La Rioja Culture & Wine Tour in Spain | ScotlandTrips International

Quick Details

Duration: 10 Days + 9 nights

Languages: English & Español.

Months available: April – October

Prices per person in double room (other see supplements), select the number of people you are coming together.

Discover the Heart of Rioja: A 10-Day Journey Through Culture, Nature, and Tradition

Join us for an unforgettable 10-day adventure through one of Spain’s most culturally rich and naturally stunning regions: the heart of Rioja. Nestled in the Iberian System, this picturesque area is the cradle of world-famous Rioja wine, with centuries of history, tradition, and breathtaking landscapes to explore. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast, a nature lover, or someone looking to immerse yourself in Spanish culture, this tour offers a diverse range of activities and experiences that will captivate every traveler.

From exploring the charming towns of La Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa to hiking in the Sierra de Urbión and Cebollera, you’ll be surrounded by natural beauty at every turn. Visit historic wineries, relax at tranquil spas, follow the footsteps of pilgrims along the Camino de Santiago, and uncover the fascinating dinosaur footprints scattered throughout the region. With visits to vibrant parks, quaint villages, and the rolling vineyards, this tour promises a perfect balance of adventure, relaxation, and cultural discovery.

DAY 1: Through the Basque Country!
Regions: Bizkaia, Alava and Rioja Alta!
First day we are going to pick you up at the airport in Bilbao. From the beginning we will take care of you and as in all our programs from this moment on you have nothing to worry about, you are in good hands and your mission is to enjoy! Here we go, from Bilbao airport the closest international to La Rioja we left for, crossing the province of the beautiful the Basque Country de Biscay, arrive at the beautiful town of Durango. Through a visit to its historic center we will leave for the Urkiola Natural Park, dividing the regions of Bizkaia and Alava (Araba) we will enjoy in height the wonderful views and mountains of this area. Here we will have a coffee and taking a little walk we will know a little more about the environment in which we are. We continue our route to the Alava capital of the Basque Country: Vitoria!, seeing the central square of The White and its amazing Catedral we will learn more about this picturesque region. We will also tell you about the Euskera, idiom pre-european and a native of Euskadi (Basque Country) and whose first written words were also found in the books of the monks of the Yuso Monastery in San Millån de la Cogolla (La Rioja), cradle of Castilian (Spanish) or where you first started writing. At the moment we come to Haro, “We are already in Haro, the lights are showing.” And in the Rioja This city is the first where electric lighting worked in all of Spain in 1891 and being the Capital of the Rioja Alta it’s important cradle of wines and famous wineries we are going to visit one of them and taste their wines. Later we will rest and enjoy a nice and typical Riojan dinner in one of its traditional restaurants.

DAY 2: Wineries and Castles!
Regions: La Rioja Alta & Rioja Alavesa!
Well, we have already enjoyed yesterday some of the characteristics that will mark our vacations as they are; mountains, valleys, wineries, gastronomy, wine and various activities. Well, we are going for more, it is a very complete program that we are going to enjoy. We start from Haro after having our breakfast towards the Rioja Alavesa. This is an area of Ebro valley on the northern slope through which the Basque provinces of Praise or Araba en Basque and La Rioja successively and town after town until reaching the old Kingdom of Navarra, with which the same situation occurs. From here and other factors the great coexistence and relationship of the three provinces, some go beaches of the Basque Country while others come to taste the wonderful wines, gastronomy or even to ski a La Rioja and with Navarra ocurrs the same. Without further delay and being necessary to put yourself in the situation of a large part of the traditions and culture that you are going to see, we have already reached The Bastide, town that we crossed to reach Saint Vincent of the Sonsierra, famous throughout Spain for its tradition of Holy Week “The Picaos”. In this procession, the volunteers of said brotherhood are “punished” to pay penance by whipping their backs, but far from this curious tradition we will visit their iglesia in elevated position and Davalillo castle from which we can see the great immensity of this valley of vines. Already in Briones we were amazed at its magnificent and well preserved old town, in which as if of the true Middle Ages In this case, an autochthonous market and medieval festivals are held annually based on the great gastronomy and wines of the area. The perhaps most famous Wine Museum in the world it appears before our path; “Vivanco dynasty”ls known throughout the world of wine and gastronomy. We visit it and of course we are not going to leave without enjoying a succulent Riojan food in your restaurant. If we can “get up from the table” after tasting this wonderful food, given that La Rioja is known for its wonderful gastronomy, we will arrive at Laguardia, a Alava again we visit the walled town and one of its small and local underground cellars. From here we can also make out the entire valley and Logrofio Where finally, in the intercultural Capital of La Rioja we will have dinner and rest in an environment that will fill our eyes with the beautiful lights and views of the Old Town.

DAY 3: Day in the Capital!
Regions: Logronio City!
We are sure that you are more than satisfied with yesterday and the flavors that you still keep on your palate. Today let’s go to know the Capital. We are walking to know all the historic center of Logronio; we will tell you about their Medieval fueros and rights of the year 1095. We will also tell you how it was besieged the city for the army French of General De Foix “Lord of Asparrot”ln 1521 after passing through Navarra and heading to conquer Castile. In Logrono their own garrison and neighboring Navarrese soldiers gather and take refuge from the French. Thanks to the audacity and subsistence of the Logroneses fishing in the Ebro river at night and crossing the underground wineries not to be seen, they endured the 16-day siege of the city and led to the arrival and assistance of the Duke of Nåjera with his troops that made the French army flee. The emperor Carlos I of Spain and V of Germany To remember said triumph, add to the Coat of Arms of the city of Logrono the Three Flowers of Lis in 1523. This event culminated on June 11, 1521, the day on which the feast of Saint Barnabas patron of the city ever since. Although these are the Patron Saint festivities of the “Very Noble and Very Loyal City of Logronio” title held since 1444 by the Castilian King John II, the festivities that celebrate the Riojana vintage and of national tourist interest like the previous ones are the festivities of “San Mateo”, On September 21 and held for a week. If you are lucky enough to choose these dates to enjoy this wonderful program, we will enjoy for two days the hospitality and vibrancy of the city, eating, living and socializing with the pleasant Riojans in general who gather in the capital these days. Also comment that this very Noble and Historic city has been named 1st commercial city of Spain in 1997, 1st Gastronomic Capital of Spain in 2012 and European City of Sports in 2014. The splendor of Logrono and the beginning of its development was reached in the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, with the rise and advance of commerce, the printing press, the court of the Inquisition in the North of Spain (witches of Zurragamurdi), the wealth of the lands Riojanas and the arrival in the city of neighboring Basque, Navarre and Montaöes families to settle. We can still see today and we will show you some remains of the medieval walls such as the Revellin wall and the precious Casco antiguo where we will enjoy the gastronomic delights of each Bar in the international Laurel Street. Great day in which, in addition to history, we are going to visit one of the largest internationally known wine cellars as it is “Campo Viejo Winery”, In this advanced and modern but with a lot of history Riojana winery, we are going to taste its culinary and Riojan specialties. Another of the characteristics of La Rioja and with great devotion is the sport of “Ball “or” Basque Ball”As it is also known. With his Zenit in the city with the “Fronton Adarraga”One of the best on the circuit and its famous San Mateo tournament, it is one of the devotions not of the city but of the entire region and we will visit it to explain a little about this sport in Northern Spain. Likewise, the most cultural point will be our visit to the Museum of La Rioja or Palace of General Espartero. Incredible day that we will culminate of course with a great dinner in the Old Town in an environment of bustle, bars and rustic restaurants and wineries.

DAY 4: Castles, Fortresses and Museums!
Regions: Navarra & Rioja Baja!
Great day today too. We take our breakfast and set out to conquer ancient fortresses and castles. We begin our route to a small and historic town of Peg. Here we are going to enjoy a pleasant walk of about two hours in total, enjoying the historical jewels that were once ruined in La Rioja. We start with the ruins of the ancient Clavijo Castle, from this fortress built in pure rock in the XNUMXth century, you can see all the Ebro valley, the Sierra Alavesa of Cantabria and the Montes de Navarra. Good location to show you the historic villas of The guard, which we have already visited and Viana en Navarra which will be our next stop.

Illustrious names in the history of Spain passed through this castle, to name a few in Count Fernån Gonzålez was imprisoned in his tower around the year 960. An ancient legend says that the Apostle Santiago appeared in this castle at the time that the Muslims possessed it and with his white horse and sword made them flee from the castle. Legend or not if it is true that in one of the huge rocks that supports the castle there is the horseshoe footprint of a huge horse. Both the kings of Castile (Alfonso VIII) and those of Navarra (Don Sancho VII) later owned this high fortress (year 1177).

Incredible historical region like its neighbors which we are visiting and if something has Spain and its North it is an ancient history of kings, kingdoms, battles and dialects. The history of Spain is convulsed wherever there are, an ancient empire with lands on several continents under the reign of Carlos I of Spain and V of Germany (vast empire in which the sun did not set). We tell you in this beautiful program what corresponds to the ancient region of La Rioja in which we find ourselves a battle zone between the Kingdoms of Castile and Navarre. After these historical notes we continue our short walk to the ruins of what was the imposing Monastery of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce. Risky the monks who built this monastery practically at the foot of a gorge and incredible engineering for those times since it is concealed and confused with the terrain to protect themselves from battles and protect their literary works. In the cold times of the 925th century around the year XNUMX the first construction works of this imposing monastery began and here the relics of the Santos Félix, Funes and Prudencio. Various religious Orders such as “San Benito” and “Cisterciense” as well as “San Bernardon took charge of this monastery to facilitate their services to the entire Leza valley. Well, we are now heading to neighboring Navarra, 10 minutes from Logroöo is the historic fortified town of Viana. Serving as a fortress for the kingdom of Navarre in the times when Logrofio It did not belong to said kingdom and if to the neighbor of Castile, here it ensured a good and strategic position to defend its lands. Refounded by the King of Navarra Sancho VII el Fuerte, it received the title of city in 1630. We will enjoy a walk through its cold and historic cobbled streets and a pleasant coffee in any of the rustic bars of the town. Intense today and historic day. We stopped to take a look at the castle of agoncillo, that although the locality does not have much to say, if its enormous castle It is preserved intact and today it is the town hall of the town.

Cultural day also today; we visit the modern and grand Würth museum. Founded with the aim of bringing together the aspects of culture and business, this contemporary museum teaches us more technological and of course artistic aspects as part of the Würth collection, which includes works of sculpture, photography, graphic arts and various other styles. This is the only museum that the German firm has in Spain and it is well worth our visit. visit and Lunch!

From here we go to end this intense and cultural day to the Capital of La Rioja Baja: Calahorra. Since the XNUMXth century, this ancient city has been the seat of the Catholic diocese that once encompassed the entire northern area to the brave Cantabrian Sea. Calagurris Nassica Lulia was his name on the Roman age, since it was also an important city of the Roman Empire in Spain. Its ancient history goes from the first settlements Celtiberians of which there is evidence in the iron age, passing through the settlements of Basque towns, Roman times and the siege of the General Pompey in 72 BC that forced its inhabitants to the point of cannibalism to defend it to this day. We will visit here emblematic buildings in addition to its gastronomy and pleasant evening.

DAY 5: Celtic Sites and Castles!
Regions: La Rioja Baja
Well, historical day yesterday, today we are going to experience a similar day but with different colors and surprises. We start from Calahorra towards the small Riojan city of Alfaro. Adjoining neighbor Navarra the first remains of this locality date from the iron age. Like neighboring Calahorra, some of the first settlements in the area corresponded to the towns Basques, then going through its time of occupation Romana. several Castilian Kings y Navarrese He was granted the titles of Villa and successive from the thirteenth century until in 1629 King Felipe IV granted him the title of City. Visiting the beautiful “Collegiate Church of San Miguel Arcångel”Declared a national monument in 1976 and the only collegiate church in Spain made entirely of brick, we will tell you that in Alfaro and on this emblematic building, the largest colony of storks of Europe on a single construction. We also visit the Riojabajefia town of Cervera of the river Alhama to get to the important Deposit Celta of “Contrebia Leucade “or” Kontrebia Leukade”At this site we will see remains of the iron age. The both unknown and important history of this city Celtiberian Much can or could explain about the history of the Iberian Peninsula since it dates back to twenty centuries of activity in which it was inhabited, from the Bronze Age to the time Visigothic, other of the first inhabiting peoples of the Iberian Peninsula of origin Germanic, being a branch of the Goth peoples and that it occupied the peninsula in the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries. Intense day of knowledge and visits like everyone else in this wonderful and illustrative Cultural Holidays program. Well, now we storm the Cornago Castle. This enormous mass is related to the lineage of the “Luna”, lordship of the Crown of Aragon and whose first works date from the middle of the XV century. Wonderful historical remains that we have visited today, but we are going to end the day with a well-deserved rest. After passing through the shoe city in La Rioja; Arnedo, we had dinner today at the Arnedillo Spa, a small town in the Low Rioja known for this wonderful Spa and Spa whose waters flow from the depths of the earth at a temperature of 52,50C. Visited by tourists from all over the world, its waters are effective in the Treatments of rheumatism, arthritis, osteoarthritis, bronchitis, etc. You can enjoy a good Spa session or majases as well as a great dinner and night.

DAY 6: Day of Leisure and Dinosaurs; Incredible views!
Regions: the Old and New cameros!
Sixth and wonderful day, in few such bucolic and pleasant environments can we wake up like the one we find ourselves in today. In the middle of the Spa, before or after having our wonderful breakfast, we can enjoy if we want, an hour of Spa or pool before starting on our route today. We set off with our body relaxed and cared for towards the nearby town of enciso and here… surprise, we enjoyed the “Lost Canyon”ln time, of a wonderful morning full of activities. We’ll see footprints real engraved in the rock of Dinosaurs Yes. More than 120 million years La Rioja was inhabited by dinosaurs and this was a green, swampy and leafy valley inhabited by herbivores and carnivores such as; the Iguanodon, the Theroplantigrade Encinensis (a species exclusive to the area), the Stegosaurus, Theropods, Sauropods (Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus, etc.) or Tyranosaurus Rex among others, thus becoming this area and neighboring towns with several routes and some 3000 dinosaur ichnites printed on the rocks, in one of the references of the World paleontology and UNESCO protected Biosphere Reserve. In this complex we can also visit these footprints, see the cretaceous museum, bathe in its magnificent pools y slides or enjoy your solarium. Here we will have our wonderful lunch today and we will relax to head towards another of the innumerable treasures that it houses La Rioja, small in size but large, very large in content. We meander through the Leza river canyon crossing the lands of the Old Cameros and we visit the small town characteristic of the area of Soto in Cameros, known for its famous marzipan this is an example of the ancient architecture of the area. Our next stop is at the “Leza Canyon Viewpoint” Occupied by vultures and various types of Åguilas we enjoy imposing panoramic views that could well be taken from a nature film or documentary. From here we will cross the entire Mountain range of the Old Cameros to reach the New Cameros. These are, Los Cameros, some lands of La Rioja and Sierra in the Iberian System that were administered under the Feudal lordship and belonging together with the rest of La Rioja to Kingdom of Navarra first and from Castilla later. Crossing these beautiful mountains we arrive at the picturesque town of “The Rasillo”, In the middle of nature and mountains and on the edge of its enormous swamp that feeds the Capital Logrono of water and serves as leisure and sports for anyone who wants to visit it, we have dinner and sleep today.

DAY 7: Mountain and Nature Day!
Regions: Iberian System; The Sierras de and Urbion!
After the beautiful, varied, historical and culinary week that we have already had, since yesterday we changed our third! and we enter the full Iberian mountain system to enjoy some wonderful and wild landscapes. Narrow and winding mountain roads and forests accompany us yesterday, today and tomorrow. Since The Rasillo we headed to the neighboring and picturesque village of Cameros nettle. This renowned town in La Rioja for example for its incredible “Ortigosa Caves” full of stalactites and stalagmites, one of which we will travel in its 236 meters in length and seeing the grandeur of the limestone formations in its interior, it represents one of the most picturesque villages of the New Cameros. Its bridge over a deep canyon makes us wonder about the curiosity of the lands chosen to found what later have been, characteristic and peculiar towns of La Rioja. While the cobbled streets of nettle they will amaze us, the neighbor’s Villoda de Cameros they are no less so. This is the main town or one of the main of the New Cameros and its first vestiges date from the second century. In the mid-nineteenth century, Villoslada had an industry of 40 royal cloth looms, since then livestock has been one of its main economic resources. Every year the pilgrimage to the hermitage of “Loins of of Gold”, To commemorate the miracle of his Virgin. We will enjoy the innumerable streams of crystalline and pure water that come down from Hoyos de Iregua in full Sierra de la Cebollera Natural Park, where almost 2.000 meters it literally springs from the ground to give rise to the Iregua river, one of the main rivers in La Rioja, as well as lush beech and pine groves as we travel along a beautiful, picturesque and bucolic road. We continue along the mountain road to leave the Sierra de Cebollera and reach the Sierra de Urbiön. In the shadow of the imposing Urbiön peak of 2.228 meters of altitude, which separates the provinces of La Rioja, Soria and Burgos, is the Black Lagoon. Of Glacial Origin and already in the land of Soria, this deep lagoon enjoys a privileged environment and legends such as that of Alvargonzalez. These forests are a true natural gem and in fact, in Covaleda “Capital de Pinares” in the Highlands from the area and at about 1.215 meters of altitude, it is found with about 105 square km, the largest pine forest in Europe of Scots Pine,Silvestre or “Scottish Pine” originally from Scotland according to the natives of this country. In this true lung of Spain and touring its picturesque and bucolic forests crossed by the Rio Douro, , we will have a safe, wonderful evening, dinner and rest. There will be no shortage of the friendly inhabitants of this beautiful and touristic town who come to chat with us and tell us stories and legends of the place.

DAY 8: Second day of Mountain and famous Monasteries!
Regions: Iberian System; The Sierra de la Demanda!
Our eighth day already and in a wonderful and wild natural environment. We woke up in this wonderful mountain town that is Covaleda and that offers us the first breaths of really pure air and with the smell of pine on the slopes of the mountain Urbion whose top is at 2.228 meters, we cast our eyes on everything around us because it is really worth remembering. Today awaits us a day of winding mountain roads and how else can we slide through them but through their skirts and tops. Our first stop is at the “Raso de la Nava” or Covaleda Camp, where in the midst of its imposing wild pines we can see carved dolmens and its picturesque hermitage. Following the path we will climb from Duruelo to the pine forest of “Both Strings”, From here we enjoy incredible and wonderful views of the valley of the Duero between pine forests. Passing later by the hermitage of Revenga where we will enjoy a comforting coffee and the Burgos towns of Quintanar of the Sierra y neil, we entered after this brief expedition in lands Sorianas y Burgos again in La Rioja, we are traveling much of the Iberian System and we do it through its imposing mountains that offer an average altitude of 2.000 meters above the sea. The medieval and important town Rioja de Anguiano opens its doors to us, we skirt the mansilla swamp to reach it and whose name is given by its submerged people. In this beautiful town the traditional “Anguiano dance”, In their traditional festivals in the months of July and September the dancers dressed in their traditional costume throw themselves around a steep and cobbled slope to the rhythm of their castanets to the delight of those attending these festivities. Our wonderful day is not here, we are in the Saw of Demand in an important area for La Rioja, since Los Monasteries of the Virgin of Valvanera, Patron Saint of La Rioja and San Millän de la Cogolla; Cradle of Spanish and Basque writings as well as other romances and Heritage awarded by the UNESCO, awarded for these obvious reasons as well as its imposing architecture and antiquity, true treasures in the middle of the Iberian mountain system from La Rioja. We visit the first of the great Monasteries and it is that elevated on a precipice is Valvanera Sanctuary Monastery. The origins of this millennial monastery date back to the XNUMXth century and in that century the dividing line between the Kingdoms of Navarra and Castile. In addition to preserving and granting religion and cu Iture, the Benedictine monks of this very important monastery have been keeping secret for more than a thousand years the magnificent recipe that gives rise to the production of their precious Valvanera liquor. This monastery belonging to the region of Najera, of a pilgrimage that takes place every year at night and on foot, that for about 60 kilometers which separate the capital from La Rioja; Logrono of the monastery. Well, intense day of landscapes and culture, but also; we arrive at one of the most important treasures of La Rioja: the Monastery and Cradle of the Yuso Language en San Millan de la Colloga. In this jewel of the Unesco we will enjoy a succulent Riojan dinner and a beautiful night’s rest in a unique environment at the foot of the mountain San Lorenzo Get ready for the beautiful day that awaits us tomorrow.

DAY 9: Monasteries and Culture!
Regions: Iberian System; Sierra de la Demanda and Rioja Alta!

Another amazing day! Are you ready for a Cultural day and picturesque villages? Let’s go there! We get up in the wonderful Hosterfa del Yuso Monastery of four stars and breathe, breathe the magnificent pure air that runs down the slopes of the Mount San Lorenzo, with 2.271 meters of altitude is the highest in the entire area, region and second in the entire Iberian System. We visit in this wonderful Tour / Vacation program two of the 3 highest peaks in the entire mountain system; the San Lorenzo and Urbiön. Well, almost at the top of San Lorenzo is the Valdezcaray ski resort, which we will visit later. For now we enjoy our succulent breakfast in yuso to explore later and guided by its expert illustrators, its best kept secrets. Through this cultural and wonderful visit they will tell us how the monks of the place wrote and collected in the 60 and 46 already in the X century what were the first words written in a Romance language that was not Latin. The Emilian Glosses and in turn some of these glosses are written in Basque or Vascuence, make them consider monasteries of San Millän “Yuso y Suso” as the birthplace of the Spanish (Spanish) and Basque (Euskera) written, being declared the Yuso Monastery in 1997 World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

We will also visit the Suso monastery or above dating from the XNU MXth century and whose first inhabitants were the disciples of San Millån. In it the styles were superimposed Visigothic, Mozarabic and Romanesque. Some of the most important writings for the Spanish language came from his desk such as: “The Emilianense Code of Councils (year 992), The Bible of Quiso (year 664) and a cup of the Apocalypse of the eighth century, this makes him be the Most notable desk from the Spanish Middle Ages. All or most of these writings are preserved in the Monastery of Yuso or “below”, this being an impressive mass of Renaissance and Baroque style It is of a later construction than the previous one, from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXth centuries. Among the treasures that we will see are paintings of John of Rizzi, coppers from the XNUMXth century and the gold and ivory caskets from the XNUMXth century that relics of San Millån. The Library of this monastery with more than ten thousand copies, it consists as one of the most authentic in all of Spain given the rarity of some of them as the “Gospel of Jeronimo Nadal”. Our cultural morning does not end here, have you heard of the Medieval poet Gonzalo de Berceo? Well, he was one of the highest representatives of the Mester of clergy and professed as a monk in the Monastery of San Millån de la Cogolla de Suso and he became a deacon and a priest. He was born in the neighborhood of “Madriz” in the nearby town of Berceo around the year 1198 and was the first poet in the Castilian language of known name, in his works he also included words written in Basque or Vasquismos since like him Spanish it was spoken although to a lesser extent in the area. We visit the small town where he was born.

Extensive and magnificent day that we are enjoying today, it does not end here but we depart towards perhaps the most beautiful town in all of La Rioja and its ski resort; Ezcaray and Valdezcaray. It depends on the dates that we meet, we will see snow or not, but we visit the facilities where this ski resort is located and first we will taste a delicious and succulent Riojan food in the village of Ezcaray of known renown and culinary tradition. We stroll through the cobbled streets furnished with beautiful and characteristic houses with wooden exterior beams and visit their “Royal Blanket Factory”. Wines, talks, pinchos and tastings will not be lacking in this magnificent town. Tasty day today that leads us to Santo Domingo de la Calzada. Beautiful old town of medieval tradition, Santo Domingo is also known for being a mandatory stop in the “Camino de Santiago” or “St James way”. We will visit its cathedral to tell you about the miracle of the rooster and the hen of the Saint. This stately city offers us its splendor National Parador from the XNUMXth century to enjoy a tasty Riojan dinner and sleep next to the important church as if in full Middle Ages we would meet.

DAY 10: Najera Cradle of Kings!
Well, almost without strength we are already! Magnificent vacation program, culture, gastronomy and nature. Surely we have been able to interact with the friendly Riojans and enjoy their company some of the great nights we have spent but, today we have a very important, essential and relevant visit in La Rioja which we have reserved for this day. From medieval Santo Domingo de la Calzada We’re going to Näjera “Cradle of Kings” and important town in the Middle Ages. Proud and historic town of La Rioja and it is not for less for its history, Nåjera is pilgrims hostel also, because through its places crosses the the Camino de Santiago and here the joyful and devoted walkers rest. We will tell you here the story of the “Very Noble and Very Loyal City of Näjera”Title granted by King Henry IV in 1454. The first settlements and archaeological remains in this area date from the Bronze Age, I feel later the Basque Celts called berons those who inhabited what is now Näjera. As an area of struggle against the Arabs who occupied the peninsula and the Roman conquest, Näjera has had a great apogee throughout its long history of which there are not many remains today. With only today around 8.000 inhabitants are celebrated in their festivals “The Chronicles of Nåjera or Naxara”, Since we are in the old Kingdom of Naxara – Pamplona, years 923 and 1076. Between these years the Pamplonés king of Navarra Sancho Garcés I recovers Néjera for the Kingdom of Navarra and the Rioja Media – Alta. After the destruction of Pamplona by Abderramån Ill in the year 924, King Garcia Sånchez moved his residence to Nåjera, calling himself ever since King of Näjera – Pamplona. Having several descendants of King Sancho Garcés his base and residence in Näjera to name one of them: Sancho Garcés II, Garcia Sénchez II or Sancho Ill the Elder with whom the Kingdom of Nåjera reaches its maximum splendor (years 1004 -1035) covering a good part of the North of the Peninsula from Catalonia to Cantabria and the Basque Country. King Sancho Ill the Elder was the great promoter of the city of Najera, where he celebrated Courts and granted the Jurisdiction of Nåjera Origin of Navarra legislation and basis of National law. The later King Garcia the one of Näjera extended his dominions by the low Rioja conquering Calahorra to the taifa of Zaragoza and founded the Monastery of Santa Maria La Real which we are going to visit! Impressive monastery from the XNUMXth century that attests to all these facts and the Kingdom of Naxara – Pamplona with its base in Näjera as “Cradle of Kings”. In this essential and famous Monastery of the North of Spain we are going to see mysterious and mythical places like “The Cloister of the Knights”From the XNUMXth century where the Gothic, Plateresque and Renaissance styles. En el Pantheon of the Kings rest: Blanca de Navarra, The Dukes of Näjera and Diego Löpez de Haro, we will also see the cave of the Virgin. In 1889 this great monastery for its interior jewels was declared National Monument. With great regret we have to say goodbye, we take you back to Bilbao from where we left ten magnificent days ago and we hope to see you again soon and enjoy your company in any of our impressive and magnificent Cultural Tours – Vacations programs, here in the magnificent Rioja, Spain or any of the authentic countries that we offer you and in which we are experts. We hope you enjoyed and see you again, see you soon!