23404SPA
City sightseeing with local guide on foot once in the centre of town.
If you are leaving Burgos after the visit, please make sure your bags are loaded on the bus beforehand. This will give your group time to get lunch before leaving and keep you on time.
Sightseeing should include:
· Catedral de Burgos guided inside visit (see below)
· Plaza Mayor
· Santa Maria Arch
· Confirm local guide at least one day before.
· Payment is by voucher, please sign and make sure the correct number of travellers is marked on the voucher.
· If time permits there are great views of Burgos from the ruined castle above the town.
· If you are short of time, ask the guide to concentrate on the cathedral which is generally of more interest to groups than the town centre.
· Visits cannot start any later than 5pm. This is due to the cathedral closing times (6.30pm). Since this is the most important monument in Burgos, you need at least 1.5 hours to see it properly.
· Please make sure everyone in your group has their whisper sets before heading out on sightseeing ( and that you have the microphone/s for the local guide)
FACTS AND FREE TIME SUGGESTIONS
Tourist Office Plaza de Alonso-Martínez, 7 (tel. 947 20 31 25, 9:30- 14:00, 16:00-19:00)
Post office Plaza Conde de Castro,1
Things to do
Walk around sections of the City Walls and see the Castle ruins (El Cid was married there); or stroll along Paseo del Espolón beside river Arlanzón cafés, statues, fountains and gardens.
Chocolate y churros – at Café Ibañez on Paseo Espolon
Shopping – in the area around Plaza Santander
Museums
Casa del Cordon – Renaissance mansion, now a bank, where Queen Isabella and Ferdinand welcomed Christopher Columbus back from his second voyage to the New World in 1497 / Calle Santander by the statue of El Cid.
Museo de Burgos – Housed in 16th Century Casa de Miranda across the river Arlanzón. Roman, Moorish and Visigoth exhibits, Fine Arts section. This now houses a collection of exhibits from the prehistoric site of Atapuerca.
Iglesia de San Nicolas – Behind the cathedral / contains wall-sized retablo of 36 scenes from the Bible (dating from 1505)
Museo de Pintura Marceliano Santa Marta – Beautiful impressionist art by a local painter / Calle Alvar Garcia
Monasterio de las Huelgas – This 12th century monastery became one of the most powerful in Spain. Its wealth is evident throughout- Mudejar and Churriguresque craftsmanship, priceless embroidery, jewellery and weapons are on exhibit.
Castle of Burgos – This castle has only just reopened its doors to the public. Call the tourist office for opening times etc. There is a café here so worth going up for the views and a drink alone
Noddy train – This little train will take you on a tourist trail around the main sights, starting and ending at the Cathedral.
Evening activities
Tapas –at Meson Burgos in Calle Sombrerería and Meson La Amarilla on Calle San Lorenzo
Bars and music – The street at foot of the castle – Calle Avellanos: try or Las Llanas area next to the Cathedral / Disco: Bésame Mucho, Plaza Bernadas 5. On weekends Calle Huerta del Rey comes to life with numerous bars and small clubs.
Fiestas de Burgos
The fiestas of Burgos are before Saint Peter’s Day on the 29th June, the week following this is the Festival Folclórico Internacional (www.folcloreburgos.net). There should be concerts, parades, fireworks, bullfights and dancing. Check with tourist office or hotel for details.