La Rioja, Spain

La Rioja

• Population is around 323,609 people

• I ts capital is Logroño

• Other major cit ies include Calahorra, Arnedo, Haro, Alfaro, Najera, Lardero, Vi l lamediana de Iregua, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and Autol

Major Cities & Population

• Both the r ivers Oja & Ebro fl ow through this region

• The Iberian Mountain Range extends through La Rioja

• There are also fi ne pastures for farming and l ivestock and highlands with beech, oak, and pine trees

• The average temperature ranges from 53-88° F

Average Temperatures & Geographical Information

• Agriculture – wheat, barley, grapes, asparagus, capsicum

• Industry – tempered glass, wine, food preserves, footwear, charcuterie (meat products)

• La Rioja Alta is a famous wine company in La Rioja

Economy

• Gonzalo de Berceo was a famous poet back in the 1200’s

• Domingo de S i los was a Spanish monk, referred to as a sa int in the Cathol ic Church, the Abby of Santo Domingo de S i los was dedicated to h im

• Fausto E lhuyer and h is brother Juan Jose E lhuyer were Spanish chemists who d iscovered tungsten

Famous Citizens

Dinosaur footprints were found in the area of Cameros, where during the Early Cretaceous period, fl ooded plains drained, leaving behind dinosaur footprints

History

Caparrones is a Spanish stew made of a kind of kidney bean cal led caparron. I t also contains spicy sausage cal led chorizo.

Food

• The Rioja Wine Harvest Festival takes place in Logroño

• Tradit ions such as foot-crushing grapes and bul l -running are off ered

Celebration

1. Santa María la Real of Nájera is a monastery in Najera. It was an important pilgrimage stop on the Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James)

2. Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada is a cathedral dedicated to the 12th century Saint Dominic de la Calzada

Historical Sites

1. Go to the Vendimia and San Mateo Fiestas in September

2. Visit the Cebollera Mountain Range National Park

3. Visit the Ocón Valley, which is a protected biosphere reserve

Activities