was through these lands that the Castilian hero El Cid travelled.  As these were the frontier lands of the ‘Reconquista’ (the re conquering of Spain), its not surprising this is where you will see the greatest concentration of medieval castles in Europe.

The land again changes as you head south and reach the medieval Town of Medinaceli, another highlight on one of Spanish Footsteps tours.  Medinaceli was called ‘Ocilis’ in Celt Iberian and Roman times and ‘Medinat Salim’ during the reign of the Moors.  It was the headquarters for the great Moorish leader ‘Almanzor’ and a base for ‘El Cid’.
Agreda to the east has its Arab and Jewish influences, the Jewish quarter still very much intact.  It is here you find the highest mountain in Soria,  Moncayo, that rises to 2313m (7588 feet).

Poetry and Film

The Soria province and its city was the endless inspiration of many well known poets and romancers, like Machado, Diego and Bécquer, who were enchanted by its beauty and  history.  It was here that the world famous 12 – 13th Century Castilian epic poetry, ‘Cantar del Cid’ (Lay of  Cid ) was written about the great Castilian hero El Cid.

Film directors have also fallen for Sorias charm and beauty. Several films were shot in Soria.  David Lean’s classic Dr Zhivago for one, as well as Orson Wells’s Shakespeare epic ‘Chimes at Midnight’, both making use of the quaint medieval village of Calatañazor.

Soria is developing as a rural destination for lovers of nature and history, leisure walkers and ramblers.  Here you will find a network of  walking tracks, where you can walk in the footsteps of El Cid, take a tour along the roman roads or routes connecting the Ataylas (Arab communications towers) or visit the inspirational places of Spanish poets, such as Antonio Machado.