Free walking tours in Arnedo and what to see

Must-sees

Arnedo is the main town of La Rioja Baja and is closely tied to the footwear industry, which you can learn about in its shoe museum. The old town spreads at the foot of a hill crowned by the remains of the castle. From there you see the town and the Cidacos valley. In the centre, the churches of Santo Tomás and Santa Eulalia stand out.

The surrounding landscape is reddish clay, with slopes full of caves dug by hand over the centuries. The best known is the Cueva de los Cien Pilares, a large cavity with columns carved into the rock. The Vico monastery is very close. In the Cidacos valley there are also dinosaur footprints at several sites, such as Enciso.

Free tours and guided visits

Arnedo does not usually have free walking tours. The norm is guided visits to the Cueva de los Cien Pilares and the old town, and routes explaining the history of shoemaking in the town. Interesting excursions leave from here along the Cidacos valley: the dinosaur track sites, with waymarked routes and interpretation centres, and the Arnedillo spa, with thermal waters and open-air pools beside the river.

How long to spend

With half a day you see the old town, the castle hill and the Cueva de los Cien Pilares. A full day lets you add the shoe museum and some shopping at the factory outlets. If you want to see the dinosaur footprints and take a thermal bath in Arnedillo, set aside a second day. A car makes getting around the valley much easier.

Where to stay

Central Arnedo is the best place to stay, with the old town, restaurants and shops a few steps away. From there you are quickly out into the Cidacos valley. If you are after rest, Arnedillo has places to stay next to the spa, a few kilometres away. The valley villages offer rural cottages, convenient if you are travelling as a family and want to see dinosaurs.