Alfaro: Roman History, the Collegiate Church and the Sotos del Ebro

Alfaro combines Roman history, distinctive religious architecture and the natural landscape along the Ebro. If you are looking for a hotel in Alfaro, these themes can help you decide what to focus on during your stay: historical sites, nature watching, or wine and route experiences.

Roman heritage and church architecture

In the area of present-day Alfaro, Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus founded the Roman city of Graccurris in 179 BC. Roman remains also include the Roman Nymphaeum: a monumental fountain dedicated to the cult of the nymphs. These two sites tell Alfaro’s story on different scales: Graccurris represents its founding history, while the Nymphaeum is a specific structure with a religious dedication.

The collegiate church of Colegiata de San Miguel Arcángel is designated a Bien de Interés Cultural, meaning an asset of special cultural interest. It is also the largest church in the La Rioja region and is notable for its distinctive architectural brickwork. It therefore combines official cultural status with a striking architectural feature.

The restored Las Concepcionistas convent houses a permanent exhibition that presents Alfaro’s historical heritage. Alongside the Roman remains and the collegiate church, the town’s own history is thus also explored as an exhibition theme.

Sotos del Ebro and birdwatching

The Reserva Natural de los Sotos del Ebro in Alfaro is part of the areas designated under the Natura 2000 network. The Sotos del Ebro near Alfaro form an ecologically valuable natural area, with riverside forests along both banks of the Ebro and habitats for species such as the European mink.

The birdwatching programme in Alfaro includes eight routes through the town’s different habitats. As the local selection of routes may be updated, it is worth checking the current overview in advance if a particular route is important to your plans.

The Centro de Interpretación de los Sotos del Ebro has a permanent exhibition and a projection about the nature reserve, its stork colony and the history of Alfaro. This offers different ways to explore the natural environment: routes through various habitats, and an exhibition with information about the stork colony and the town’s history.

Avista Tours offers birdwatching and ornithological tourism in the Sotos de Alfaro. This includes easy walks at suitable observation points, using appropriate equipment. If you plan to take part, check the specific arrangements in advance.

Wine, traditions and routes to Alfaro

Alfaro is part of the Rioja Oriental Wine Route. Wine tourism offerings include visits to wineries and family-run projects, guided wine tastings, and walks through vineyards overlooking the valley. Individual providers and availability may change, so enquire about any specific experience in advance.

Jueves Lardero is a local tradition: on this day, people in Alfaro traditionally eat Culeca. The wine route and this culinary custom offer different experiences—the former leads to vineyards and tastings, while the latter is a distinctive local food tradition in Alfaro.

The Camino Jacobeo del Ebro also reaches the La Rioja region via Alfaro. For road travel, the N-232 directly connects Alfaro with Calahorra, Logroño, Zaragoza and other cities in the Ebro Valley. As disruptions are possible, it is advisable to check traffic conditions before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Castañares De Rioja, Ausejo, Jalón De Cameros, Alesanco, San Vicente De La Sonsierra, Azarrulla, Cirueña, Galilea

For the main travel overview: La Rioja.