We’d love to keep up with the pictures and videos from your fabulous bike tour!
Give us a follow on Instagram at @bikespaintours and tag us in the posts from your trip.
Please leave your luggage in the hotel reception each morning (by 9am at the latest) so that it can be transferred to your next hotel. Make sure that your luggage is clearly labelled with the nametag provided.
Your bike fitting is scheduled for Sunday, 26th May at 9:30am. In case of any issue please contact Enrique on (+34) 696 546 088
Call the Bike Spain Tours office on +34 915 590 653, or out of office hours call +34 677 356 586. We will get you where you need to be and get you the help you need.
Please be aware that Spaniards follow a very particular routine in terms of their daily meals, and this is often strictly enforced by restaurant opening hours, especially in small towns!
You can expect restaurants to be open for lunch from approximately 1:30pm – 4pm. Many places will offer a menú del día: a set menu with 2/3 options for each course, usually including a drink, bread and dessert or coffee. Remember that lunch is the main meal of the day in Spain.
Dinnertime in Spain is any time from 8pm onwards. Dinner in Spain is typically a lighter meal.
Please note that the legal limit for blood alcohol content, which is set at 0.5 g/l of alcohol in blood, applies to both cyclists and drivers in Spain. If you test positive on a breathalyzer, you may be fined between 500 and 1,000 euros. Please drink and cycle responsibly.
Please note that guided visits to bodegas must be booked in advance. Let us know if you would like us to book any visits for you.
It’s also a good idea to bring extra layers of clothing with you if you are planning to visit any bodegas, because the temperatures in the wine cellars are often several degrees cooler than outside.
The Basque Country is a bilingual region of Spain, so expect to hear both Spanish (castellano) and Basque (euskera)! Almost everyone you meet will speak Spanish, but in the smaller villages you are likely to come across people whose first language is Basque, and all official signs will be in both languages.
Here are a few basic words which will likely earn you a smile in the smaller Basque-speaking villages:
kaixo (kai-sho) – hello
agur – goodbye
eskerrik asko – thank you
mesedez – please
Saturday, 25th May: Logroño
Arrival day
Accommodation: Aurea Palacio de Correos
Meals included: Breakfast
Set on a fertile plain and surrounded by vineyards, Logroño is a fitting capital for Spain’s most famous wine region. The city’s connection with wine production dates all the way back to its Roman founders, who celebrated an annual grape harvest festival: a foretaste of things to come!
At leisure in Logroño
Eating and drinking in Logroño
Enjoy Logroño’s culinary scene like the locals with a tapas crawl (chiquiteo) around the two most popular streets: Calle de San Juan and Calle del Laurel. You’ll typically get a free tapa with each drink, so we recommend one chiquito (glass of Rioja wine) in each bar!
Some of our favourites include Bar La Casita, Bar Soriano, Bar Jubera and Restaurante Tastavin (Calle del Laurel) and Bar La Cantina, Torres Gastrobar and Bar Vinissimo (Calle de San Juan).
Sunday, 26th May: Villabuena de Álava (Rioja)
Route: Riding through the Rioja Alavesa: 36 km/22.4 miles
Elevation:+500m/+1642 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Viura
Meals included: Breakfast
9:30am: Our Bike Spain Tours staff will pick you up from reception at your hotel in Logroño, and take you to Laguardia for your bike fitting. In case of any issues, please contact Enrique on (+34) 696 54 60 88.
Laguardia is the unofficial capital of the Rioja Alavesa – the Basque section of La Rioja – and many of the town’s 320 wine cellars, which date back from the late 18th century, are still functioning today. As you approach, the town looks like something plucked straight from a fairytale: standing atop a hill, still partly surrounded by walls, towers and fortified gateways.
Next, it’s time to start cycling!
You’ll hit your first bodega within 2km! The majestic architecture of Bodega Ysios (wine bar open daily 10am – 4:30pm, guided tours and tastings available on request), created by famous architect Santiago Calatrava, seems to blend into the surrounding mountains. History buffs can make a detour to the Poblado de la Hoya (open Tue – Sat 11am – 2pm/4pm – 7pm, Sun 11am – 2pm), an Iron Age settlement with an excellent interpretation centre.
The ride continues along the banks of the Ebro River, winding its way through endless vineyards. The first town you’ll encounter is Elvillar, where you can make a stop at the Chabola de la Hechicera dolmen, the best-preserved Megalithic monument in the region, and where a witches’ ceremony is held every summer.
Stop for a photo opportunity at the Mirador del Risgo viewpoint just before arriving into Lapuebla de Labarca, which got its name from the small skiff that once transported people and goods across the Ebro. Here, you can visit “Balbino’s Balcony” at Bodega Don Balbino (open Mon – Sat 12pm – 2pm/4pm – 6pm) to enjoy a glass of the bodega’s own wine with fabulous views over the vineyards.
As you enter the next town, Elciego, you’ll notice the unmistakable titanium waves of a Frank O. Gehry building. This is the famous Marques de Riscal hotel and winery, which is worth visiting for its fabulous futuristic architecture alone.
3pm: Guided tour at Marques de Riscal
If you arrive early in Elciego, we also highly recommend a visit to Valdelana Bodega and Wine Museum (open Mon – Sat 8am – 6pm and Sun 8am – 3pm), set in a 15th century underground cellar and whose exhibition covers everything from local prehistory, traditional wine-making techniques, an introduction to wine tasting theory and a wine and olive oil tasting at the end!
Before you reach the next town, Baños de Ebro, make a quick stop for a photo opportunity over the River Ebro at Mirador Alto del Ramo.
At leisure in Villabuena de Álava
As with many other Riojan towns, much of the activity in Villabuena de Álava is connected with wine-making. In fact, it has more wineries per inhabitant than any other town in the world: one for every eight people!
Take a stroll aroung the historic centre and admire the stately homes, built in Renaissance and Baroque styles: evidence of the wealth that wine production has brought to this small town over the centuries. Some notable examples are the Casa del Indiano and the Marquis of Solana.
If your legs are up to it after your cycle ride, a short walk from the town you can visit the El Montecillo Dolmen, a Bronze Age tomb discovered at the end of 2009 by a local inhabitant.
Monday, 27th May: Ábalos (Rioja)
Route: Discovering the winery towns: 51.8 km/32.2 miles
Elevation: +722m/+2370 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Viura
Meals included: Breakfast
Today’s route follows small, quiet country paths along the Ebro River, giving you a chance to explore some of the area’s most beautiful and historic little towns.
The first of these is San Vicente de Sonsierra, a former fortress town where coats of arms still decorate historic palaces. Here, you can visit the medieval city centre, which boasts a castle, several watchtowers and the remains of the original city walls. There is even an virtual reality app that shows how the town once was, downloadable from the Apple App Store and Google Play. You can also visit the 13th century church of San Juan de Arriba, which houses the nationally-famous Vera Cruz Brotherhood, who precede their Easter Week processions with self-flagellation to show their faith. We also recommend a visit to the interesting Bodega Castillo de Mendoza, formerly housed within the castle walls (shop open and tastings available Mon – Fri 9am – 2:45pm and Sat 11:30am – 1:30pm).
Next, your route takes you up to the tiny mountaintop hamlet of Rivas de Tereso, (pop. just 15!) where you can enjoy a bite to eat with fabulous views at the excellent Asador de José Mari (open Wed – Mon, 10am – 6pm), where you can choose between the terrace and the garden for a relaxing break.
Your next stop is the tiny village of Remelluri, famous for the large 10th century necropolis, discovered in 1972, where 300 anthropomorphic tombs are clearly visible, and the little hermitage of Santa Sabina. You can also stop by the excellent Remelluri Bodega, set in a 15th century monastery (shop open Mon – Fri 8am – 3pm).
You’ll continue on through vineyards, through the town of Bastida to the pretty riverside hamlet of Briñas, where you can stop off at Bodega Tobelos (wine bar open Mon – Sat 12:30pm – 3pm, guided tours available on request).
On exiting Briñas, those interested in history can cross the medival bridge over the Ebro to visit the Celtic religious site of Jarrero, set on a hilltop and surrounded by grapevines.
Your next stop is Haro, one of La Rioja’s centres of wine production, and world-famous for the wine battle that takes place every June, in which locals and visitors alike attack each other with thousands of litres of wine!
Haro itself is a fascinating town, and it’s well worth taking a stroll to discover the sculptures of ordinary inhabitants performing traditional tasks, many of which are, of course, related to winemaking! We also recommend a visit to the Baroque Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Haro, and a walk around the palaces of the old own. Here, you have the option of treating yourself to a Michelin Star lunch at Restaurante Nublo (open for lunch Wed – Sun, 1:30pm – 4pm, prior booking essential).
Of course, no visit to Haro would be complete without stopping by a winery!
1pm: Guided tour at CVNE, which belongs to one of Spain’s biggest wine companies and boasts a wine barrel cellar designed by Gustave Eiffel.
If you’d like to visit a second bodega in Haro, we recommend the wine bar at Bodegas Muga (open Mon – Fri 9:30am – 2:30pm, Sat 10:30am – 2:30pm).
From Haro, you’ll head back towards Villabuena de Álava.
Tuesday, 28th May: Villabuena de Álava – Santo Domingo Calzada
Route: Along the Camino de Santiago: 47.8 km/29.7 miles
Elevation: +724m/+2,374 ft
Accommodation: Parador Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Meals included: Breakfast
Please leave your luggage in the hotel reception by 9am at the latest, so that it can be transferred to your next hotel. In case of any issues with the luggage transfer, please call (+34) 659872863.
Long acknowledged as the oldest tourist trail stretching throughout Europe, the Camino de Santiago (Saint James Way, in English) is the dividing line between the upper and lower Rioja regions.
You’ll pass through San Vicente de Sonsierra and into the atmospheric hilltop town of Briones, whose north side overlooks the River Ebro. Here, we recommend a stroll around the town’s charming medieval centre, and a visit to the majestic 16th century Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. If you fancy a bite to eat, we recommend Restaurante Los Calaos de Briones (open Tue – Sun, 1pm – 4pm), which is set in a 17th century wine cellar. History buffs can pay a visit to La Casa Encantada, a beautiful 18th century manor house converted into la Rioja’s very own Ethnographical Museum (open Tue – Sat 10am –2pm/4pm – 7pm and Sun 10:30am – 2:30pm).
From Briones, you’ll continue south through Azofra and Alesanco towards Cañas, where you can visit the imposing 12th century Monastery of Santa Maria de San Salvador (open Tue – Fri 11am – 5pm, Sat 10:30am – 5:30pm and Sun 10:30am – 3pm), before continuing on to Badarán for your bodega visit.
12:30pm: Lunch, guided tour and tasting at Bodega David Moreno.
Today’s route finishes in Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
At leisure in Santo Domingo de la Calzada
The most important attraction in Santo Domingo is the spectacular 16th century Cathedral (open Mon – Sat 10am – 2pm/4pm – 7pm, Sun 10am – 3pm), which includes a sculpted chicken coop in honour of one of the miracles of Saint Domingo, the town’s patron, who brought a roasted chicken back to life in order to save an innocent pilgrim from being hanged.
Eating and drinking in Santo Domingo de la Calzada
The Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada has an excellent in-house restaurant; however, if you would like to explore the town further we recommend Restaurante Los Caballeros (open Tue – Sat 1pm – 3:30pm/7:30pm – 10pm and Sun 1pm – 3:30pm), which is set in a historic manor house.
Before leaving Santo Domingo, you must try ahorcaditos, small cakes shaped like the shell of St James (due to the town’s importance on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route). The best place to buy these is Pastelería Isidrio (open Tue – Sun 10:30am – 2pm/5:30 – 8pm)
Wednesday, May 29th: San Sebastián
Accommodation: Hotel Lasala
Meals included: Breakfast
10am: Private transfer to San Sebastián.
At leisure in San Sebastián
Eating and drinking in San Sebastián
San Sebastián is world-famous for its gastronomy, and with good reason! The city boasts more Michelin starts per person than any other city in Europe. Central to Basque cuisine are pintxos, small finger foods served at bars and taverns throughout the Basque Country. The word pintxo is a ‘Basque-ified’ take on the Spanish word pincho, which itself comes from the verb pinchar, meaning ‘to pierce’. This is because pintxos are very often held together by cocktail sticks, and many bars will bill you by counting how many empty cocktail sticks are left on your plate!
5pm: Guided pintxos tour in San Sebastián.
Thursday, May 30th: San Sebastián
Accommodation: Hotel Lasala
Meals included: Breakfast
At leisure in San Sebastián
Eating and drinking in San Sebastián
The most famous area to go out for pintxos is the old town. Some of our favourite pintxos bars are Atari (don’t miss the carrilleras or the torrijas), La Txuleta (grilled meat and fish), Bar Sport (foie and sports!) and La Viña (famous for its Basque “burnt” cheesecake). Further towards the city centre, we recommend Bar La Espiga.
If you’re looking for a sit-down meal, why not try one of the city’s ten Michelin-star restaurants?
Alternatively, take a taxi to the nearby village of Astigarraga and enjoy a traditional cider house meal, a very popular activity among Basques! The menu typically consists of cod tortilla and steak followed by cheese and membrillo (quince), plus unlimited cider, brewed in-house and served straight from the enormous barrels that line the walls! Basque cider must be aerated, so try to copy the local technique of catching it mid-stream in your glass!
Friday, May 31st: Zarautz
Route: 23.2 km/14.4 miles
Elevation: +511m/1676 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Ur Bare
Meals included: Breakfast
As you cycle out of San Sebastián, you’ll climb out of the city and into the lush Basque countryside that surrounds it. Enjoying stunning views of bucolic green landscapes and the Bay of Biscay, you’ll make your way along the coast, heding downhill into the interesting town of Orio before continuing on through vineyards towards the sea.
Approaching the surfer haven of Zarautz, you’ll enjoy spectacular views over the town and across to bay to the “mouse”: the mountain of San Antón, which is connected to the village of Getaria by a strip of land.
Eating and drinking in Zarautz
We recommend that you make a stop to watch the surfers and have a drink at Hotel Restaurante Karlos Arguiñano (open daily from 8am), owned by a famous local chef and offering fabulous views of the beach.
Saturday, June 1st: Lekeitio
Route: 53.1 km/33 miles
Elevation: +878 ft/2880 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Ur Bare
Meals included: Breakfast
From Zarautz, you’ll follow the coastal path around the bay to the charming fishing port of Getaria, famous for producing txakoli white wine and boasting its own Protected Denomination of Origin status. A favourite of top chef Antony Bourdain, Getaria boasts famous seafood restaurants such as Elkano (open Tues – Sat 1pm – 3:15pm/Fri & Sat 8:30pm – 10:15pm) and Kaia Kaipe (open Tues – Sat 1pm – 3:30pm/Fri & Sat 8pm – 10:30pm) Prior booking is essential for both.
Around Getaria, you will cycle through txakoli vineyards and past numerous bodegas, many of which offer visits upon prior appointment: Gaintza (Tue – Sat at 11:30am), Txomín Etxaniz (Mon – Sat 9am – 12pm) Ameztoi (Guided tours available Tue – Sat at 11am (Spring/Autumn), daily at 11am (Summer), Tastings daily 11am – 2pm).
From Getaria, you’ll enjoy a downhill ride into Zumaia.
The top attraction in Zumaia are the flysch landscapes: layers of sedimentary rock that can be read like a geological textbook, and which have created spectacularly beautiful cliffs that have been used as filming locations for Game of Thrones, among others. You can enjoy fantastic views from the small chapel of San Telmo, and we highly recommend a short hike along the GR-121 to explore the beaches and flysch landscapes.
Weather permitting, we also suggest a visit to Itzurun beach, where the high concentration of iodine in the sands and water has proven health benefits.
From the seaside town of Zumaia, you will make your way inland before returning to the coast and the fishing town of Deba, where we recommend making a brief stop to visit the 15th century Church of Santa Maria, which boasts a well-known polychromatic façade.
The route continues along the coast to the pretty fishing village of Ondarroa, which is an interesting cultural experience because it’s one of the places with most Basque language speakers in the country, and boasts a bridge deigned by prestigious architect Santiago Calatrava. We recommend a lunch stop here at Sutargi Jatetxea (open Tue – Sun 12pm – 10:30pm), which specialises in kokotxa (fish cheeks), a local delicacy, or Batzoki Ondarroa (open Wed – Mon 1pm – 3:30pm), which boasts a terrace with beautiful sea views.
From here, your ride continues along the coastal path all the way to the charming fishing port of Lekeitio.
At leisure in Lekeitio
Eating and drinking in Lekeitio
Your hotel has its own excellent restaurant, specialising in locally-sourced traditional Basque cuisine; however, if you would like to explore the town further, we recommend a tapas crawl around the port in order to try the diverse seafood dishes of this traditional fishing village.
Sunday, June 2nd: Mundaka
Route: 44 km/27.3 miles
Elevation: +793 m/ 2601 feet
Accommodation: Hotel Luruna Palacio Larrinaga
Meals included: Breakfast
Today’s route follows the Urdaibai estuary, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and one of the most richly diverse natural landscapes in the whole of the Basque Country, including a wetland that is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Those interested in ornithology can visit the Urdaibai Bird Center (open Sat/Sun, 11am – 7pm Nov – May, Daily Jun – Oct), while history fanatics can take a detour to the Caves of Santimamiñe (open daily 9:30am – 2:30pm), which boast paintings dating back to the Late Paleolithic. Although the paintings themselves cannot be visited in order to prevent their deterioration, the visitor centre offers excellent 3D virtual tours.
Heading inland, you’ll come to the town of Guernica, made famous by the Picasso painting which depicts the bombing of the town by the Luftwaffe during the Spanish Civil War, considered to be the first deliberate attack on civilians in military history. We highly recommend a stop here to visit the ceramic representation of Picasso’s painting, a visit to the Peace Museum (open Sun & Mon 10am – 2:30pm and Tue – Sat 10am – 6pm, closed Mondays Nov – Mar) to better understand the local history, and a visit to the magnificent Casa de las Juntas (open daily 10am – 2pm/4pm – 6pm) to visit the original Tree of Guernica, and see the stained-glass ceiling depicting important scenes in Basque history. If all that sightseeing has given you an appetite, we recommend lunch at 1000 Kolorau (open Wed – Mon 11am – 6pm).
Next, you’ll continuing north up the other side of the estuary towards Mundaka. Along the way, we suggest a visit to Ekoetxea Urdaibai (open Tue – Sun, 10am – 7pm), an exhibition centre dedicated to the biodiversity of the area.
It’s worth making a stop just before Mundaka to take in the views at the Portuondo viewpoint. There’s also an excellent restaurant (see below) where you can enjoy lunch with an amazing view.
At leisure in Mundaka
Mundaka is a surfer’s paradise, and is considered to have some of the best waves in the world, best viewed from the Mirador de Atalaya or the viewpoint at the Ermita de Santa Catalina, once used to quarantine plague victims.
Historically a fishing town, Mundaka’s old port remains the beating heart of the town, and marks the start of the charming old town.
Eating and drinking in Mundaka
We highly recommend walking up to the Portuondo viewpoint, where you’ll find Restaurante Asador Portuondo (open daily 1:30pm – 3:30pm, Fri&Sat 1:30pm – 3:30pm/9:15pm – 10:30pm), offering delicious views with spectacular views over the bay, where the greenery of the mountains sweeps down into the sea.
Monday, June 3rd: Getxo
Route: 59.5 km/37 miles
Elevation: +1116m/3660 ft
Accommodation: Hotel Embarcadero
Meals included: Breakfast
Your route today takes you from Mundaka to the fishing town of Bermeo, where we recommend a short stop to explore the town. Visit the colourful fishermen’s houses in the old port and the 14th century Franciscan convent, and stop by the Ercilla tower, a fortified aristocratic home dating back to the 15th century, which now houses the Fishermen’s Museum (open Tue – Sat 10:30am – 7pm, Sun 10:30am – 2:30pm), dedicated to the life and customs of Basque seafarers.
Leaving Bermeo behind, your route continues towards one of the most magical spots on the Basque coast: the beautiful island hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a 9th century fortified chapel recently made famous in its role as a filming location for Game of Thrones.
From Gaztelugatxe, your route continues into Bakio, where we recommend a stop to the Txakoli Museum (open Tue – Sat 10am – 2pm (Nov – Apr); Mon – Sun 10am – 2pm (May – Oct)), where you can learn more about the production and enjoy a taste of Basque txakoli wine. Entrance tickets and tasting are included in the price of your tour.
From Bakio, your route winds its way along the coast to the seaside town of Plentzia. From here, you can take the metro to Getxo, once the playground of Bilbao’s aristocratic elite and today still one of the city’s most elegant districts.
Tuesday, June 4th: Bilbao
Route: 35.5 km/22.1 miles
Elevation: 517m/1695 ft
Accommodation: The Artist Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Eating and drinking in Bilbao
There are endless dining options in Bilbao: if you’re looking for a Michelin star experience to celebrate your achievement, you can find a list of restaurants here.
If you would prefer a more traditional experience, we recommend a Basque cider house: Bilbao Urban Sagardotegi (open daily from 10:30am) or Galtzagorri Sagardotegia (open daily from 11am). The menu typically consists of cod tortilla and steak followed by cheese and membrillo (quince), plus unlimited cider, brewed in-house and served straight from the enormous barrels that line the walls! Basque cider must be aerated, so try to copy the local technique of catching it mid-stream in your glass!
Another fantastic dining option is the Mercado de la Ribeira (open daily from 8am), a historic market building converted into a modern gastromarket with an impressive range of eateries.
If you’d prefer a more relaxed dinner, you can enjoy the many pintxos bars of Bilbao’s old quarter! Some of our favourites are Gure Toki, Café Bar Bilbao, Irrintzi, Bar Charly and Victor Montés.
Wednesday, June 5th: Bilbao
Accommodation: The Artist Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
Thursday, June 6th: Departure
Meals included: Breakfast
After breakfast, our services come to an end.
We hope that you had a wonderful time exploring La Rioja and Northern Spain with us!
On a Bike Spain Tours vacation, understanding and abiding by the rules of safe cycling is vital.
You’re probably familiar with some common safety guidelines. Below are those that we follow at Bike Spain, and we ask that you follow them while traveling with us:
Being on a bike tour shouldn’t mean constantly worrying about your bike breaking down. Nevertheless, bikes are machines, and issues can occur. Here’s what to look for if something doesn’t sound, feel, or work right.
ACCIDENTS: In case of an accident, keep calm, get off the road and go to a safe place (such as the hard shoulder) where you can evaluate the problem. If you suspect that you need medical care, call the Spanish emergency services on 112, explaining clearly where you are and what the problem is. Have your passport and your insurance documentation handy before calling. Please contact our office immediately after speaking with emergency services.
Remember that personal insurance it is not included on our self-guided tours. We offer an optional insurance policy. If you choose not to purchase this, please make sure that you keep own insurance documentation with you (including your passport).
The tour price does not include any roadside assistance with bicycle maintenance (e.g. flat tires) or any other taxi transfers during the tour. Any repairs that need to be caarried out on the bicycles that are not a result of negligence on Bike Spain Tours’ part will be paid for by the client.
HELMET: Cycling on the road in Spain without a helmet is illegal and unsafe; remember to wear your helmet at all times.
To check the weather before you leave on your trip, please take a look at current weather conditions at www.weatheronline.co.uk. For historical temperature and precipitation statistics visit www.weatherbase.com or take a look at the Spanish Meteorological website with detailed information per region (http://www.aemet.es/en/elclima/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos)
The history of Spain is a compendium of influences from the different cultures that have lived in the country. The first settlers on the Peninsula were the Celts and the Iberians. The Roman presence in Hispania lasted for seven centuries, during which time the basic borders of the Peninsula in relation to other European towns were set up. Many institutions were inherited from Rome such as the concept of family, Latin as a language, religion and law. At the start of the 5th century new settlers from the North arrived and settled on the Peninsula: the Visigoths in the interior and the Swabians on the West. The decomposition of the Visigoth state apparatus would lead to the successive infiltration of Arab and Berber troops from the other side of the Straits of Gibraltar at the beginning of the 8th century. In the middle of the 8th century the Muslims had completed occupation and Cordoba became the center of the flourishing Andalusian state. The Arab presence in Spain would last for almost seven centuries and leave an indelible mark on the Spanish cultural heritage.
Following a long period of peaceful coexistence, the small Christian strongholds in the North of the Peninsula took on a leading role in the Reconquest, which ended with the capture of Granada in 1492 under the reign of the Catholic King and Queen, traditionally considered the founders of peninsular unity and the imperial management of the Spanish revival. The 16th century represents the zenith of Spanish hegemony in the world, a process that would last until the middle of the 17th century. Following the death of Charles II, the last of the Austrians, who died without having had children, Phillip V inaugurated the dynasty of the Bourbons of Spain.
The crisis of the Old Order opened the doorway to the Napoleonic invasion. The War of Independence was a war against the French invasion, but also a revolutionary war due to the decisive involvement of the people and the clear formation of a national consciousness that would later shape the 1812 Constitution. The Courts of Cadiz thereby enacted one of the first Constitutions of the world which ratified that sovereignty would reside in the nation. The conflict between liberalists and absolutists, or in other words, between two different ways of perceiving the establishment of the state, would be one of the longest Spanish conflicts throughout the 19th century.
The ballot box is introduced into Spain and with it the first democratic experience of the 20th century: the second Republic, a brief attempt to introduce the reformations the country needed, frustrated by General Franco’s military rising and the outbreak of the Civil War in 1936. The military victory of General Franco gave way to a long dictatorial period that would last until 1975. Following his death, the Spanish peacefully made the transition from dictatorship to democracy in a process known as ‘the Spanish model’. Don Juan Carlos I, as King of the Spanish people, became the chief of a social and democratic state of law, which molded the Constitution of 1978.
More information…? Should you be interested in a specific theme, please check here, you will find many info about culture, environmental issues, nature, society, geography and politics.
In Spain you have exquisite and innovative dishes with the guarantee of internationally prestigious chefs. The highest quality products from the best producers, recipes combining popular tradition with artistic creation and offer you exciting, new flavors. Spain’s culinary revolution, headed by master chefs like Ferrán Adriá, Arzak and Berasategui turns the pleasure of good food into a luxury for the senses that is at its finest when savored in Spain.
Spanish cuisine is nowadays recommended in the finest restaurants, heralded by the most prestigious critics and demanded by millions of consumers over the world. It has gone through a real revolution, which, in the time of a few short years, has put Spain at the top of international cuisine. With traditional styles as the basis, a modern, innovative cuisine has developed, identified by the use of quality products and by the creativity of its chefs.
To read more about Spain’s cuisine
The history of Rioja wine reflects a long and varied winemaking tradition in the Spanish region of La Rioja, starting with the first Phoenician settlers in 11th century BC. As with many of Europe’s most well-known wine regions, the Ancient Romans founded many of the Rioja vineyards. Throughout the Middle Ages, pilgrims to the shrine of St. James at Santiago de Compostela passed through the region and carried back with them the reputation of wines from the area.
La Rioja is without a doubt Spain’s most beautiful wine region. The landscapes are of gentle rolling vineyard covered hills, pretty medieval hamlets and the backdrop of the majestic Cantabrian Mountains. Rioja has a long and varied traditional history of winemaking. Rioja wine, especially the red, has been well known for centuries. The Rioja vineyards were planted even before the traditional bringers of wine, the expanding Romans, moved into the area. Wine and vineyards have always held a special place in Spaniards’ hearts. Spain has more acreage planted than any other country. They do not produce the most wine because of their standards of quality. Their attention to detail has been documented for centuries. Wine is without doubt an integral part of both Spanish culture and cuisine. Rioja is just one of many Spanish wines and it is named after the river Rio Oja, which runs through the Oja Valley in the province of La Rioja in northern Spain with more than fourteen thousand vineyards. Rioja wine has a Denominación de Origen Calificada (D.O.C. Qualified designation of origin).
Rioja is made from grapes grown not only in the Autonomous Community of La Rioja, but also in parts of Navarre and the Basque province of Álava. Rioja is further subdivided into three zones: Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa. Rioja Alta lies to the west at the highest elevation, creating a shorter growing season. It’s Dominated by clay soils and gives more secondary “Old World” aroma and flavour along with lighter body to the wines. Rioja Baja is to the east, sits at lower altitude and has a more Mediterranean warmer climate. Other grape varietals like Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano flourish here and are used to blend with Tempranillo From Alta and Alavesa. Rioja Alavesa brings you to Basque country with local law and traditions granting new bodegas (Spanish wineries) just north of the river. Soil is comprised of limestone and the grapes grown here have higher acidity and allow for fuller body. Tempranillo is the main grape grown in the two regions.
Many wines have traditionally blended fruit from all three regions though there is a slow growth in single zone wines. Mostly red wines (85%) are made in the region, where both rosé and whites are produced. Red and rosé wine is comprised mostly of Tempranillo, 60% or more, and combined with the blending varietals from Rioja Baja. White wine is made primarily from Viura (also known as Macabeo) blended with Malvasia and Garnacha Blanca. The whites are made in two distinct styles, either light and fruity or barrel-fermented and full bodied.
The “red Rioja” is the most well-known style of Rioja. Classic and bold, these wines taste mostly of their Tempranillo roots and have a bright, fresh flavour to them.
The Rosé version of Rioja is also fresh and strong, but has a lighter weight to it. They are predominantly Garnacha grapes, and are bright pink.
More greenish-yellow than white, Rioja Blanca has a light, fine aroma and flavour. These wines are made
primarily with the Viura grape.
Rioja wines are quite food friendly and can be paired with a number of dishes. Here is a look at some of the better pairing with Rioja wines: Rioja wines pair well with pasta and other Italian dishes. Consider pairing with pastas that have tomato, oil, or herb based sauces. Sauces like tomato seafood, Bolognese, or even a red cream sauce. These wines work with ethnic dishes, like mild, spicy, and even coconut milk based curries. For meat lovers, Rioja wines pair with nearly every type of meat and poultry, even stronger game meats. Rioja is great with a number of interesting cheeses. Aged sharp Cheddars, Gouda, Manchego, Parmesan, Romano, and Swiss cheeses are a few of the regular matches.
With regards to food, the Basque Country is probably the most important tourist destination in Spain. A coastal and border region, whose very varied culinary delights are due to the mixture of sea and mountain cultures with modern top-quality cooking. This trend emerged over the last decades with the appearance of the so-called Basque Nouvelle Cuisine. But most importantly, the good food is a reflection of the character of the Basque people, a people devoted to tradition and good food, the centre of any social occasion. The Basque Country, a culinary paradise.
Due to its geographical position in the Bay of Biscay, the Basques have been avid sailors for many centuries. Its constant fishing on the shore of Terranova has resulted in the consumption of cod on mass. The cod is a fish which in the past was consumed on the mainland to fight off the famine and which today has been converted into a delicacy, forming part of numerous recipes. The sauces which have emerged due to this fish – “pil pil” (garlic), Biscay sauce, green sauce, “ajoarriero” (eggs and garlic) – have become real institutions over the years and are proof of the region’s age-long capacity of producing sophisticated meals with the excellent raw materials at hand.
