Lomas: Birdlife, Church Art and History
Accommodation in Lomas
When planning a trip to Lomas, two themes stand out: birdwatching along the Ruta Ornitológica de la ZEPA and church art and local history. You can plan your trip around whether you want to focus on birdlife, historic buildings and artworks, or a combination of these interests.
Birdlife and viewpoints
The entire Ruta Ornitológica de la ZEPA lies within the “Camino de Santiago” Special Protection Area for Birds. The section through Lomas de Campos offers opportunities to spot great bustards, peregrine falcons, little bustards, lesser kestrels and Montagu’s harriers. This makes the route a specific destination for visitors interested in birdlife.
The Mirador de Lomas de Campos was inaugurated in 2011 next to the former church of San Cristóbal. It is part of the “Vigías del Mar de Campos” viewpoint route in Tierra de Campos. The exhibition in the Torre-Mirador de Lomas de Campos aims to raise awareness of the landscape of Tierra de Campos, the stars and birdlife. The viewpoint and exhibition thus complement the views of nature with a connection to the landscape and the night sky.
Churches and works of art
The first documented mention of the parish church of San Cristóbal in Lomas appears in a deed issued by Alfonso VI on 25 November 1093. The church of San Cristóbal in Lomas de Campos houses 16th-century polychrome wooden sculptures of Saint Anne and Saint Christopher. Historic details have also been preserved on the vaults: they feature 17th-century coats of arms associated with the Farjado, Lomas and Guevara families.
Another place to visit is the Capilla de Santa Ana. The year it was built, 1957, is inscribed above the entrance in Roman numerals as MCMLVII. A very old polychrome wooden sculpture of Saint Anne was returned to its place above the main altar after restoration on 12 June 2011; its provenance is unknown. The chapel’s small bell is the only surviving relic of the four bells from the old bell tower of San Cristóbal.
The dovecotes, known as palomares, also shape the area’s cultural heritage. The dovecotes in Lomas de Campos and other towns in Tierra de Campos represent a distinctive form of vernacular architecture in the province. They add another facet of the region’s architectural heritage alongside its churches and chapels.
History, directions and festival calendar
Local remembrance of the Battle of Golpejera is associated with Lomas and Villarmentero de Campos, on the left-hand side of the Way of St. James. The Fuente Muñoz spring commemorates the area where the battle took place. The ornithological route also includes a spring at the site of the former settlement of Fuente Muñoz. Here, a nature trail and local historical memory meet.
The traditional festival calendar includes a summer festival on the feast day of Saint Anne and another festival on the third weekend in September. The specific program may vary from year to year. If you would like to plan your trip around one of these festivals, check the dates for the relevant year.
From Palencia, take the C-615 to Villoldo, then the P-981 towards Santillana. Lomas is four kilometers from Villoldo, before Villalcázar de Sirga. Check current signs and road conditions before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Las Heras de la Peña, Ledigos, Tarilonte De La Peña, Triollo, Monzón De Campos, Velilla Del Río Carrión, Cordovilla La Real, Vidrieros.
For the broader travel guide: Palencia.
