Nestling on the meander at the start of the River Duero, in the Ribera del Duero region to the south of the province of Burgos, it was given the status of a town by King Ferdinand III in gratitude for the loyalty shown by its inhabitants.

One of the most notable historic buildings is the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries and one of the town’s most outstanding heritage sites. Other monuments of interest include the Jurisdiction Column standing in Plaza de Don Manuel Mendoza, the Shrine of San Cosme, San Damián and the Shrine of El Humilladero, and the archways of the Puerta de Burgos and Puerta Mayor gateways.