Roa de Duero sits on the top of a hill overlooking the Duero river valley. For more than 2,500 years this place has been marked by the civilisations that have settled here: this is the case of its splendid Celtiberian past or the later Roman occupation, the ancient “Rauda“, which formed part of the road that linked Clunia and Astorga.

Nowadays, Roa de Duero, with 2,500 inhabitants, is considered the Heart of La Ribera, although without leaving aside the representation of Peñafiel, San Esteban de Gormaz and Aranda de Duero, in Roa the world of wine has become a fundamental part of the cultural and economic development of the area. The headquarters of the Regulatory Council of the Ribera del Duero Denomination of Origin is located here, and its facilities are steeped in history.

Historically, its main bridge, with three semicircular arches and a generous width, welcomed visitors. An essential visit when passing through the town are the monuments on offer, such as the 16th century former collegiate church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, the remains of the medieval wall dating from the 13th century and the monument to “El Empecinado”, the famous guerrilla fighter who was hanged in Roa de Duero in 1825, the date until which he was imprisoned in the alhóndiga building.

Another treasure of the town of Roa del Duero is its district of underground wine cellars, concentrated in the town centre, which brings together a great ethnographic heritage: no more and no less than 155 wine presses and 238 wine cellars, one of the largest in the Ribera del Duero.

As a protected archaeological area, the interactive tour of the Roa Archaeological Park is entertaining and interesting, taking the visitor back to distant times. You can also enjoy a walk around the splendid viewpoint of the “Balcón del Duero”, which offers an unbeatable panoramic view, a walk where you will find interesting elements such as a 14th century bombard or the bronze monument to Cardinal Cisneros, another illustrious figure linked to the history of Roa. Another of Roa de Duero’s representative monuments is the monument to the grape harvester.

Also worthy of note is the San Roque Chapel, built in the mid-18th century and dedicated to the town’s patron saint, and the Nuestra Señora de la Vega Chapel, patron saint of the town and located 4 km from the town centre. Not forgetting the Church of San Esteban, in the southeast of the hill, safeguarding the ancient walls.

But Roa is also nature, allowing hikers to enjoy the GR-14 on the banks of the Duero and the Cuesta Manvirgo path, a hill that watches over the lands of Roa, where vine cultivation predominates. Furthermore, in the vicinity of the Virgen de la Vega hermitage you can visit the unique native tree called “Majuelo de la Vega”. And if we are talking about rivers, the Riaza, one of the great riverside tributaries of the Duero on its left bank, flows into this municipality. We also find the “Cuesta Manvirgo”, a path full of life and nature.

Roa celebrates its patron saint’s fiestas in honour of San Roque and Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (mid-August), renowned for its ancient bull runs. During Holy Week, traditionally Castilian, the whole town sings “Los Sayones”, a song that recounts the passion and death of Jesus, attributed to Lope de Vega in the 16th century. They also celebrate San Blas (3 February) and San Cristóbal (9 July).

Roa de Duero has a TOURISM OFFICE for visitors.