What to do · Aguilar de Campoo and the Romanesque of Palencia
Santa María la Real Monastery and the ROM Museum
Information
- Price
- Self-guided ROM visit €4.50 · guided €7.50
- Duration
- 1 h
- Season
- All year; in winter, guided visits by reservation
- Who it's for
- Everyone
Santa María la Real is on the way out of Aguilar on the Cervera road, a kilometre from Plaza de España. It was a monastery of Premonstratensian canons and is now the seat of the Fundación Santa María la Real, the institution that has spent decades studying and restoring the Romanesque of northern Palencia. The same building houses a secondary school, which is why the hours change in mid-September, when the school year starts.
Cloister, church and the ROM
The visit has two parts. The first is the cloister, from the 12th and 13th centuries, with capitals of plant and fantastic motifs that deserve to be taken slowly, and the monastery church. The second is the ROM, Románico y Territorio (Romanesque and Territory), the exhibition centre that has occupied the old sacristy and the church since 2006. It shows what life was like in a medieval town and displays wooden models of churches in the region and one of the merindad of Aguilar, which works as a map for deciding what to see next.
If you are going to spend a day or two on Palencia's Romanesque, start here: afterwards you recognise at Olleros, Mave or Cantamuda what you saw in the models.
Self-guided or with a guide
The self-guided visit to the ROM costs €4.50. The guided one lasts about 50 minutes and costs €7.50; it is the one that explains the cloister and the one we recommend if it is your first time. On winter Wednesdays, from 18:00 to 20:00, entry is free.
Opening hours by season
- 13 September to 8 December: Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00, with guided visits every hour.
- 9 December to 14 March: Tuesday to Friday, from 16:00 to 19:30; Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:30. Guided visits need a reservation; at weekends they leave at 11:00, 12:30, 16:30 and 18:00.
- Closures: several individual days between 24 and 31 December and from 11 to 17 January.
At Easter and in summer it opens every day, morning and afternoon; confirm the exact dates on the booking phone, 979 12 30 53.
Eat and sleep without moving
In the same complex is the Posada Santa María la Real, with its restaurant, La Posada by Seasons. To continue the day, the castle and old quarter of Aguilar are fifteen minutes' walk away, and the rock-cut hermitage of Olleros 6 km.
Tips
- Book the guided visit in winter Between December and March guided visits only run by reservation: call before going even at weekends.
- Midweek, in the afternoon From Tuesday to Friday in winter it only opens in the afternoon; if you arrive in the morning, start with the castle and leave the monastery until after lunch.
- Before the churches Go to the ROM before touring the region's churches: the models help you choose which to visit.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the ROM visit take?
The guided one, about 50 minutes. Self-guided you go at your own pace; allow at least an hour if you want to see the cloister and models at leisure.
How much does entry cost?
€4.50 for the self-guided ROM visit and €7.50 for the guided one.
Do I need to book at the ROM?
In winter, for the guided visit, yes. In high season it is advisable, especially for groups.
Is it open on Mondays?
In winter, no: from December to March it opens Tuesday to Sunday. From September to early December it only opens at weekends and on public holidays.
Is there a free day?
On winter Wednesdays from 18:00 to 20:00 entry is free.
Are there activities for children?
The foundation organises dramatised visits and routes on special dates, such as Easter; ask on the booking phone what is scheduled.
As a familyWith teenagers
