Stendhal syndrome in the Basque-Riojan style
1.**Street Traveler (for real)**
When King Sancho El Fuerte de Navarra thought of walling this city, he did not think about the side effects it would have in the future. First: that cars do not enter , that it is absolutely impossible for a tourist to be run over or for the motorcycle on duty to annoy the group photo. The second, which would 'force' the city to keep the plant motley full of alleys and with little space for the square and the meeting. The third, who would give a Stupendous picture of medieval doors (5, to be exact), aesthetically well-kept defense towers, such as the Albacial, and walls that rise up to two meters.
And all this the only thing he does is draw scenes from another time going up and down streets as gastronomically powerful as Calle Mayor or Calle Páganos . And, of course, wandering around you reach the Town Hall. And if it is done at certain times (from October to May at 12:00, 14:00, 17:00 and 20:00 and in summer at 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 17:00, 20:00 and 22:00) it can be seen running the carillon show where the automatons recreate the dances of the pipers in their famous parades.
The carillon show
two. Villa Lucia
though here It has been promised not to talk about wine , it is impossible to avoid the attractions that wine tourism offers . And it is that you can enjoy this drink without tasting it. On the one hand, there is the recurring option of the Spa Hotel Villa de Laguardia Sercotel . But sticking to the 'beautiful' concept, its neighbor Villa Lucia it is claimed as a park of activities around wine. The best? His short in 4D with which he travels throughout the region hand in hand with a very nice critter called Vinfo . This fantastic being also accompanies the visitor through the fun sensory museum. And hey, no one forbids you to have a glass of wine afterwards, eh?
Villa Lucia, wine, wine and wine
Spa at the Villa de Laguardia Sercotel hotel
3. the beautiful virgin
Although that shouting "beautiful!" the carvings of the virgins sound a bit like unleashed folklore and Andalusian saeta, the most beautiful Maria in all of Spain it is in the porch of Santa María de los Reyes . The polychrome carvings of this roofed entrance come to tell the life of the Virgin in a Gothic comic plan but without speech bubbles. The explanations are given more gracefully by the guides who explain this Spanish architectural jewel on a daily basis. But as much as one can spend a good time discovering scenes and revealing Christian iconography, the main image of the mother with the child welcoming the temple remains etched in the retina. Either because of the details and the color, or because she is a beautiful (and ungothic) figure.
The most beautiful Maria
Four. The views
It is what has to be on top of a hill , which is visually dominated the entire Sierra de Cantabria and the valley that extends to the Ebro . It is a landscape that gains in autumn with the explosion of colors of the vineyards. The playful forms of many of its **massifs and the architectural whims of wineries like Ysios** appear on the horizon and they break with the boring harmony of the hills and the vineyards . The best place to spend the afternoon looking east and west is the Collado Park, where even the benches are beautiful. As much as you bust Felix of Samaniego try to give the place its own substance, the best thing about it is its location, on the northern vertex of the town.
Bodegas Ysios with the Sierra de Cantabria in the background
5. The hospice of Hospedería the places
Laguardia not only has wine around her, this liquid also runs through her veins. The entrails of this mountain served for years to preserve and mature this drink. The best example is **the fretwork of the Hospedería Los Parajes**. Its good conservation, its labyrinthine extension and how well it is is surprising. It is a place for meeting and verbosity chattering in a cellar located just below the Plaza Mayor.
Chatting in front of a good wine in this openwork
extra benefits
Close to Laguardia there is two more inescapable benefits . One is Héctor Oribe's restaurant in Páganos (just 2 kilometers from Laguardia). This chef manages to do wonders with simple dishes and ingredients that convey good vibes and enjoyment. Their braised beef tail with red wine and garlic on mashed potatoes it is simply glorious.
The other is the Hotel Viura from Villabuena de Alava. Few towns in Spain can boast of having a avant-garde hotel but with very traditional manners and care, like that of rural grandmothers, who go out of their way to ensure that the visitor never leaves.
_ You may also be interested..._*
- Bodegas Ysios: the first signature winery had to be in the Rioja Alavesa
- The 50 most beautiful villages in Spain
- All articles by Javier Zori del Amo
Rural Vanguard
Panoramic view of Laguardia