Free walking tours in Laguardia and what to see

Must-sees

Laguardia is the main town of Rioja Alavesa. It sits on a hilltop, enclosed by walls, with the Sierra de Cantabria behind it. Its most important sight is the church of Santa María de los Reyes, with a Gothic portico that still keeps its original colours, something rare. Also stroll along Calle Mayor, Plaza Mayor with its clock of moving figures, the church of San Juan and the Abbey tower.

Beneath the houses are calados, cellars carved into the rock where wine was traditionally made and stored; several can be visited. Around the town are vineyards, wineries with contemporary architecture and prehistoric remains, such as the La Hoya settlement and the El Sotillo and La Chabola de la Hechicera dolmens. The Carralogroño lagoon, next door, is good for a short walk.

Free tours and guided visits

Free tours are rare in Laguardia. The usual format is guided visits. The portico of Santa María de los Reyes can only be seen with a guide, so it is best to book. There are also guided visits to the medieval old town and the calados. The most typical experience in the area is a winery visit with a tasting, at both family-run and large wineries. Routes also leave from Laguardia to the villages of Rioja Alavesa, such as Elciego, Labastida or Samaniego, and to the area's dolmens.

How long to spend

Four to six hours are enough for the town: the portico, the old town and a calado. If you want to visit wineries, allow a full day or two. Ideally, spend a night, explore the old town in the evening and devote the next morning to a winery and the nearby villages.

Where to stay

Staying inside the walls lets you stroll at night without cars and have the wine bars a step away. There are small hotels and rural houses. Outside the walls, among the vineyards, there are larger hotels, some linked to wineries, quieter but requiring a car. Logroño is about twenty minutes away if you prefer a city with more choice.