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Walls of Zamora

Zamora is known as 'la bien cercada' (the well-walled) because it came to have three walled enclosures. The first, which surrounds the old town on the escarpment above the Duero, was built in the 11th century, in the time of Ferdinand I, on top of an earlier fortress. The other two were added in the 13th century when the city grew towards the lower districts, and a good part of them was pulled down at the end of the 19th century. Of the first enclosure, stretches of wall and several gates survive. The Puerta del Obispo, also called Puerta de Olivares, is wedged between the episcopal palace and the Casa del Cid, hard against the Peñas de Santa Marta, and links the cathedral and the castle with the riverside slope and the watermills. On the opposite side, to the north, is the Puerta de Doña Urraca, with a semicircular arch between two ashlar towers. Walking these stretches helps you understand how the city defended itself from the river.

Things to do at Walls of Zamora: 3 missions

• Look at the Duero from the exit of the Puerta de OlivaresGo out through the Puerta del Obispo towards the slope and find the angle from which you can see the River Duero and the Olivares watermills on the bank.
• Go through the Puerta de Doña Urraca and look at its towersStand in front of the north gate of the wall and look at the semicircular arch flanked by two ashlar towers. Pass under the arch and look at the stretch of wall from the other side.
• Find the Puerta del Obispo between the palace and the Casa del CidFind the Puerta del Obispo, wedged between the episcopal palace and the Casa del Cid, next to the Peñas de Santa Marta. Go through it and notice how the landscape changes on the other side.

Near Walls of Zamora

Source: Web oficial - Turismo de España (Murallas de Zamora)