Soria information
Burgo de Osma information
The origins of El Burgo de Osma can be traced
back to a primitive pre-Roman civilization settlement of Úxama,
a place which centuries later would be submitted to Roman jurisdiction.
However, it was in the time of the Visigoths that the town began
to undergo a period of splendour, since in the 6th century A.
D. it became an Episcopal See until the arrival of the Arabs.
After the Arab domination, the city recovered its former status
as capital in the 12th century. The formation of the current nucleus
of El Burgo de Osma took place from the the year 1101, when bishop
Pedro de Bourges chose as the site of the cathedral a monastery
situated next to the river Ucero. This privileged situation was
to last for centuries, and in the Renaissance era the town even
had a university.
The old medieval structure is centred around the Cathedral. The
building, in the Gothic style, was built in 1232 over another
Romanesque building which had begun to be built in the time of
San Pedro de Osma. On the outside, several Renaissance additions
to its main façade can be seen, as well as a graceful baroque
tower built in 1739. The interior of the building conserves abundant
samples of original Romanesque art, as well as a beautiful Gothic
cloister. Among its most precious items are the high reredos,
a work by Juan de Juni, as well as the tomb in polychromatic stone
of the founder, San Pedro de Osma. In the sacristy you can see
a large collection of codexes, among which is the Commentary on
the Apocalypse by the Lay Brother of Liébana.
Next to the cathedral precinct is the Episcopal Palace, a building
with an interesting Gothic style main front. In the Calle Mayor
you can admire one of the most typical prints of El Burgo de Osma:
that of the old houses supported by porches with stone columns.
Also arcaded is the Plaza Mayor, where eighteenth century buildings
such as the Town Hall and the San Agustín hospital are located,
the latter having two towers with spires flanking its main facade.
The historic city walls were built by bishop Pedro de Montoya
in the 15th century. The San Miguel gate, which is still in place
is one of several which allow access to the medieval hamlet.
Outside the walls, is the University of Santa Catalina, from the
16th century. The building was constructed thanks to the patronage
of the Portuguese bishop Pedro Álvarez D'Acosta. Its Renaissance
main front bears the image of Santa Catalina, and there is also
a beautiful interior courtyard.
On the river Ucero there still remains the famous Roman bridge
and on a nearby hill the old Castle of Osma dominates the outskirts
of El Burgo. Its external precincts and the water tower date from
the second half of the 15th century, although there is evidence
of a previous fortress in the city in the 8th century, when this
town was on the border between Arab and Christian territory.
Oficina de Turismo: Plaza Mayor, 1
42300 El Burgo de Osma (Soria)
Tel. +34 975360116
Source: Web server of Instituto de Turismo de España, TURESPAÑA.