Benavente

Torre de Caracol o Castillo de la Mota

This magnificent castle dates from after the repopulation of Fernando II in the 12th century. At the time when the town was under the power of the Pimentel family, it served as the residence of the counts. Like all buildings of the time, it underwent major reforms until the early nineteenth century, when the French devastated the place and burned the entire castle. Finally, thanks to the efforts of citizens and the state, this historic building is recovered, transforming it into a Parador Nacional de Turismo.

Santa María del Carmen de Renueva

This beautiful temple of recent construction began to be built back in 1930 under the mandate of Don Julian Fernandez. Only a few years later, he died, leaving the whole project paralyzed until 1965. From that moment on, Don José Muñoz Miñambres was appointed as the new priest of the town and decided to resume the works. Three years later the new church was inaugurated, exactly on July 16, the feast of the Virgen del Carmen.

Puente Medieval Sobre el Esla

This beautiful medieval bridge joins the two banks of the river Esla. Although it had to be rebuilt on numerous occasions, it still retains the same medieval layout. The original construction consisted of four bridges with three intermediate meadows placed in such a way that they sought to protect the Esla riverbed.

Parque de la Pradera

This magnificent natural space is full of small streams with some ponds in between. A little far away is the famous “Merendero de la Fuente Mineral”, in a wonderful setting surrounded by beautiful chestnut trees. Near this area is the Entrecaños Park, the Isla de las Pavas and the Merendero de la Estación, being any of these three perfect places to rest and relax outdoors.

Museo de Semana Santa

This museum is located in the Ermita de la Soledad. It is a building of the sixteenth century, which initially functioned as a site for the headquarters of the brotherhoods of the Holy Burial and the Santa Vera Cruz, until it was finally decided to transform it into a museum. Within its exhibition are located elements that are part of the heritage of the Holy Week of Benavente.

Monasterio Cisterciense de San Salvador

This magnificent temple founded in 1181 is commonly known as the Monastery of Santa Colomba. It functioned until after 1976 as the headquarters of the Cistercian Order of San Salvador de Benavente. Having undergone multiple rebuildings over the years, it currently retains only a few elements of the original building.

Plaza Mayor

This magnificent square is located in the center of the city. It serves as a meeting point for the people of Benavente, celebrating here the festivities and important events of the town. Among them are the festivity of the Veguilla, the Toro Enmaromad and the festive beginnings. In addition, around it is located the commercial area, with many pedestrian streets and full of establishments.

Jardines de la Rosaleda

This magnificent natural space known as “Jardines de La Rosaleda” is located very close to the Parador de Turismo of the city. As its name suggests, it is full of roses and other flowers, perfect for strolling while breathing tranquility on all four sides.

Jardines de la Mota

This beautiful garden, frequented by all Benaventanos, is one of the natural areas of the city. It is so named because it is located on top of an old castle-palace. The park, full of vegetation and paths, provides beautiful views of the banks of the rivers Órbigo and Esla. In addition, inside you can find a bandstand with paths that resemble a maze.

Iglesia de Santiago

On the occasion of the passage of the Camino de Santiago through the town of Benavente it was decided to create a temple in worship of Santiago, highlighting this for its careful decoration with Jacobean motifs. Inside this temple we will find beautiful stained glass windows decorated with care and a modern sculpture, very much in keeping with the general style of the temple.

Iglesia de Santa María de Azogue

It is one of the most important temples of Benavente, being undoubtedly the representative image of this town. Built in 1180, it owes its name to an Arabic word meaning “market”, as this was developed in the vicinity throughout the Middle Ages. It still preserves many elements of the period such as the floor plan, the chevet, five semicircular apses and two doorways.

Iglesia de San Juan del Mercado

This magnificent temple was begun in 1181 by order of Doña Eldoncia and financed by the Order of the Hospital San Juan, hence this is the saint who worships.

Its predominant style is Romanesque, structured in three naves with a large transept and a chevet decorated with three small apses of half orange. This great temple has nothing more than three impressive Romanesque covers made with a beautiful iconography collected under a pointed arch

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Hospital de Peregrinos de la Piedad

Its main function was to welcome pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago. It dates from the sixteenth century and is notable for its Renaissance frontispiece. composed of some Gothic elements such as a magnificent semicircular arch framed by an alfiz with vegetal ornamentation. In it is located a high relief of the Pietà, crowned by the Jacobean shell. Inside this hospital hides an inner courtyard surrounded by large windows, through which you can access the chapel of the Hospital.

Gran Teatro Reina Sofía

It is a beautiful building erected in 1928 by the architect Antonio García Sánchez-Blanco to replace the old Teatro del Jardinillo. One of its halls, known as the “Gran Teatro”, was built on some parts of what was the Convent of Santo Domingo, which had been disentailed some time ago.

Espadaña de la Ermita de San Lázaro

Unfortunately this is the only remains that could be recovered from the old hermitage of San Lazaro, popularly known by the name of El Calvario. Initially its main function was to house an old lazaretto or hostel, which housed people who had some kind of contagious disease.

Centro de Interpretación de los Ríos

This innovative interpretation center was inaugurated in 2010 with the intention of explaining the reason and characteristics of the region’s waterways. The building in which it is located is of recent construction and is divided into a magnificent floor, which in turn is subdivided into seven rooms, five with exhibitions and two that function to support the activity.

Arco del Puente del Jardín

It is located in the Entrecaños Park near the Sorribas Canal. It is currently the only element that remains standing of what was once an ancient medieval bridge, which linked the Sorribas Canal. This was erected in the 13th century and came to be composed of up to five arches.

Ermita de la Soledad

Built in the early sixteenth century at the request of Francisco Suarez and expanded in response to the growing devotion to the Virgen de la Soledad from 1679 in the area of Benavente. In the middle of the 19th century it underwent some reforms and was suddenly transformed into a hospital, whose function was to provide shelter and care for those affected by major epidemics. Its last use was to store the imagery heritage and the steps of the famous and great Holy Week of Benavente.

Casa Ramos

This farmhouse is another of the many examples of neo-Mudejar architecture in the area. It was built in 1900 by architect Santiago Madrigal Rodriguez and is popularly known as Casa Donci.

Casa del Cervato

Commonly known by the name of Casa de los Rodriguez, this building was built throughout the 19th century, undergoing numerous modifications from that time. It was built by order of Don José Rodríguez y Rodríguez to house his family. In the upper floors of the house, the windows are perfectly centered with uniform brick walls. Noble stone was used to frame the windows.

Casa de Soledad González

This farmhouse belonged to the bourgeoisie of Benavente during the early twentieth century. It was built by order of the important landowner and senator Don Felipe González Gómez in 1904. The architect Segundo Viloria Escarda was in charge of the design, using materials such as brick on the facades in order to put an end to the uniformity of the walls.

Casa de Manuel Grande

This house built in the early twentieth century stands out for its modernist style, designed by the architect Francisco Ferriol. In its corner it has a magnificent body of gazebos, using floral elements and garlands throughout the ornamentation, especially in the highest areas of the building.

Casa de la Cultura de la Encomienda

This beautiful farmhouse was designed by the architect Segundo Viloria Escarda in the last period of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the next. Two different structures can be seen, the access to the building is high and narrow, while its extension is long and low. It is formed by an elevated gate on a precious plinth of quartzite stone, thus enclosing the outer courtyard.

Casa Barrios

This farmhouse is one of the most outstanding civil constructions in Benavente. It dates from 1932 and was built to serve as a home for the great merchant Santiago Barrios, with his initials engraved on the facade. It is a typical bourgeois farmhouse, highlighting from its frontispiece its large balconies ornamented with striking tiles.

Capilla San Vicente de Paul

It is a beautiful nuns’ school whose construction began in 1956 and which achieved the classification of college in 1958. It consists of the residential building and a small chapel. In the gable there are three large stained glass windows that go from the second floor to the roof.