Zamora, Medieval municipality in western Castile and León, Spain
Zamora is a municipality in western Castile and León province, stretching along the Duero River at 649 meters elevation. Within the town's territory there are 24 Romanesque churches from the 12th and 13th centuries, distributed across the entire municipal area.
Romans founded a settlement here called Occelum Durii, which later became a strategic point between the Kingdom of León and Muslim territories. During medieval times Christian rulers fortified the town and built numerous church structures in the Romanesque style.
The cathedral takes its name from the Holy Saviour and stands as the most compact Romanesque sacred building in the region with a dome made of scaly stone tiles. Through narrow lanes in the old town core visitors reach small churches and chapels that locals use for devotions and processions.
The municipal tourist information office near the historic core provides maps and orientation aids for exploring religious buildings and medieval structures. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes, as many streets are cobbled and feature slopes.
A stone bridge with sixteen arches spans the Duero and connects the old town with newer neighborhoods on the opposite riverbank. Along the bridge fishermen often sit and watch the river while waterbirds occasionally drift on the water.
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