Matute de la Sierra brings together Romanesque architectural history, the story of the village’s revival and distinctive features of its landscape. At its heart is the church of Santa Coloma, southeast of the village centre and surrounded by small orchards and densely vegetated woodland. The Zarranzano River runs through Matute, which lies at the foot of Cerro de San Juan. These themes offer different ways to understand the character of the destination.

Romanesque Church of Santa Coloma

The church of Santa Coloma is Romanesque and was built in the final years of the 12th century. Later alterations and additions changed the original structure only slightly. A Romanesque baptismal font from the 12th century adds a tangible detail to the building’s history inside the church. The date of the church and that of the baptismal font therefore stand as distinct historical points of reference.

The church’s location is also part of its story: Santa Coloma stands southeast of the village centre, amid small orchards and densely vegetated woodland. This brings architectural history and landscape together as two distinct aspects of the village. Another local cultural landmark, the Ermita de la Soledad, is among the sights of Matute de la Sierra.

Village History and Summer Culture

Matute de la Sierra was depopulated for more than thirty years before being revived through the efforts of some former residents. This sequence is an important part of the village’s history, linking a long period of depopulation with the later commitment to restoring the village.

Two events bring different highlights to the summer cultural calendar. The Santa Coloma patron-saint festival is celebrated on the first Sunday in August. In addition, an association of friends of Romanesque art organizes a cultural week every summer, with talks, concerts and activities at the church of Santa Coloma. The patron-saint festival takes place on a fixed date in August; the cultural week combines several types of events at the church. If you want to plan your trip around the cultural week, check the specific event dates in advance.

Landscape and Getting There

The Zarranzano runs through Matute de la Sierra, while the village lies at the foot of Cerro de San Juan. In the municipality of Almarza, Cerro is described as one of the higher viewpoints that is frequently visited. This description refers to the municipality; Matute’s location and the river are separate features of the landscape.

Matute de la Sierra can be reached by road via the N-111 and a turnoff onto the SO-620. This makes it possible to plan the journey separately from the local highlights: the church and the hermitage represent the cultural heritage, the cultural week offers a summer events programme, and the river and Cerro are landscape features. Which of these aspects matters most to you can help guide your choice of destination.

Discover more destinations: Tera.

See the main travel overview: Almarza.