Enchanting Rioja and its medieval fortress towns

If you are lucky enough to visit during one of the numerous Rioja festivals, you will be mesmerized by unique local traditions and colorful folklore, vibrant colors, joy, and the atmosphere of a true Spanish fiesta.

The cultural-historical landscape of Rioja and the Way of St. James, passing through the Rioja Valley, have been proposed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Rioja is a captivating combination of hilly landscapes covered with vineyards, ancient villages frozen in time, and modern 21st-century architecture. A region where traditions and cutting-edge technologies create some of the world's most famous wines.

Program

• Just half an hour's drive from Vitoria, and you will find yourself in a sun-drenched wine paradise!
• We will cross the Sierra Cantabria, separating the Basque Country from Rioja Alavesa, through the gates to Rioja - the famous Konchas de Haro, a rocky gorge where the Ebro River has forged its path. At the very top of one of the cliffs forming the gorge, there is the ancient chapel of San Felices - this place was chosen by the Spanish themselves as the "best corner of Spain 2014" according to the Repsol rating.
• Laguardia A short transfer along a picturesque road through vineyards, during which you will be able to see Neolithic dolmens. We will go to Laguardia - the winemaking capital of Rioja Alavesa. This fortified hilltop town used to be a border guardian city of the Kingdom of Navarre, which is reflected in its name. You can enter the city through one of the many gates in the ancient fortress walls surrounding the settlement. A walk through the narrow streets of the town will transport you to a medieval fairy tale. Along the way, we will admire ancient houses with reliefs of family crests, some of which are about 800 years old! In the main square, Plaza Mayor, you will see two city hall buildings - an old one from the 16th century and a new one from the 19th century, famous for its musical clock with dancing figures in national costumes. The entire underground of the city is riddled with tunnels of wine cellars, one of which we can visit. We will visit the church of Santa Maria de los Reyes, which hides a true masterpiece of late Gothic - a magnificent portal with polychrome painting from the 17th century. We will climb the Abacial Tower (Torre Abacial), from where you will have beautiful views of the Rioja Valley with a patchwork quilt of vineyards framed by the majestic Sierra Cantabria mountains. Then we will walk along the main street, where bull runs take place on the feast of San Juan in the summer, and go to another remarkable church of the city, San Juan, the bell tower with loopholes and battlements of which serve as silent witnesses of the city's former military glory.
• At the end of the tour, you will have the opportunity to have lunch at one of the best restaurants in Laguardia, where you can try traditional Riojan cuisine dishes paired with excellent local wine.