13/14/15th of May 2019 (Monday to Wednesday) we spent in Zamora. Zamora is located above the river Duero. I have already talked about this pretty city and its surroundings. Now I want to tell about my morning walks along the river banks.
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The well prepared path along the Duero
Zamora has installed footpaths along both sides of the river Duero.
The aspen is in bloom, the white seeds fly in the air – like snow flakes. They fall to the ground and form a carpet.
The water lilies opened their yellow flowers, while we were there.
Flowers, trees and birds along the Duero are explained on panels. Zamora did a great job for their citizens – and for the tourists that go beyond visiting the city center.
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The landmark of Zamora: The Old Bridge or Puente de Piedra
Zamora was a stop on the Roman silver route allowing to cross the river Duero here. The current Stone Bridge or Puente de Piedra is from the 13th century, but has been rebuilt in the 20th century. The morning sun makes the bridge shine brownish. The arches reflect in the water.
Taken from the west, the bridge is just a silhouette.
On a more cloudy morning the bridge is grey.
Ducks congregate near the Stone Bridge.
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Aceñas de Olivares or oil mills in the morning sun
Along the river there are several oil mills or Aceñas de Olivares. These three mills are located below the old city.
I pick up a leaflet later, when the oil mills were open for public. It says that such oil mills have been known to work here since the 10th century and were in use until the 1950’s. They used the force of the river. Now they have been replaced by electricity, also produced by the river Duero, as the leaflet says.
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Overviews of the city Zamora from the left river bank
During one of my early morning walks, I crossed the river Duero using the old Stone Bridge. The view of the city Zamora located on a rock above the right river bank is spectacular. This is the view of the Cathedral (tower and cupola) and of the three oil mills in the river.
This is another view with the Cathedral at the end of the steep rock “plate”.
Looking against the sun (eastwards) the city is a silhouette reflecting in the river. The factory tower stands out. It is part of the factory that has been tastefuly rebuilt to become the hotel NH Palacio del Duero, where we stayed three nights.
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The cupola of the Cathedral in the morning sun
The great gem of the Cathedral of Zamora is the cupola with its flaky tiles. Poets have written about how it changes colours from morning to evening. Here it is in the morning sun…
… together with the tower…
… above the reed of the river bank…
… and above the rocks of the wild Duero.
Later on my walk the light has changed.
On Wednesday morning, I say good-bye to Zamora and its river banks. I will miss these romantic morning walks in Zamora. We will now folllow the Duero in the direction of its origin near Soria.
Petra Peters 