A cultural jewel in Castile and León
Burgos is one of the most beautiful and richest cities, culturally speaking, in Castile and León. Its old quarters paints a beautiful picture that has not gone unnoticed by the tourists, in fact, Burgos is the second most visited city in the region. The history of Spain is reflected in all of its monuments and its streets maintain a medieval and gothic style that is highly valued by art experts. Its cultural, artistic and religious heritage is magnificent. It is popular because of its geographical location with Camino de Santiago and Camino del Cid.
Burgos is distinct for having three monuments declared World Heritage Sites, guaranteed stops for its visitors…
Santa María de Burgos Cathedral
The Santa María de Burgos Cathedral is one of the most incredible temples all over Spain and a touristic treasure of incalculable value. Declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984, it is a predominantly gothic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. From the look out point on Calle Fernán González you can see the artistic magnitude of the temple. Worth mentioning are its incredible main façade, full of spires, and the cloister called La Capilla del Condestable. The monument opens its doors daily, from 9:30a.m. to 1p.m. in the morning and 4p.m. to 7p.m. in the evening.
Plaza Mayor
Situated very close to Burgos Cathedral is Plaza Mayor, historically considered the hot spot of the city, due to the large amount of cultural and commercial activity that took place there. Also called Plaza del Mercado Menor at one point, it has been subject to a lot of development over the years and nowadays it is known as a pleasurable place to go for a stroll and enjoy the heat and beauty of Burgos. Within Plaza Mayor is la Casa Consistorial, a neoclassic building that dates back to the 18th century. Right on its doorstep you can try the talented, local cuisine, in its many restaurants and tapas bars. An absolute must-see.
Abbey of Santa María la Real de las Huelgas
The Abbey of Santa María la Real de las Huelgas is another of the emblematic monuments in Burgos. It is a beautiful building, with a fort-like aspect that is located in the western part of the city, in an area previously known as ‘Las Huelgas,’ from which it got its name. Surrounded by green areas, you can enjoy the beauty of the whole building strolling around it and even entering. It has a cloister and a Chapter House, respected by experts in cultural and artistic heritage. It opens every day from 10a.m. to 1p.m. in the morning and 4p.m. to 5:15p.m. in the evening, except Sundays on which it is opened from 11a.m. to 1:15p.m. It remains closed on Mondays.
Iglesia Real y Antigua de Gamonal
Another tourist attraction is the Iglesia Real y Antigua de Gamonal temple located in Gamonal whose visit coincides with part of the popular Camino de Santiago. It is a small gothic church that dates back approximately to the 14th century and is very similar in style to Burgos Cathedral. It is surrounded by a park where you can enjoy a relaxing walk while admiring a beautiful architectural work of art.
Fuentes Blancas
A little further from the city centre, in the centre of the Fuentes Blancas park, yet perfectly communicated by public transport or accessible by car or on foot, is the Cartuja de Miraflores. It is an amazing building that was the Royal Mausoleum for the parents of Isabella I (Queen of Castile and León), which holds one of the most artistically rich heritages in the city. Here the graves of John II of Castile and Doña María are located. It is very flamboyant in its extravagance and beauty.
Museum of Human Evolution in Burgos
If you prefer a more modern option, you can visit the Museum of Human Evolution in Burgos, a scientific and didactic treasure of recent creation (2010) designed by a architect Juan Navarro Baldeweb. It is the most visited museum in Castile and León and has received an overwhelming amount of national and international awards. It attempts to exhibit the origin and the evolution of man since our first ancestors up to the modern day man in a visual, didactic and interactive way. It remains opened from Tuesday to Friday from 10a.m. to 2p.m. in the morning and 4:30p.m. to 8p.m. in the evening. At the weekends and public holidays it is opened from 10a.m to 8p.m. It is not opened to the public on Mondays. It is possible to purchase a combined ticket for the museum with a visit to the Archaeological Sites of Sierra de Atapuerca, World Heritage Site.
