Free walking tours in Alfaro and what to see

Must-sees

Alfaro is the easternmost town in La Rioja, in La Rioja Baja beside the Ebro, very close to Navarre. Its great image is the collegiate church of San Miguel Arcángel, a Baroque building raised mostly in the 17th century, which hosts hundreds of white stork nests. It is the largest colony in the world on a single building, and watching them glide over the town is the highlight of the visit, especially from late winter to summer.

The old town keeps other interesting buildings, such as the church of Nuestra Señora del Burgo, the Conceptionist convent, the Abbot's Palace and the Sáenz de Heredia and Ramírez palaces. Alfaro was the Roman city of Graccurris, whose remains can be seen at the Eras de San Martín site and in the Roman nymphaeum, a monumental fountain. For walks, the Sotos del Ebro Nature Reserve protects riverside woodland.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free walking tours in Alfaro. Most people explore the old town on their own or ask at the tourist office about visits to the collegiate church and the Roman heritage. For nature, the Sotos del Ebro path starts in the town itself and can be done without a guide. From Logroño or Tudela, Alfaro fits nicely into a route through La Rioja Baja.

How long to spend

Allow three or four hours for the collegiate church, the old town and the Roman remains. If you add a walk through the Sotos del Ebro, give it the whole day. With two days you can visit Calahorra or Tudela, both very close, and drive up Monte Yerga to see the Ebro plain from above.

Where to stay

The most convenient option is to stay in the centre, near the collegiate church, so you can do everything on foot and watch the storks at dawn and dusk. Alfaro has enough hotels and apartments for a short break. For more variety, Tudela, across the border in Navarre, and Calahorra have plenty of choice and are a few minutes away.