The Carrión runs along the edge of Pino del Río and shapes a fertile Vega there, contrasting with the plateau. The landscape and the town’s history offer two practical starting points for planning a trip: the river landscape and the historic sites in the town and its surroundings.
Along the Carrión: Vega and plateau
The Vega and the plateau represent different types of landscape around Pino del Río. The river provides a point of reference for the fertile plain on the edge of the town. If you would first like to get your bearings, this contrast can help orient you before you explore individual cultural sites or take a drive through several towns.
The direct approach from the direction of Palencia follows the C-615 towards Guardo as far as kilometer 78, between Valcabadillo and Villalba de Guardo. From there, a regional road leads to Pino del Río over a distance of about two kilometers.
Another way to explore the area by car is the La Vega del Carrión route. It passes through the riverside towns of Fresno del Río, Pino del Río, Acera de la Vega, Villosilla de la Vega, Poza de la Vega, Barrios de la Vega, Villaluenga de la Vega, and San Martín del Obispo before reaching Saldaña. This makes it possible to include Pino del Río as a stop on a drive through several towns; the direct approach via the C-615 is a separate option for planning your trip.
Historic traces in the town
An early written reference dates back to 1250. At that time, Pino del Río was mentioned in the Becerro de las Presentaciones of the city of León under the name “Piuno.” The entry assigned the town to the Archpriesthood of Saldaña. The historic name and the ecclesiastical administrative unit place Pino del Río in a different context from today’s orientation based on roads and landscape.
Among the notable memorials is a 45-meter-high concrete obelisk. It was erected in 1995 in memory of Concha Villacorta Martín, the wife of a local resident. The obelisk is considered a landmark of Pino del Río and was incorporated into the town’s coat of arms.
San Pedro Church in the town center also contains a historic feature: a sundial bearing the year 1608 and an inscription. It complements the obelisk with a different kind of historic artifact, dating back much further.
Virgen del Nido and local traditions
The Virgen del Nido hermitage is located 2.5 kilometers from Pino del Río along the CL-615. It houses a depiction of Mary and the Child from the 17th century, which was altered in later periods. This place brings together a specific location and a religious work of art with its own history.
A pilgrimage is also associated with the hermitage, and residents of nearby villages take part. The connection between Virgen del Nido and the surrounding towns gives a visit a communal dimension; it is distinct from the individual historic objects in the town center. The patron saint’s festival of San Pedro is associated with June 29 and 30.
Fishing history and other routes
Fishing is also part of the history of the stretch near Pino del Río. In 1992, it was designated Castile and León’s first “coto sin muerte”—a fishing area where fish may not be kept. The stretch was later converted into a social recreational fishing area.
A route near Pino del Río can also be traveled by bicycle. Trip planning therefore includes several ways to explore the area: the approach via the C-615, the drive through several riverside towns, and a cycling route.
Discover more destinations: Vidrieros, Cantoral De La Peña, Villarramiel, Mudá, Barruelo de Santullán, Magaz De Pisuerga, Palencia, Triollo.
Go to the main travel overview: Palencia.
