FIRST DAY
Ledesma offers various possible ways to enjoy its nature. Among them are several signposted paths, which can be done on foot or on ATB bikes; these paths go through the local area and even venture into the neighbouring municipalities: Cordel de Merinas, the road to the Playa de Carnaceda beach, the Peñaserracín route or that of Puente Mocho bridge, are but some of them.
We recommend the route to Puente Mocho, because it leads to one of the most charming spots in Ledesma, an old bridge that still has the remains of a Roman road, and which has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest.
After your walk through Ledesma’s territory,you’ll need a break and some sustenance, an excellent opportunity to sample the local produce that makes up our gastronomy, in any of the various restaurants in the town.
Once you’ve finished your lunch, you can choose to go deeper into Ledesma’s history by visiting the History Interpretation Centre, BLETISA. Located in the church of San Miguel, this is a space devoted to history and heritage, where the visitor can delve into the town’s enigmas, get to know its every nook and cranny, understand the past and sample its present.
On the same street as the Interpretation Centre, you will find a cosy woodcraft workshop where the visitor can become a “temporary craftsman”. Here, those who want to participate can create – under Marisa’s guidance and assistance – a work in wood and decorate it using the pyrography technique (fire engraving).
And then you’ll be ready to finish the day: after a peaceful dinner in any of the local restaurants and before you retire to your chosen Ledesma accommodation , we recommend you take a night walk to see the illuminated Historic Site. This will let you admire the bridges, the walls and churches under a different light and, in particular, the town’s skyline from the other side of the river, from the viewpoint located between the bridges.
SECOND DAY
On your second day, we recommend you start the morning with any of the various active tourism proposals that Ledesma offers to the outdoor types. On the riverside there are some signposted rocky areas to practice climbing and, at the back of the Los Cardos sports centre, a climbing wall has recently been installed. You can also spend part of the morning trying your hand at archery.
If you come in the summertime, you may choose to do a refreshing canoe route on the River Tormes, admiring the remains of old buildings on the riverside – mills, water mill, millponds, tanneries- that you’ll see along your route, its magnificent bridges, under which you will pass, and the local riverside habitats and fauna.
And then, after devoting the whole morning to enjoying the natural environment, it’s a good idea to stop and get your strength back while tasting the hearty local food in any of the various restaurants scattered around the town.
Having learned about the history of Ledesma at the Interpretation Centre the previous day, this afternoon we can expand on this knowledge by taking a gentle walk around its old part, calmly wandering through its narrow streets, discovering its hidden corners and the subtle details on its façades, coats of arms, grilles, carved lintels… To make this easier, we have devised a circular urban route which will take you to the most relevant points of the old town, signposted by means of discreet signs on streets and buildings, with the purpose of guiding the visitor through the lattice of narrow alleys and of telling or discovering little stories that reveal the past and its people.
And, at some point, you will surely run into one of the baker’s shops in the town, where you’ll have a chance to taste the best known product of our gastronomy, the local doughnuts.
