The historical past of this Soria and riverside town, which is called Alcubilla de Avellaneda, can be summarised around two essential elements: the Roman road and the stately home of the Avellaneda family:

• The oldest traces of population in Alcubilla are to be found in the so-called Senda de los Moros, which, paradoxically, are the remains of the Roman road that linked Uxama (now Osma) with the town of Clunia in Burgos.
• The Avellaneda family was an important noble family settled in the lands of Ribera del Duero since the 14th century. They were the ones who gave their surname to Alcubilla, as until the 16th century this town was called Alcubilla de la Pinilla. The Palacio de los Avellaneda, a beautiful manor house built around 1575 by a minor branch of this lineage, bears witness to the passing of this family in Alcubilla. It is currently owned by the Town Hall and houses a restaurant.

In times gone by, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar passed through these lands during his exile, Alcubilla de Avellaneda being the first town on his journey through Soria, which is why two of the stages of the Camino del Cid pass through here (one for hiking and the other for cycling). It also forms part of the Ruta de la Lana, a trade route that transported wool from La Alcarria and cloth from Cuenca, honey and cereal to Medina del Campo and Burgos, and which today crosses the town until it reaches Mecerreyes (Burgos), being one of the points of passage for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela.

For many years Alcubilla has been known as“the village of the hundred fountains“. There is currently a 13 km route that runs along 18 signposted and restored fountains out of the more than 100 that exist in the municipality.

The parish church is dedicated to La Magdalena and there is also a hermitage, the Santo Cristo del Campillo, in Renaissance style with a rectangular floor plan, which was enlarged in 1775.

One of the old wine presses in the village (dating from the first half of the 19th century) has been restored and converted into an Oenological Museum to preserve and show how wine was made until not so long ago. Let’s not forget that we are in the Ribera del Duero… And along the same lines, you can also visit a vineyard guard, which was a stone hut, generally with a circular floor plan and a false dome, used by the hired guard to watch over the vineyards from the time the fruit ripened until the end of the harvest.

One of the greatest natural riches of Alcubilla de Avellaneda are its centuries-old holm oaks, with many specimens in good condition. From the “Cierra la Cuesta” viewpoint you can enjoy the fantastic views offered by this great little riverside village.

The typical dish in Alcubilla de Avellaneda is “caldereta de machorra” and, for dessert, “florones con miel”.

It is said that a yoke of oxen disappeared in Alcubilla de Avellaneda: this is the so-called Cueva de los Ojos (Cave of the Eyes). It is said that the Queen’s necklace is hidden there, although it is not known which sovereign it is. It is also said that in the Prado de Santa María, during the War of Independence, the French were taken there to sink into the quagmire and disappear forever.

The main festivals are “Las Candelas” (3 February), Santa María Magdalena, patron saint of the town (22 July) and the festival of Santo Cristo del Campillo (September). In August, the Jornadas Culturales (Cultural Days) are also held.

Gentilio de Alcubilla de Avellaneda: alcubillenses / alcubillanos.