C
Castilian
Guest
There are many caminos to Santiago de Compostela. There isn't a province in Peninsular Spain that isn't crossed by a camino to Santiago. Some pilgrims make many different caminos to visit (and know) new towns (and/or areas of the country) on each pilgrimage. That way they get to know tons of places in Peninsular Spain (what it's a great thing). They may even walk in all Peninsular Spain provinces but if they want to know all the provincial capitals in Peninsular Spain, they must be warned that, AFAIK, there's one that isn't located on any camino (other than self-made caminos, i.e.): Palencia.
What are you missing if you don't make a specific trip to the city of Palencia or a stop in it on your way to/from a camino? The tourism web of the city council gives you some tips in English: www.aytopalencia.es/turismo/visit-palencia/getting-here and the page for Palencia in the Wikipedia in Spanish provides you some more tips: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palencia#Patrimonio
IMHO, the cathedral (known as la bella desconocida -the unknown pretty-) justifies by itself a visit to Palencia so if you have a chance to stop in Palencia on your way to/from a camino, I would suggest to allow yourself some time to explore the city. And, of course, if what you read on the links above attracts you, you should consider to make a specific trip to the city and its surroundings because, surely, you will be also interested in visiting, for example, the Visigothic church of San Juan de Baños http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iglesia_de_San_Juan_(Baños_de_Cerrato) -if you can't read Spanish the English version of Wikipedia has some info about it too and you'll find info online on other webs-) something like 15 kms away from the city of Palencia.
What are you missing if you don't make a specific trip to the city of Palencia or a stop in it on your way to/from a camino? The tourism web of the city council gives you some tips in English: www.aytopalencia.es/turismo/visit-palencia/getting-here and the page for Palencia in the Wikipedia in Spanish provides you some more tips: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palencia#Patrimonio
IMHO, the cathedral (known as la bella desconocida -the unknown pretty-) justifies by itself a visit to Palencia so if you have a chance to stop in Palencia on your way to/from a camino, I would suggest to allow yourself some time to explore the city. And, of course, if what you read on the links above attracts you, you should consider to make a specific trip to the city and its surroundings because, surely, you will be also interested in visiting, for example, the Visigothic church of San Juan de Baños http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iglesia_de_San_Juan_(Baños_de_Cerrato) -if you can't read Spanish the English version of Wikipedia has some info about it too and you'll find info online on other webs-) something like 15 kms away from the city of Palencia.