Igea: Architectural History and Dinosaur Tracks

Igea brings architectural history together with paleontology, making both tangible through very different subjects. The Palacio del Marqués de Casa Torre represents architecture and history; fossils and dinosaur tracks form a second focus. If you’re looking for hotels in Igea, you can start by planning your trip around these interests: would you like to explore the design and history of the Palacio, or are fossils and tracks your main focus?

The Palacio del Marqués de Casa Torre

The Palacio del Marqués de Casa Torre dates from the 18th century and was designed in the Florentine style. It was built in 1729 by the first Marqués, Don Juan José Ovejas y Díez (1682–1732), who was born in Igea, with the finest Spanish and Italian artists. Royal Decree 1439/1983 of April 20, 1983, declared the Palacio a national historic-artistic monument. The two dates represent different chapters: 1729 marks its construction, while 1983 marks its later designation as a monument. This lets you consider the building’s architectural history and official monument status as two distinct aspects of the same building.

Fossils and dinosaur tracks

The Árbol Fósil in Igea is 10 meters long. The Centro de Interpretación Paleontológica de La Rioja is the only paleontological interpretation center in La Rioja. It houses the region’s largest fossil collection; the fossils come mainly from Igea and its surroundings. While the Árbol Fósil is a single named fossil feature, the collection offers a broader view of the region’s paleontological finds.

La Era del Peladillo is considered possibly the largest dinosaur tracksite discovered to date in La Rioja. At the site, visitors can follow the tracks of several dinosaurs. Among the many sauropod tracks are two clearly distinguished types: Brontopodus and Breviparopus. These names make the distinction among the tracks concrete. The official Recorrido de icnitas, or Dinosaur Tracks Route, includes Soto en Cameros, Arnedillo, Munilla, Préjano, Enciso, Cornago, Igea and Inestrillas. The route places Igea in a broader regional context; La Era del Peladillo, by contrast, refers to a specific site. If you’re planning to visit the Centro or the site, please check current access arrangements in advance.

A dinosaur motif at the pump track

The Circuito de Pumptrack de Igea presents the dinosaur motif in a different form. It can be used with bicycles, skateboards, scooters and inline skates; a replica of a dinosaur track is located in the middle of the course. Unlike La Era del Peladillo, this is a replica incorporated into the course. If you’re making specific plans, check the current operating conditions.

When choosing a paleontological focus, the distinction is practical: the Centro brings fossils together in a collection, La Era del Peladillo focuses on tracks at the site where they were found, and the pump track uses a replica to incorporate the dinosaur motif.

Discover more destinations: Fuenmayor, Alesanco, Zarratón, Hornos de Moncalvillo, Panzares, Ventosa, Villarejo, Cirueña

For the regional travel overview: La Rioja.