Page 167 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

NA V ARR A AND LA RIOJA  165

d Calahorra rugs for which the village was
once renowned. Enciso and the
La Rioja. Road Map B5. * 25,000. @
£ n Plaza del Raso 16; 941 10 50 61. other villages in the area are
_ San Emeterio and San Celedonio now largely depopulated.
(1–3 Mar). ∑ lariojaturismo.com Two important churches
survive here: the 16th-century
Calahorra’s history stretches Santa María de la Estrella, with
back almost 2,000 a square tower and a beautiful
years. Originally 15th-century figure of the
known by its Roman Virgin; and the aisleless San
name of Calagurris, it Pedro, featuring a 12th-century
was one of the Iberian battlemented tower. A few
peninsula’s most hermitages and the ruins of a
important cities. On castle are also in the area.
the banks of the Each year the region
Cidacos river, at attracts a plethora of
the spot where tourists to see the huellas The high altar at Iglesia de la Asunción
its patron saints, de dinosaurios (dinosaur in Navarrete
the legionnaires footprints), dating from
Emeterio and the Mesozoic period and has had many different owners
Celedonio, are spread across several sites. over the centuries. Today, thanks
thought to have Visitors can follow the to a prog ramme of renovation
been martyred, dinosaur trail from the ancient houses with stone
rises a 15th-century El Barranco Perdido, coats of arms (of which there
cathedral with a Neo - an adventure park that are more than 50) have recovered
Classical façade by includes a museum of some of their former splendour.
the Raón brothers. A figure from the palaeontology. Fine examples can be seen on
In the cathedral’s church in Calahorra Calle Mayor. Running behind
chapel of San Pedro E El Barranco Perdido the street is Cal Nueva, the
is a Plateresque reredos. Enciso, La Rioja. Tel 941 39 60 80. former approach road to the
The Iglesia de San Andrés, Open end Mar–mid-Jun & Sep– underground bodegas.
whose construction began in mid-Oct: 11am–6:30pm Sat, Sun The aisled Iglesia de la
the 16th century, features a & public hols; mid-Jun–mid-Jul: Asunción, with a Renaissance
remarkable tympanum; a crucifix, 11am–7pm Tue–Sun; mid-Jul– façade and two porticoes,
with arms of unequal length. On end Aug: 11am–8pm daily. & 8 7 was begun in the 16th century;
∑ barrancoperdido.com
the door at the main entrance is inside is an impressive
a carving that symbolizes the Baroque reredos.
victory of Christianity over g Navarrete Not far from Navarrete is a
paganism, the latter represented cemetery whose entrance gate
by the sun, the moon and a La Rioja. Road Map A5. * 2,800. @ is the portico of a former pil-
synagogue. The austere tower is n Cuesta El Caño; 941 44 10 62. grims’ hostel. This Romanesque
built of stone and brick. Inside ( Wed. _ La Virgen y San Roque structure, with elements of early
the church is a magnificent (15–16 Aug). Gothic, is composed of five
Rococo altar by Manuel Adán. arches, including pointed ones,
The Monasterio de San José The town of Navarrete, situated decorated with scenes from
was built in the 16th century. on what was once the border the lives of pilgrims and of
At the high altar are murals between Navarra and Castile, St George fighting the dragon.
depicting scenes from the life
of St Theresa. To the side of the Dinosaurs from La Rioja
altar is a Flagellation of Christ,
by Gregorio Hernández. Approximately 100 million years ago, during the Mesozoic period,
La Rioja was a vast river delta – a marshy landscape covered in rich
vegetation. Among the numerous animals living here were dinosaurs,
f Enciso both carnivorous and
herbivorous, who left their
La Rioja. Road Map B6. * 160. @ footprints in the mud.
_ San Pedro (29 Jun), San Roque y Over the millennia, due
Virgen de la Estrella (15–16 Aug).
to geological changes, the
mud turned into rock, and
This tiny village of white houses many of the footprints
with red roofs was once a centre have been preserved;
of sheep farming and textiles, they can be seen by the
but its best days have long since marked trails that lead
passed. Nowadays only one through the area. Reconstructed dinosaurs in Valdecevillo
factory produces the woollen
For hotels and restaurants see pp206–7 and pp221–2

164-165_Town.indd 165 13/09/16 5:27 pm