# Sunday in Covarrubias and Silos: the Keep, Olla Podrida and Gregorian Chant Covarrubias and its keep in the morning, olla podrida on the square, the La Yecla gorge and the Silos cloister in the afternoon, and the monks' vespers before heading home. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/castile-and-leon/covarrubias-and-silos/itineraries/covarrubias-and-silos-keep-olla-podrida-and-gregorian-chant · Revisado: 2026-11-12 ## El día - 09:45 · Salida: 45 min by car (from Burgos via the N-234 towards Soria, about 40 km) - 10:30 · Old Town and the Collegiate Church of San Cosme y San Damián (Plaza de Doña Urraca and collegiate church · 1 h · cloister and museum €4) - 2 min on foot - 11:45 · Fernán González Tower and Siege Weapons (Keep and siege weapons, guided at 12:00 · €6) - 2 min on foot - 14:00 · Casa Galín (Casa Galín · olla podrida (hearty stew) and lamb · €€ · booking required) · Casa Galín, €€ - 13 min by car, 7,9 km - 16:00 · Ruins of the Monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza (Ruins of San Pedro de Arlanza, on the way · 30 min · free) - 30 min by car, 25,9 km - 16:45 · Romanesque Cloister, Apothecary and Museum of Silos Monastery (Cloister, apothecary and museum · 45 min · €4) - 5 min by car, 3 km - 17:45 · La Yecla Gorge by the Walkways (La Yecla walkways · 30 min · free) - 5 min by car, 3 km - 19:00 · Vespers with Gregorian Chant in the Church at Silos (Gregorian vespers · 30 min · free) - 19:45 · Vuelta (you reach Burgos around 20:45, about 60 km) This Sunday joins the two villages in the Arlanza valley that almost everyone visits separately. Covarrubias in the morning, with its collegiate church and the keep of Count Fernán González; a long lunch of olla podrida on the square; and the afternoon in Silos, with the La Yecla gorge, the Romanesque cloister and, if you can hold out until seven, the vespers sung by the monks. From Burgos it is 40 minutes out and under an hour back. ## The Day, Hour by Hour 9:45 · Departure. From Burgos, along the N-234 towards Soria and the Covarrubias turn-off: about 40 km. Park next to the Arlanza, outside the old town. 10:30 · Covarrubias and the collegiate church. Enter by the wall arch and climb to Plaza de Doña Urraca, with its arcades and half-timbered houses. Go first to the collegiate church of San Cosme and San Damián: in winter, on Sundays it only opens until 12:30. Inside are the tombs of Fernán González and his wife and, in the cloister, the sacred art museum and the tomb of Princess Kristina of Norway. Cloister and museum, €4. 11:45 · The keep. A few steps away, the keep of Fernán González holds an exhibition of siege machines. There is a guided visit at 12:00, for €2 on top of the €6 admission; children aged 5 to 12 pay €3.50. Afterwards, a stroll along the streets behind the square until lunchtime. 14:00 · Lunch at Casa Galín. On Plaza de Doña Urraca itself. Order the olla podrida, the red-bean stew with pork meats that is Covarrubias's dish, and roast lamb as a main if you are hungry. Wine from the DO Arlanza. On Sundays it is open at midday and closed at night; book by phone. 16:00 · San Pedro de Arlanza. 6 km along the BU-905, the ruins of the monastery where the legend of the count begins. Admission is free; in winter it is open until 16:45. Note: it closes on the second weekend of each month. 16:45 · The Silos cloister. Continue to Silos, about 20 minutes. On Sunday afternoons the cloister is open from 16:00 to 18:00: two storeys of Romanesque arches, the monks' pharmacy and the museum. €4, free for under-12s. 17:45 · La Yecla. Leave Silos for 3 km along the BU-910 to the car park, at the exit of the tunnels. The gorge's walkways are done in a quarter of an hour, between limestone walls and vultures. In November and December it gets dark early: if you are short of light, do La Yecla before the cloister. 19:00 · Vespers. In the abbey church, the monks sing vespers in Gregorian chant. Arrive a few minutes early and sit in silence. 19:45 · Return. You reach Burgos in about an hour. ## With Children The keep and La Yecla are what they like most: the siege machines and the walkways between rocks. La Yecla has steps and is not for pushchairs. If they are small, swap San Pedro de Arlanza for Territorio Artlanza, a hand-built medieval village that you walk through, and leave the vespers for another day. ## With Dogs Along the streets of Covarrubias and Silos, on a lead, no problem. They are not allowed in the collegiate church, the keep or the cloister, and at La Yecla, inside the natural park, check the rules before going. ## Cómo llegar ### By car Burgos to Covarrubias, about 40 minutes; Covarrubias to Silos, about 25, passing San Pedro de Arlanza; Silos to Burgos, about an hour. From Palencia or Valladolid, via Lerma, in an hour and a half or less. ## Consejos ### Start with the collegiate church In winter, on Sundays it closes at 12:30 and does not reopen in the afternoon. ### Book Casa Galín Sunday lunch is the one that fills up most. ### Wear shoes that grip At La Yecla, the steps and walkways can be wet or icy in winter. ## Un consejo más ### If it rains Covarrubias, the collegiate church, the keep and the Silos cloister are under cover or under arcades. Leave La Yecla for another day. ## Cuándo no ir The second Sunday of each month, if you want to see San Pedro de Arlanza, and Tuesdays, if you are thinking of another day: the collegiate church and Casa Galín are closed. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How long does it take from Burgos? About 40 minutes to Covarrubias and around an hour from Silos to Burgos. ### What is open in Covarrubias on a Sunday? The collegiate church in the morning, the keep from 11:30 to 14:30 from October to December, and the San Olav chapel from 11:30 to 13:30, except from December to February. ### What time are vespers in Silos? At 19:00 every day. On Sundays, the conventual Mass is at 11:00. ### How much does the day cost? Between €35 and €55 per person: about €14 in tickets and lunch. ### Is it a good plan with children? Yes, with the keep, La Yecla and the cloister, which is free for under-12s.