Pomar De Valdivia: Church, Necropolis and Cultural History

Pomar De Valdivia is the destination. In Porquera de los Infantes, the church, with architectural elements from several centuries, and the Necropolis of San Millán represent the local cultural heritage; the Vuelta a Monte Bernorio route passes through the village. Architecture, archaeology and landscape each offer a distinct perspective. If you are looking for a hotel, these themes can help you decide what to focus on during your stay.

Santa María de la O: Building History Spanning Several Centuries

The church in Porquera de los Infantes is dedicated to Santa María de la O and dates mainly from the 18th century. Its Gothic portal, by contrast, dates from the 15th century and is decorated with archivolts. Archivolts are the moulded bands that adorn the portal arch.

The Romanesque baptismal font also points to an earlier era: it was created by a local master in the 13th century. This makes it possible to distinguish the main structure, portal and baptismal font by period. The history of the village is revealed here not through a single construction date, but through several successive centuries.

For travellers interested in culture, this contrast is a particularly concrete point of reference: the church is predominantly an 18th-century building, while the portal and baptismal font clearly reflect much older styles and dates of origin. Those interested in medieval architecture or Romanesque baptismal fonts will find different themes brought together in a single church building.

The Necropolis of San Millán

Near the village centre, in the San Millán area, lies a medieval necropolis. It comprises almost twenty anthropomorphic graves carved into a sandstone outcrop. Anthropomorphic means that the shapes of the graves are based on the human form. Some of the graves are children's graves.

The necropolis was associated with the Temple of San Millán, which has since disappeared. This connection adds the history of the religious setting to the archaeological site: the graves carved into the sandstone are visible; the temple once associated with them no longer exists. Alongside the Church of Santa María de la O, San Millán offers a different perspective on local history.

Village Setting and Orientation

The houses of Porquera de los Infantes are built of dressed stone and rubble masonry, arranged radially around the square. The radial layout means that the square is the focal point, with the houses oriented towards it. The materials used and the layout of the village give its appearance two clearly recognisable features: stone construction and an orientation towards the square.

In the village centre there is a large water basin with a fountain and, close by, an old washhouse. Both add tangible features of the village setting to its historic buildings. As they explore the village, visitors can therefore take in not only the church and funerary architecture, but also the layout around the square and the buildings mentioned in the centre.

San Román and the Vuelta a Monte Bernorio Route

San Román is a rock hermitage at the foot of Monte Bernorio, in the area around Porquera de los Infantes. It broadens the cultural and historical perspective to include another religious site, whose location at the foot of the mountain is specifically highlighted in the description. Together with Santa María de la O and the Necropolis of San Millán, San Román shows that the cultural themes are not limited to a single type of building.

The Vuelta a Monte Bernorio route passes through Porquera de los Infantes. At the entrance to the village, you can visit the small necropolis. The stretch leading into the village runs through a cultural landscape of fields. Thus, along the same named route, visitors can take in both an archaeological point of interest and the landscape on the way to Porquera.

Discover more destinations: Marcilla De Campos, Santibañez De La Peña, Magaz De Pisuerga, Osorno, Palencia, Villaherreros, Boadilla del Camino, Saldaña.

Go to the broader travel overview: Palencia.