I tentatively booked accommodations in Palencia for the solar eclipse on August 12.
It’s in the path of totality, but I know nothing else about the city.
What’s it like? Can anyone recommend eclipse
viewing spots with a clear view of the western horizon? The eclipse will happen right before sunset.
Immediately west of Palencia (with a car) lies a very flat, sparsely wooded plateau: Tierra de Campos. Anywhere on this plateau is likely to be quite good, but from looking at the topographical map, there is a slight escarpment around Autilla del Pino with a viewpoint (Mirador de Campos) that would be perfect: MAP LOCATION. There is a special event there for the eclipse: LINK
Closer to town, Cristo del Otero looks good, too, and might not even require a car if you can face a longish walk.
if you want to explore further, use Spain's topographical map visualizer IBERPIX: https://www.ign.es/iberpix
Disclaimer: I have never been to Palencia, only to Burgos and León in the area.
Balso already mentioned two of the places Google AI provided.
El Mirador de Campos: Located just 15 minutes south of Palencia in Autilla del Pino, this elevated escarpment gives a sweeping, unobstructed view of the western meseta. It is highly rated and serves as a premier stargazing and sunset vantage point
Las Tuerces: A surreal limestone karst landscape in northern Palencia. While situated further into the province, visitors frequently note it provides one of the most stunning sunset and western horizon views in the region, with the river and valleys stretching below the rocks.
Cristo del Otero: Positioned on the northern edge of Palencia city, this iconic 21-meter statue sits atop a tall hill. It is the closest major scenic point to the downtown area and provides a spectacular downward and horizontal sweep of the horizon.
Mazariegos: This rural municipality situated directly within the flat Tierra de Campos plains features wide open, perfectly flat western skies that are ideal for chasing low-horizon sunsets or observing astronomical events.
I just saw this map from Spanish newspaper El País with many observation sites. It includes the Cristo one just outside Palencia (but not Autilla del Pino, even though it is official as well).
