Free walking tours in Murga and what to see

Must-sees

Murga is a small village in the municipality of Ayala, in the valley of the same name, in northern Álava between Vitoria and Bilbao. Its main attraction is the Torre de Murga, built in the 13th century beside the Izoria river. In the 16th century a palace was added to the original tower and ended up wrapping almost all of it, so today it appears as a stone and brick ensemble amid meadows and oak woods.

The Ayala valley has more heritage a few kilometres away. In Quejana is the complex linked to the Ayala family, with its Gothic palace, the Dominican convent and the chapel of the Virgen del Cabello. Respaldiza is the municipal capital and home to the town hall, and Artziniega keeps a medieval centre on a hill. In the background, the Sierra Salvada closes off the valley.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free walking tours in Murga. The tower is private and can only be visited with a guide, and Civitatis lists a guided tour that starts in the estate's txakoli vineyards and continues inside the palace, with its halls, library and chapel, before ending with a tasting of txakoli and local cheese. For the rest of the valley, the usual way is to get around on your own by car.

How long to spend

The tower visit lasts about two hours. With a full day you can add Quejana and Artziniega, and with two days you have time for the Delika canyon and the Salto del Nervión, the great waterfall the river forms when it's running, or a hike in the Sierra Salvada.

Where to stay

In Murga and the nearby villages in the valley there are farm stays and rural houses, ideal if you're after peace and scenery. Amurrio, a few minutes away, is the town with the most services and a hotel or two, and has trains to Bilbao. If you prefer a city, both Bilbao and Vitoria are less than an hour away by car.