Palencia

By · Castilla y León, 🇪🇸 Spania

Palencia is a quiet provincial capital in Castilla y León, about 45 km north of Valladolid, on the Carrión river. Its main sight is the cathedral, known as "La Bella Desconocida" (the unknown beauty) because few visitors know it, with Gothic architecture and a rich interior.

On a hill above the city, a 30-meter statue of Cristo del Otero looks over the plain. The city is compact and walkable, and a base for the Romanesque churches and the Canal de Castilla of the province.

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Beste reisetidspunkt

Spring and autumn are the best times. Summers are hot and dry, and winters are cold with frost. The Fiestas de San Antolín, in early September, are the main festival, with bulls, concerts and fairs.

Semana Santa processions are held in spring.

Beste tid å besøke: mai, juni, juli, august, september

Velg en måned

Typisk vær i januar

Dårlig

9° (føles som 4°) · ekstremer -4°–14°
0° om natten
10 regnværsdager
6 soldager
4 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Lett bris
UV-indeks 1 · lav

Typisk vær i februar

Dårlig

11° (føles som 6°) · ekstremer -4°–17°
1° om natten
7 regnværsdager
9 soldager
5 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Lett bris
UV-indeks 2 · lav

Typisk vær i mars

Brukbart

14° (føles som 10°) · ekstremer -2°–21°
2° om natten
10 regnværsdager
11 soldager
6 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Lett bris
UV-indeks 4 · moderat

Typisk vær i april

Brukbart

17° (føles som 13°) · ekstremer -1°–24°
5° om natten
11 regnværsdager
13 soldager
8 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Lett bris
UV-indeks 5 · moderat

Typisk vær i mai

Ypperlig

21° (føles som 18°) · ekstremer 3°–28°
8° om natten
10 regnværsdager
15 soldager
9 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Lett bris
UV-indeks 6 · høy

Typisk vær i juni

Ypperlig

26° (føles som 24°) · ekstremer 6°–34°
12° om natten
7 regnværsdager
17 soldager
11 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Lett bris
UV-indeks 7 · høy

Typisk vær i juli

Ypperlig

29° (føles som 27°) · ekstremer 9°–35°
14° om natten
4 regnværsdager
24 soldager
12 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Lett bris
UV-indeks 8 · svært høy

Typisk vær i august

Ypperlig

30° (føles som 27°) · ekstremer 10°–36°
14° om natten
4 regnværsdager
23 soldager
11 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Lett bris
UV-indeks 7 · høy

Typisk vær i september

Ypperlig

25° (føles som 22°) · ekstremer 7°–31°
11° om natten
6 regnværsdager
18 soldager
9 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Lett bris
UV-indeks 5 · moderat

Typisk vær i oktober

Bra

20° (føles som 16°) · ekstremer 3°–27°
8° om natten
10 regnværsdager
12 soldager
6 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Lett bris
UV-indeks 3 · moderat

Typisk vær i november

Dårlig

13° (føles som 8°) · ekstremer -2°–19°
4° om natten
11 regnværsdager
7 soldager
4 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Lett bris
UV-indeks 2 · lav

Typisk vær i desember

Dårlig

9° (føles som 5°) · ekstremer -3°–14°
1° om natten
9 regnværsdager
6 soldager
4 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Lett bris
UV-indeks 1 · lav

Klimadata: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Hovedseverdigheter

Catedral de San Antolín is a 14th-16th century cathedral with a Visigothic crypt, a rich altarpiece and a museum.
Cristo del Otero is a 30-meter statue of Christ on a hill above the city, with a small museum in the base.
Museo Catedralicio is the cathedral museum, with tapestries and paintings.
The Iglesia de San Miguel is a Gothic church, where El Cid is said to have married.
The Iglesia de San Francisco and the Iglesia de San Lázaro are old churches in the center.
The Museo Díaz Caneja is a museum of a local painter.
The Calle Mayor is a long pedestrian street with arcades, shops and cafés.

Utvalgte lister

Rowanwindwhistler / cc-by-sa-3.0

Palencia Highlights

The cathedral known as "the unknown beauty", the monumental Cristo del Otero and the museums, churches and bridges of Castile's quiet provincial capital.

17 steder

Opplevelser verdt å få med seg

Visit the cathedral and its crypt.
Walk up to the Cristo del Otero for the views.
Stroll along the Calle Mayor and have tapas.
Cycle or walk on the Canal de Castilla.
Visit a Romanesque church in the province.

Turer og aktiviteter

Palencia – Kart

Dagsturer

Valladolid (about 45 km): the regional capital.
Burgos (about 90 km): a Gothic cathedral.
León (about 120 km): a cathedral with stained glass.
Baños de Cerrato (about 20 km): a Visigothic church dated 661.
Canal de Castilla: a historic canal with walking and cycling paths.
Salamanca (about 170 km): a university city.

Steder å utforske

Other places nearby:

Castilla y León: Valladolid, Burgos, León and Salamanca.
Madrid region: Madrid and Segovia.

Reise dit

By train: High-speed AVE and Alvia trains link Palencia with Madrid in about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, and with León, Valladolid and Burgos. Book on Renfe.
By air: Valladolid airport is about 45 km away. Madrid-Barajas is about 250 km.
By bus: Buses connect to nearby cities.
By car: The A-62 and A-67 motorways.

Komme seg rundt

On foot: The center is flat and compact, and all main sights are walkable.
Cycling: Flat, with bike paths along the river.
Taxi and bus: Local buses and taxis are available.

Kjøring

Is a car worth it?: Not for the city, but useful for the province's churches and the canal.
Parking: Paid parking in the center, with free options on the edge.
Roads: Roads are good and traffic is light.

Mat og drikke

Palencia's food is hearty Castilian cooking. Try lechazo asado (roast lamb), morcilla (blood sausage), cordero, pimientos rellenos and the quesos (cheese) of the region. The Cerrato area makes rosados (rosé wines), and the typical sweet is the rosquilla and mantecados.

Frokost

Churros Churros con ChocolateFried dough sticks served with a thick, dark hot chocolate for dipping — a classic Spanish breakfast or late-night snack.

Lunsj

Paella ValencianaA saffron-scented rice dish cooked in a wide, shallow pan. The traditional Valencian version uses chicken, rabbit, and green beans — best eaten at midday.

GazpachoA cold, blended soup of raw tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar, originally from Andalusia. Served as a drink or a starter, especially in summer.

Middag

Pulpo a la GallegaBoiled octopus sliced onto a wooden board and dressed with olive oil, coarse salt, and smoked paprika — a signature dish of Galicia.

Småretter og gatemat

Jamón IbéricoDry-cured ham from acorn-fed Iberian pigs, sliced paper-thin and eaten on its own or with bread. The finest grade, jamón ibérico de bellota, is one of Spain's most prized products.

Tortilla EspañolaA thick potato and egg omelette, served warm or at room temperature, found in virtually every bar in Spain. Often eaten as a tapa or a quick meal.

Patatas BravasFried potato chunks served with a spicy tomato sauce or aioli — one of the most common tapas across the country.

PintxosSmall snacks anchored to slices of bread with a toothpick, the Basque Country's answer to tapas. Found in bar counters across San Sebastián and Bilbao, often with elaborate toppings.

CroquetasCrispy breaded cylinders with a creamy béchamel filling, typically made with jamón, bacalà (salt cod), or mushrooms.

Drikke

Rioja Wine Vino de RiojaSpain's best-known wine region produces full-bodied reds from Tempranillo grapes, aged in oak. The crianza, reserva, and gran reserva labels indicate increasing age and complexity.

Sikkerhet og helse

Palencia is a safe city. Winter can be cold with ice, so dress warmly. The steps at the Cristo del Otero can be wet and slippery.

Historie

Palencia was a Celtiberian and Roman town, and in 1208 the first university of Spain was founded here, though it later moved to Salamanca. The Visigothic crypt of San Antolín dates to the 7th century.

The cathedral was built from the 14th to the 16th century, and the Canal de Castilla, built in the 18th and 19th centuries, brought trade to the area.