Hotels in Zamora

Zamora is a small provincial city of around 66,000 on the banks of the Duero in Castile and León, and its claim to fame is stone: it holds one of the densest concentrations of Romanesque churches in Europe, earning it the nickname "the Romanesque city." The cathedral's scaled, Byzantine-influenced dome is the signature sight, backed by stretches of medieval wall, a castle and a long stone bridge over the river, with a scattering of Modernista facades in the centre for contrast.

Holy Week is the big event, with sombre, silent processions that are among the most respected in Spain and fill the town well beyond its usual pace. Be honest: outside Semana Santa it is very quiet, with an ageing population, limited nightlife and not much beyond a day or two of sightseeing, though the food, from Zamorano cheese to hearty Castilian roasts, rewards an unhurried visit. Stay in the old town between the Plaza Mayor and the cathedral, where almost every church and viewpoint is a short walk away.