Soria Province

For many decades Soria was frontier country between radically different cultures where understanding and tolerance was restricted to the most personal level; a fact that is still more than evident today by the presence of fortifications that, long sightless, stare back through the mists of time.

Soria is a land of castles. The long years of war that raged from the eighth to the eleventh centuries between Christians and Moors resulted in some of the most remarkable structures created by the warped genius of the human mind.

Even before, during the time of the Roman occupation, defensive structures were built that have survived the eons of wind and storm, sun and rain and the carelessness of successive generations. Nearly every town and village has a fortress, castle or early warning tower that, with the passage of time has been converted to a church, warehouse or town dwelling.

Some, built to cater for whole populations but now wholly deserted (except for the odd wandering archaeologist), are located in the most unexpected places, mute witnesses of history.

The momentous events that occurred during the 'reconquest', although of immense historical significance, are only part of the attraction. Soria is packed with beauty spots, monuments, hidden trails and beautifully preserved villages whose present-day guardians encourage traditional values and crafts.

The magnificent and mysterious ruined city of Numancia, located 7 km to the north of the capital Soria, is an especially fine example of the local inhabitant’s hopes and fears. It is said that here the entire population, instead of giving in to the hated Roman army, decided to end it all in mass suicide.

More information: http://www.ayto-soria.org/