Summer is the best time of the year to discover this surprising region’s rich gastronomy, wines, natural diversity, and cultural heritage.

 

La Rioja is a region truthful to its roots, proud of its origins and culture, and welcoming to visitors. It is a crossroad of many paths, including the Camino de Santiago (the Road of St James). Its gastronomic culture – strongly allied to its wine- growing traditions – can be experienced in the summer at some of the region’s illustrious pinchos streets as well as among its natural environments, rivers, and reservoirs. Furthermore, this season also highlights the social and festive personality of its locals. Visitors may come across unique rites and surprising exhibitions around every corner, including Anguiano’s Dancers (a National Tourist Interest festivity).

 

Gastronomy. The authentic crowded streets of Laurel and San Juan in Logroño are the best places to try pinchos (a small traditional snack from northern Spain). There are also many other restaurants across La Rioja offering interesting recipes and gastronomic proposals. Avant-garde, tradition, high-quality products, and expertise go hand in hand in some of the most renowned restaurants in the country, including four Michelin Guide’s special mentions: Ezcaray’s Echaurren, Daroca de Rioja’s Venta Moncalvillo, and Logroño’s Kiro Sushi and Ikaro.

Wine. The summer heat brings many wine enthusiasts to the region – a product that has put La Rioja on the map. Hundreds of wine cellars can be found here, many of which offer interesting cultural events to teach visitors more about the history and tradition of their work. These activities include hot-air balloon trips over the vines, guided tours, wine tasting sessions, and horse, cycle, and walking tours.

 

 

Forests, mountains, rivers, and reservoirs create a daring landscape for walkers, runners, bikers, climbers, canoeists, and swimmers alike

 

Nature and sport. La Rioja is home to incredible natural surroundings. Forests, hills, rivers, and reservoirs combine to form a daring ever-changing landscape for hikers, runners, cyclists, climbers, canoeists, and swimmers. While El Rasillo Sailing Club offers awide variety of options for water sports lovers, the Cebollera Mountains presents hikers with beautiful paths through the region’s green heart. Finally, the Eurovelo 1 Route – which connects Portugal and Norway – is great for cyclists.

Family friendly. The most popular family- friendly activity in La Rioja is, without doubt, visiting Enciso’s Barranco Perdido, an adventure park located next to some amazing dinosaur sites: creatures that walked this land many years ago. Furthermore, there’s also Calahorra’s Tierra Rapaz, which introduces visitors to the exciting world of birds of prey.

 

La Rioja’s summer wakes the visitors’ cultural curiosity across its many routes

Camino de Santiago. Summer whets the appetites of the region’s visitors. The Camino de Santiago enters La Rioja through Logroño’s historic quarter, crosses the pottery town of Navarrete, pays tribute to the ancient kings and queens in Nájera, and then arrives at Santo Domingo de la Calzada: a town created for and by pilgrims. This year, the town celebrates the Calceatense Jubilee Year (which finishes on January 12th, 2020) to commemorate the one thousand year anniversary of its patron saint. Just a few kilometres away, the town of Grañón bids farewell to the pilgrims as they leave the region to continue their path.

Monasteries. Departing from Nájera, a small detour from the Camino de Santiago will take visitors to San Millán de la Cogolla, a town of high historical interest. This town is reminiscent of the ancient hermit and monastery life as well as home to breathtaking cultural heritage. It was in this old land, home to great thinkers and scribes, where the first words in the Spanish language were ever written. The monasteries of Suso and Yuso (World Heritage Sites) are the surface under which the intellectual root lies - the true legacy of this universal language. Portico Tourist-Cultural Pass offers a discount to visit La Rioja’s monasteries.

 

For more information, please visit www.lariojaturismo.com