Guided Tour of the Streets of Pedraza

Pedraza's municipal tourist office, at calle Real, 3, organises guided tours of the town's streets. They last about 50 minutes and cost €4 per person. They are the most comfortable way to understand a village that can be walked in a short time but has many centuries behind it, and a good first activity if you arrive without having read anything.

What the tour tells you

The Town Council describes it as a guided tour of the town's streets and does not publish a fixed itinerary, so the route may vary. What there is to see inside the wall is very close together. The Puerta de la Villa is the only way in and out of Pedraza, with black poplar wood doors and the coat of arms of the Fernández de Velasco family, lords of the town for four centuries; it was a defensive tower and a jail until 1890. The Plaza Mayor, irregular and surrounded by manor houses with 16th- and 17th-century coats of arms, has been a bullring during the festivals since 1550. In it is San Juan Bautista, Romanesque from the 13th century and the only church open for worship. Towards the castle are the tower of Santa María; in the old Jewish quarter, Santo Domingo, now the cultural centre of the Fundación Villa de Pedraza, and on the other side, the Pozo de las Hontanillas, a 15-metre cistern inside a detached tower, and the Casa de la Inquisición, with its coat of arms of a cross, palm and sword. The wall has existed since at least the 11th century.

Hours and booking

The office is usually open Wednesday to Sunday. It does not publish fixed times for the tours, which change with the season, so the best thing is to call 921 508 666 beforehand or write to [email protected] to find out what time they leave and book a place; the Town Council recommends booking by phone. It also does not publish whether there are tours in other languages or a minimum number of people: ask when you book. It is suitable for all ages.

Getting there and parking

Pedraza is about 40 km from Segovia and 130 km from Madrid. You leave the car in the village car park, next to the hermitage of San Pedro, and go in on foot through the Puerta de la Villa. On event days capacity is limited. By public transport there is only a bus to Segovia on Tuesdays and Fridays, with times designed for residents.

What to combine it with

If you then want to see something inside, the Town Jail is at the Puerta de la Villa itself and the castle at the other end of calle Mayor. To repeat the route at your own pace, follow the walk around the walled town. For lunch, the Plaza Mayor has El Soportal and Casa Taberna.