Discover La Rioja

28-06-2010 Advertorial

The range of products and dishes in the region’s cuisine is also related to its varied terrain and the climate.

As in the case of wine, we can differentiate between the Upper and Lower Rioja districts on the banks of the Ebro and the high mountain valleys of the rivers which descend from the ranges to the south into the valleys emptying into the Ebro.

Cuisine of the river plains and cuisine of the sierra. Each with its own products and its own ways of preparing them, although the drift to the cities of the people from the mountains has made it possible to achieve a more homogenous image of the cuisine of La Rioja.

Wine: a world of activities

At each stop you make in La Rioja you will feel that everything tastes and smells like good wine, as its more than 500 wineries have given it an unparalleled character. It is certainly interesting to visit one to see how the wines are grown, or why not attend a commentated tasting session?

Another fun way to learn about wine is to participate in the activities organised around the vineyards: fly over them in a hot-air balloon, go horse riding to enjoy nature at a gallop, go canoeing surrounded by vineyards, be a winemaker for a day or feel the thrill of crossing vineyards in a 4x4.

If you are looking for something quiet, you will love travelling in the “Vinobús” (Wine bus) (a guided tour bus that travels over different routes) or visiting museums such as the Wine Interpretation Centre in Haro.

Culture linked with the Camino de Santiago

2010 is the perfect year to visit La Rioja. You can make the most of the fact that St. James Holy Year is being celebrated to see some of the monuments in this land that is so linked to the Camino de Santiago. In Logroño you can discover the church dedicated to St. James, the Fount of the Pilgrim or a huge game of the goose based on the Camino.

Looking for more options? In Santo Domingo de la Calzada you will be impressed by its cathedral and its legend of the Miracle of the Cock and Hen. Don’t forget to ask about it. And in San Millan de la Cogolla, there are two unique monuments that can’t be missed: the Monasteries of Suso and Yuso, where the first ever words written in Spanish appeared. A very special place without a doubt.