Escobar de Polendos: Romanesque Heritage and Luminarias

Escobar de Polendos lies on a hillside in the valley of the Polendos stream. In the town center stands the Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari; about 500 meters from Escobar de Polendos, the Ermita de la Virgen de la Cuesta sits on a small hill. Religious buildings, landscape, a medieval document and the Luminarias offer different ways to get to know the town.

Townscape and Landscape

The Polendos stream runs along the eastern edge of the settlement, at an elevation of about 904 meters. This helps put the landscape details in context: Escobar de Polendos lies on a hillside in the valley, while the stream runs along the settlement’s eastern edge. A horse-shoeing frame has been preserved beside the stream, at the site where a public park was created. This object adds a trace of local craftsmanship to the religious buildings.

Sacred Architecture

Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari

The Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari is a small rural religious building with a simple nave that ends in a semicircular apse. The nave forms the main space, while the apse closes it off with a semicircular end. The church stands in the center of Escobar de Polendos, making it a clear landmark for describing the town center.

A Romanesque baptismal font with a diameter of 123 centimeters and a height of 73 centimeters has been preserved in the church. There is also a small Romanesque holy-water font. It is 76 centimeters high and 31 centimeters wide. The measurements provide specific details for both objects: the baptismal font’s diameter and height are given, while the holy-water font’s height and width are specified.

Ermita de la Virgen de la Cuesta

The Ermita de la Virgen de la Cuesta stands on a small hill, about 500 meters from Escobar de Polendos, and is clearly visible from the CL-603 road. Its design contrasts the main chapel with the nave: the main chapel is taller and narrower. The single-nave structure appears to be divided into three naves by its thick, square pillars.

Several Baroque altarpieces are found inside the ermita. The central altarpiece houses a Byzantine depiction of the Virgin and Child. The Baroque design of the altarpieces and the Byzantine figure of the Virgin describe different aspects of the furnishings of the same religious site.

Name, History and Festivals

The name Escobar de Polendos has been in use since at least the 13th century. It refers to an area by the Polendos River where shrubs used in the traditional making of brooms grew. The earliest surviving documentary mention of Escobar de Polendos dates from 1288. It records the purchase of eighteen hours of use of the local mill.

The Luminarias, Nuestra Señora and San Roque festivals are celebrated in Escobar de Polendos on August 14, 15 and 16. During the Luminarias procession, fires are lit at night five or six meters apart along the descent from the ermita to the church. The procession route connects the two religious sites as part of this custom.

Getting There

From Segovia, the road route follows road 601, then regional road 603 toward Turégano, and then a smaller road into the town.

Discover more destinations: Turégano, Bernardos, Castroserracín, Migueláñez, Fuenterrebollo, Martín Muñoz De Las Posadas, Valdesimonte, Ortigosa Del Monte.

Go to the main travel overview: Segovia.