Medinaceli, Roman municipality in Soria Province, Spain.
Medinaceli is a municipality in Soria Province that sits on a hilltop 1,092 meters above sea level and preserves remains from Roman times. Narrow lanes in the old quarter lead past stone buildings and medieval towers to the highest point of the settlement.
Romans founded the settlement Occilis here in the 1st century on the trade route between Zaragoza and Mérida. After the Arab conquest in the 8th century, the place received the name Madinat Salim, which later evolved into Medinaceli.
Arcaded galleries frame the Plaza Mayor, where residents gather on wooden benches and children play between old stone slabs. House facades carry coats of arms from the centuries when ducal families ruled here.
The old quarter is compact and can be explored on foot in less than an hour, though steep climbs between lanes are common. Several small eateries and lodgings are located in streets around the main square.
A three-gated arch from Roman times stands at the entrance to the town and is the only preserved structure of this type on the Iberian Peninsula. Each of the arches shows a slightly different width, suggesting separate uses for pedestrians, carts, and ceremonial processions.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
