Zamora is the capital of the province of Zamora in Castile and León, situated on the banks of the Duero River in north-western Spain. Its vernacular architecture is characterised by sandstone houses, narrow medieval streets, arcaded squares, and a remarkable concentration of Romanesque buildings. Significant landmarks include the Zamora Cathedral, with its distinctive Byzantine-style dome, the Castle of Zamora, the ancient town walls, and more than twenty Romanesque churches scattered throughout the old town. The surrounding countryside is devoted to cereal cultivation, vineyards producing the wines of the Toro and Tierra del Vino regions, olive groves, and livestock farming, particularly sheep. Zamora stands out from similar historic cities because it possesses the finest concentration of Romanesque architecture in Spain, while its commanding position above the Duero has made it an important frontier settlement since medieval times.