11 kilometres from San Esteban de Gormaz, in the direction of Soria, we find this town located under a peculiar conical hill pierced by numerous wineries, which is why it is considered to be the starting point for the cultivation of vineyards belonging to the Ribera del Duero denomination of origin.

According to historical references, on the conical hill of Alcubilla there used to be a fortification of Muslim origin, of which hardly any remains remain. The so-called Alcubilla del Marqués tower was located on this hill, an enclave suitable for the settlement of this type of medieval communication structure due to its strategic nature and visual control with other similar towers. This tower may have been destroyed during the raids carried out by Abderramán III at the end of the 10th century. At the top of the hill, a circular shape can be seen, lowered in the centre, with no apparent construction remains on the surface, remains that may have been used for the construction of the cellars that populate the hillside. The Alcubilla tower is protected as an “Asset of Cultural Interest”.

The village is a Cidian site, since after crossing Alcubilla del Marqués, El Cid and his troops entered the “no man’s land”, a frontier area between Christians and Muslims under the influence of the King of Castile, Alfonso VI. The truth is that El Cantar del Mío Cid points to Alcubilla del Marqués as the end of Castile, although, in practice, Castilian influence extended much further south.

In Alcubilla del Marqués we can find:

• Ethnographic Museum: has been housed in the old Town Hall building since 1981. We find farming implements and tools for making wine and bread, as well as rural rooms with other tools related to the old trades of the area.
• Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción: a temple rebuilt in Gothic style although it was originally Romanesque. Inside it houses an interesting Gothic altarpiece with paintings and the image of a virgin known as De la Piedra, as tradition has it that she was found on a stone in the nearby spot of El Cerro.
• Wine cellars in El Cerro: This spot, with its characteristic conical elevation next to the village, is completely perforated and occupied by underground wine cellars (106 in total) and wine presses. Vineyards belonging to the Ribera del Duero denomination of origin begin to be cultivated here.

As well as its cultural heritage, you can go hiking and cycle touring in this municipality in Soria along the Cidiana Route that passes through this town.

Alcubilla del Marqués celebrates its patron saint’s fiestas in honour of San Lorenzo (August).

Locals from Alcubilla del Marqués: alcubillenses / alcubillanos. Nickname: botoneros, because of the abundance of a type of thyme (similar to camomile) that has the shape of a button.

El Burgo de Osma Tourist Office:

Plaza Mayor, 4, 42300 El Burgo de Osma (Soria)

Telephone: 975 360 116

burgosturismo@dipsoria.es

Opening hours: from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00 h (Monday and Tuesday closed)