The hermitage of virgen de otero

It is the route of the Hermitage of Otero much more than a recreational or sports activity, it is to walk through tradition following the steps of the pilgrimages that are held every year.

The walk begins next to the Medieval Bridge that crosses the pass over the Tormes. We will walk along Calle Afueras del Puente, which with such an expressive name will take us to the roof tile and the bridge of the old beaches (bridge that crosses the Terradillos regatta), where we will turn right. Taking the river to our right we will cross a small urbanization to start a climb of about 500 m. to the Hermitage.

Above, in addition to the temple, a privileged panoramic view of the villa albense and its surroundings and a large area equipped for leisure.

Writings of the early s. XVII already cite its existence, being annexed of the Parish of San Andrés de Alba with 18 neighbors. Later it became the parish temple of Martín Valero, a town disappeared in the War of Independence due to the looting and serious damage suffered during the French and especially in the Battle of Arapiles for being the real scene of the withdrawal of the soldiers, many of them buried in their graveyard.

After this stop we will continue along the road that we leave to reach 800 m. to Palomares, semi-abandoned nucleus where tradition is breathed and to which belongs the cemetery of the Hermitage.

We will cross the town to go to the skirt of the Plateau of Carpio where we will begin the ascent to the summit popularly called "Peña de la Traición".

Distant only a few kilometers, but isolated by the waters of the Tormes, the Castle of Bernardo Carpio, stands in stone in its ruins. It is a pharaoh that legends place as a site of the mythical Bernardo de Carpio in his fight against the Saracens who were on the other side of the river, in the Arapil of Amatos (Arapil Chico).