Fourth Stage: A 43km relatively flat classic marathon stage between Caleruega and Peñaranda de Duero.
Originally it had been a Celtiberian Hill Fort City called Kolounioukou belonging to the Arevaci, a Pre-Roman tribe. During the Roman conquest of Hispania the elevated site at more than 1000 metres above sea level was taken over and the city called Colonia Clunia Sulpicia was founded and from the 1st century BC served as the capital of Hispania Tarraconensis. It was on the main Roman Road that lead from Caesaraugusta (Zaragoza) to Asturica Augusta (Astorga). The City of Clunia boasted two public baths, a basilica, a forum, many taverns and shops, a theater and a large temple dedicated to Jupiter. The theater was one of the largest of its time in Hispania, it was excavated into the rock and had capacity of 10.000 spectators.
The city´s most famous governor was Servius Sulpicius Galba, Governor of Hispania Taraconensis during the revolts of AD68. He marched on Rome following Emperor Nero´s suicide and was self-proclaimed Roman Emperor, assuming the throne and ruling for 7 months between AD68 and AD69, he was in turn murdered by the Pretorian Guard on the orders of Otho who became Emperor in his place. Otho was only Emperor for three months before himself commiting suicide and was replaced by Vitellius who only lasted on the throne for 8 months before Vespasian finally put an end to the tumultous civil war considered an impostant interval, marking the transition from the Julio-Claudians, the first imperial dinasty, to the Flavian Dinasty. This period witnessed several rebellions and claimants, with shifting allegiances and widespread turmoil in Rome all beginning at this legendary City of Clunia in the now southern plains of the province of Burgos.
Stage 4 begins at the monastery of Caleruega and heads east through wheat and barley fields and down into the undulating vineyards of the Duero valley until reaching the famous Roman city of Clunia Sulpicia. The stage pases through the roman theater up in the archeological site of the historic Roman City before heading west along the plains of the Ribera del Duero passing through several villages before reaching the impresive Mediaval castle of Peñaranda del Duero before the final descent into the main square of the beautiful medieval town.
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