Villafufre: Architecture and wine tasting

A trip to Villafufre can focus on architectural history, religious art and wine experiences. Cultural highlights include the Palacio de los Escobedo in Escobedo de Villafufre, the Biblioteca Lope de Vega and distinctive architectural styles across the municipality. A vineyard and winery tour with a tasting is offered in San Martín de Villafufre.

Architectural styles and protected status

The Biblioteca Lope de Vega is in Vega and was Lope de Vega’s family home. Its façade is made of ashlar stone; the building has a square floor plan and two storeys. The Rollo Heráldico in Vega de Villafufre offers a different impression: it stands alone, is built of ashlar stone, has a circular layout and is crowned by an imperial eagle. It is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Monument category. The contrast between the square and circular floor plans makes for a direct comparison of their forms.

Palace, monastery and church art

The Palacio de los Escobedo in Escobedo de Villafufre dates from the 17th to 18th centuries. In Vega, Villafufre, is the Monasterio de La Canal, which is protected as a Bien de Interés Local in the category of immovable cultural heritage. The complex includes a Franciscan church and an 18th-century Conceptionist monastery. In the church, as well as in the arches opening on either side of the presbytery, are two funerary sculptures of the monastery’s founders, works by sculptor Gabriel de Rubalcaba. The Monasterio stands on a projecting slope halfway up an east-facing hill.

The church of Villafufre is known for its particularly noteworthy popular-style altarpieces. An altarpiece is a decorated structure behind an altar; here, church art offers a subject of interest in addition to the architecture.

Smaller features of rural heritage

Several enclosures in the municipality of Villafufre preserve very simple, sometimes solid-looking, round cubos in the form of small towers. The most representative examples are in the enclosure of a manor house in Vega, at the crossroads towards Saro. They are thought to date from the 18th century. These small features provide a different emphasis from the palace and monastery complex: they survive within enclosures and have a tower-like appearance.

Vineyard and winery tour

Bodega y Viñedo Señorío del Pas in San Martín de Villafufre offers a vineyard and winery tour with a tasting. The experience includes learning about how the grapes are grown and processed at the winery. The tasting concludes with the winery’s own wines and regional products.

Choose the focus of your trip

Interests vary: the cultural heritage includes architectural styles, historical periods and church art, while the wine tour focuses on cultivation, processing and tasting. If you are looking for a hotel in Villafufre, you can use these priorities to help plan your trip. Confirm your tour reservation before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Orejo, Corvera De Toranzo, Ruiloba, Marina De Cudeyo, Mazandrero, Selaya, Comillas, San Miguel de Meruelo

For the full travel overview: Cantabria.