Villanueva De Arriba: Camino Olvidado and Cueva de Guantes

Villanueva De Arriba is located in the comarca of La Peña, in the Sub-Cantabrian foothills of the Montaña Palentina. The village brings together the Camino Olvidado to Santiago, Cueva de Guantes, a Gothic parish church and an MTB route. These offer a range of ways to explore the area, with its landscapes, archaeology, architecture and routes at the forefront.

The Camino Olvidado through Villanueva De Arriba

The Camino Olvidado to Santiago passes through Villanueva De Arriba. Along the Camino, a track leads from Las Heras de la Peña to Villanueva De Arriba. Within the village, the route continues to the Church of the Assumption and the former Ermita de San Roque, known as El Campanillo. It then leaves Villanueva De Arriba via Calle Real. Thus, both the connection from Las Heras de la Peña and the stops mentioned in the village are part of the Camino route.

Cueva de Guantes: karst and archaeology

Cueva de Guantes is located in the area of Villanueva De Arriba known as La Loma. It extends for 350 metres through karst cavities and chambers of varying sizes and is part of a large karst complex containing several Middle and Upper Pleistocene sites.

A scientific description by CENIEH, updated in December 2024, describes at least three levels at the site in Galería 1 that provide evidence of human presence. The lithic industry, predominantly associated with the Mousterian, includes pieces made of metaquartzite, flint, quartz and other locally occurring rocks. The information about the cave and the site sheds light on different aspects: the extent of the cave and its chambers of varying sizes describe the karst area, while Galería 1 is the source of the archaeological finds.

Church and other places to visit

The parish church of Villanueva De Arriba is Gothic and has a single nave; its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross. “Single nave” refers to the church’s single longitudinal space, while the Latin-cross floor plan describes the layout of the building. Together, these features give a clear sense of its architectural form.

The Pueblos de la Peña MTB route can also be identified by its course: it runs south from Villanueva De Arriba to the junction for Cueva de Guantes, then returns to the village. On the way back, it passes the Ermita de San Pedro de Guantes, which is open to visitors. By contrast, the Camino Olvidado passes through Villanueva De Arriba and continues to the churches mentioned there. The routes therefore differ in their course through the village and in the southern stretch, which includes the return journey and the hermitage.

Campo de Fubito, a municipal football pitch, is located on C/ Las Quintas. It is another specifically named place in the municipal area, complementing the churches and routes.

Discover more destinations: Valenoso, Barrio de San Pedro, Baltanás, Camasobres, Matalbaniega, Moratinos, Palencia, La Vid Y Barrios.

Go to the broader travel overview: Palencia.