El Tornadizo: Hiking Trails, Winegrowing and Culture
Accommodation in El Tornadizo
El Tornadizo offers several specific points to consider when planning your trip: hiking trails, local history, the Iglesia de San Gabriel and the winegrowing tradition. When planning your stay, you can first decide whether you are most interested in the routes, the town’s historical background or the patronal festival on the first weekend in September.
Hiking Trails and Landscape
The Ruta de los Canchales Serranos is a 14.9-kilometre circular trail that passes through El Tornadizo. The surrounding area has vineyards, oaks, holm oaks, chestnut trees, rockroses, strawberry trees, olive trees and cherry trees; distinctive scree fields are also part of the landscape. This list ranges from different tree and shrub species to scree formations, giving you a more detailed picture of the surroundings than the trail’s length alone. The circular route is another factor to consider when deciding what kind of route you would like to take.
A route description dated 2008 also lists a 3.1-kilometre path from El Tornadizo to San Miguel de Valero. It gives the general information board near the Iglesia de San Gabriel as the starting point and describes the route as a traditional path between the two towns. Check local trail conditions before setting out today. The two routes can be distinguished by their length and course: 3.1 kilometres on the path to San Miguel de Valero or 14.9 kilometres on the circular Ruta de los Canchales Serranos.
Local History, Church and Patronal Festival
El Tornadizo was founded as part of repopulation efforts carried out by the kings of León in the 12th and 13th centuries. The Iglesia de San Gabriel is built of granite. Inside is a 16th-century sculpture of the Virgen del Rosario. This offers a historical perspective ranging from the medieval repopulation efforts to a specific work of religious art. If you would like to see the sculpture in person, check access to the church in advance.
The patronal festival in honour of the Virgen del Rosario takes place on the first weekend in September. If you would like to time your trip around it, check the specific festival dates and programme, as some events may vary. Along with the sculpture in the church, the festival offers another point of interest for learning about the town.
Winegrowing Tradition and Outdoor Dining
El Tornadizo lies within the geographical area of the D.O.P. Sierra de Salamanca wine designation. The town also preserves vineyards as part of its winegrowing heritage. The D.O.P. indicates its geographical affiliation; the vineyards reflect the local winegrowing heritage. This means you can explore the subject of wine through both the regional designation and the town’s history.
There is a municipal picnic area near the Iglesia de San Gabriel and the town hall for dining outdoors. It is equipped with a barbecue, tables and seating. These facilities make the purpose of the area clear: it is intended for outdoor dining. When planning your trip, this is a different kind of point of interest from the hiking routes: here, the focus is on dining in town, while the routes are about distance and course.
Discover more destinations: Huerta, Santa Marta De Tormes, Matilla De Los Caños Del Río, Serradilla Del Arroyo, Valdefuentes De Sangusin, Buenavista, Villasrubias, Vilvestre.
For the wider travel overview: Salamanca.
