Zamora city guide

Santa Clara Street 

Santa Clara Street is the cities main artery, filled with quaint shops, charming bars, and restaurants. It is a pedestrian walkway that connects the center of the city with its historic center.

Santa Clara street will take you past one of the many emblematic churches in Zamora. The city features the largest concentration of churches and best-preserved Romanesque-style buildings in all of Europe. The Church of Santiago del Burgo, which has recently been restored, is located opposite the Plaza de la Constitución. It is quite small and can be accessed for free.

Palacio de Los Momos

Towards the end of Santa Clara Street, near the famous Plaza Zorrilla, you will find the Palacio de los Momos. This historic building today serves as the Palace of Justice. The building dates back to the 15th century and it features a beautiful door ornamented with shields and floral details worthy of admiration.

Balborraz Street 

Balborraz street is one of the most charming corners of the city. This street is quite a steep hill with very characteristic and colorful buildings where there are artisan shops and bars. Since the 10th-century Balborraz street has been a haven for all types of artisans: blacksmiths, woodworkers, carpenters, etc.

If you are animated and eager, go down to the end of the street observing each balcony and colored facade, you will surely discover small shops that without that little effort you could not see them.

Plaza Mayor 

The Plaza Mayor is the heart of the city. It features an attractive church in the middle. The Church of San Juan, in addition to being in the middle of the square, has the statue of Merlú next to it. The Merlú consists of two people, one with a trumpet and another who plays the drum.

Palacio Doña Urraca 

Behind the Church of San Juan – located in the Plaza Mayor – and going down Calle la Reina a few meters away you arrive at the Puerta and Palacio de Doña Urraca. If you arrive at the palace from here, you might not immediately appreciate the building’s beauty. Make sure to go through the arch and enjoy the external face of both the door and the wall that it finds very well preserved.

Plaza Viriato 

The Plaza de Viriato is named after the statue of Viriato located in the center. Viriato was a shepherd, later a Lusitanian warrior who, in the second century BC, fought and faced the expansion of Rome.

To the left of the square is a viewpoint of the city, with views from the wall. From this view you can see Herreros street – the city’s party area – and the Zamora museum that we recommend you visit if you have time. In it are archaeological remains from different periods found in the province.

Zamora Cathedral 

The cathedral is the most emblematic site in the city. It isn’t your typical cathedral its dome is small and it is not as impressive as the one in Salamanca, for example, but it is different, smaller, and without much decoration.

Romanesque art emerged and spread almost simultaneously throughout Europe in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries AD, but Spanish Romanesque is one of the richest and most varied that we can find in Europe. Specifically, in the Cathedral of Zamora, its original dome is striking.

The cathedral opening hours:

During Spring and Summer: 10:00 – 14:00 and 17: 00-20: 00

Autumn – Winter: 10:00 – 14:00 and 16: 30-19: 00

Ticket prices 

Price: Adult € 5 / Students € 3 / Children up to 12 years Free

Zamora Castle 

The cities castle dates from the 11th century and was an important point for many centuries given its location. So much so that the re-conquest of Zamora from the Arabs is recounted as a significant blow of great historical importance for centuries.

Strolling through the large Gardens surrounded by the wall, enjoying the views of the Douro and the city is one of the pleasures of this place.

Opening hours of the Castle of Zamora:

October – April: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. / May – August: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Price: Free