El Burgo de Osma

El Burgo de Osma grew around its cathedral, begun in 1232 in Gothic style on the site of a Romanesque church, with a baroque tower of 1739 added later and a cloister and chapter house holding the cathedral museum. Its treasure is a Beatus, an illuminated copy of the Commentary on the Apocalypse produced in 1086 with vivid full-page miniatures, one of around thirty surviving Beatus manuscripts and among the better preserved. The town around it keeps long wooden-pillared arcades along the main street, a hospital facade of 1699, walls and a gate. Nearby stands the ruined castle of Osma on a hill and the Roman and Visigothic site of Uxama. The town is known for its autumn matanza food festival.

What you actually see

• The Beatus manuscript - an illuminated apocalypse commentary of 1086.
• The Gothic cathedral - a thirteenth-century building with a baroque tower.
• The wooden arcades - long colonnades along the main street.
• Uxama and Osma castle - Roman remains and a ruined fortress nearby.

When to go

April to June and September to November; the matanza food festival in autumn is the town's main event. The Soria plateau is very hot in summer and severely cold in winter. The cathedral museum keeps limited hours.

Honest expectations

The Beatus is displayed as a facsimile or in a limited opening, with the original kept under conservation conditions. Museum hours are short and guided access is required for parts. The town is small and quiet outside festival weekends.

Nearby

Gormaz castle lies south; the Rio Lobos canyon and Soria are north and east.