The essential places to see in La Rioja
It is a very small Autonomous Community, and unknown to many, but despite this, the number of wonders to be seen in La Rioja is incredible thanks to the great history behind it that has left us many places very interesting to visit.
La Rioja is well known for its wines and its wineries, but in the region we can also find castles, charming towns, incredible landscapes, archaeological sites, churches and cathedrals and also monasteries, being also the cradle of the Spanish language.
In this article we are going to make a list of the best places to visit in La Rioja in case you decide to visit it and do not miss it.
The best things to see in La Rioja
Logrono, the capital
In the center of La Rioja we find a very interesting city, which is also its capital. We are talking about Logroño, a very special city rich in history that also has great gastronomy and a lot of atmosphere.
The main monument to visit in Logroño is the Co-Cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda, in the historic center of the city where we also find several churches and monuments. You should not miss its squares and streets, such as the famous Laurel Street, nor miss a walk along the Ebro River.
Along the Ebro River you will find several very interesting and very close bridges, as well as wineries that you can visit.
High Rioja
The westernmost region of the Autonomous Community is La Rioja Alta and is made up of several counties where some of the essential places to visit in La Rioja Alta are located. We recommend you take a car route through La Rioja Alta to visit the next places that we are going to talk about.
Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Another of the essential towns to visit in La Rioja is Santo Domingo de la Calzada, which is possibly the one with the most historical heritage thanks mainly to being one of the most important points on the Camino de Santiago.
Strolling through the network of medieval alleys of the town is a unique experience in La Rioja, its main point of interest being the Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
From here you cannot miss the historic houses that you will find or the Convent of San Francisco, another of the places to see in Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
The Regions of Haro and Nájera
Another of the towns that you must visit in La Rioja is Haro, especially if you are a great lover of wine tourism, because wineries are precisely the main attraction of Haro. You have many to choose from if you want to visit one and you can also enjoy its Old Town.
The Haro region is one of those found in the Rioja Alta valley area, to which must be added the Nájera and Santo Domingo de la Calzada regions.
Touring this part of the Rioja Alta is a real wonder thanks to the towns that you will find.
In addition, you cannot miss some of the beautiful Rioja Alta such as Briones, Casalarreina, Cuzcurrita del Río Tirón, Sajazarra or San Vicente de la Sonsierra.
The Monasteries of Suso and Yuso. Ezcaray and the mountains of La Rioja Alta.
La Rioja Alta also contains other very interesting places, among which the Monasteries of Suso and Yuso stand out, located in San Millán de la Cogolla and which are also a World Heritage Site. They are considered the cradle of the Spanish language and it is an essential visit.
Nearby is the town of Berceo, where another of the most important characters in the history of Castilian, Gonzalo de Berceo, was born.
In addition, the area is completed with the beautiful town of Ezcaray, another of the essential places to see in La Rioja, where the Royal Cloth Fabric Factory of Santa Bárbara is located and where you should also get lost in its streets and squares enjoying its typical architecture.
Lower Rioja
In the eastern part of La Rioja is the area known as Rioja Baja where there are 3 cities that you should not miss if you visit this beautiful Autonomous Community. We are talking about Alfaro, Calahorra and Arnedo.
Calahorra stands out for the Cathedral of Santa María and for the Jewish quarter. We must talk about Alfaro ‘s storks, of which you will find hundreds. And of Arnedo we must highlight its Castle but above all its region where there are towns as interesting as Arnedillo or Enciso, where you can also enjoy archaeological sites perfect for lovers of dinosaurs.
Another of the essential towns to visit in La Rioja Baja is Igea, a little further from the previous areas but well worth it and where you can also see dinosaur footprints
You can find more information on the official tourism page of La Rioja.
