Verdeña is 15 km from Cervera de Pisuerga, the municipal capital, in the region of Montaña Palentina. It is located in a mountainous area at an altitude of about 1239 m.
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At the entrance to Verdeña, there is a large car park; only residents are permitted vehicular access into the village. The village is small and comprises a mix of old traditional houses, including an old forge and traditional laundry washhouse from times gone by.
San Miguel Church
The parish church of San Miguel is an excellent example of the transition from Romanesque to Gothic architecture. Inside is an image of Saint Michael, the village’s patron saint. The Verdeña festival was celebrated on the day of the patron archangel, September 29, but has recently moved to August 13.
El Bosque Fósil (the fossil forest)
Just 20 minutes from Verdeña is the Fossil Forest, where fossilised tree remains from 300 million years ago can be seen in a long vertical stone wall 150 m long and 18 m high.
The fossil forest walk is one of the most famous in the area. It is a circular signposted walk, about 3 km long, that can be done in an hour and a half. You can download the track from Wikiloc. Because of the altitude, the views of the surrounding landscape are excellent.
The walk starts from the car park at the entrance to the village. Walk past the church and follow the signposted path out of the village. Following a long ascent through an oak forest with many old specimens, you reach a pit with a cliff face where you can see imprints of the fossilised trees.
The return to Verdeña is downhill, along a picturesque path.
Verdeña Photo Gallery
The photo gallery includes photos from the village, the surrounding area and the Fossil Forest walk.
Camera: Nikon FE2.
Film: Ilford Delta 100 exposed at 100 ISO.
Developer: Ilfotec LC-29 1+29 – developed for 7.5 minutes.
Agitation: Four inversions at the start, then 4 inversions every minute.
Digitised: Nikon Z6 and Capture One software.
I shot the photos around mid-day in bright sunlight.
