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From Logroño to Santo Domingo de la Calzada
This stage of the Way of Saint James goes by Ebro river. It’s considered a medium difficulty with a maximum quota of 715 meters and minimum 390 of meters. There may be stong wind, so if it’s bad weather, we should climb gears to keep a high pedealing. Also, we carry tight clothes and we take this oportunity to roll together.
To continue the Way of St Jaimes from Logroño, we go by various streets (Ruavieja and Barriocepo) to reach the Santiago’s square. At the church of this square is where they can seal our credential.
Leaving Logroño, we found with Parque de la Grajera, where we enjoy its beauty. The yellow arrows will take us to a park with a reservoir, where we recommend you take photos, because it maybe will be early to get off the bike and take a break.
Ilustration: Parque de la Grajera
Leaving the park after a tarmac track, we enjoy the beauty views while we pedal: vine, trees and the capital city of La Rioja.
Navarrete, required stop
Now, we are going to Navarrete, a required stop for pilgrims.
In this town, we are going to see the Asunción de Maria’s church -it started in the XVI century-, the Santa María del Buen Suceso’s hermitage -it’s interesant because it refer to the pilgrims, but now it’s in ruins- and its “castle” -top of Tedeón hill, where it had a castle-.
We continue our journey. You will have the option to go by a town known like Ventosa or go to Nájera, without any stop. We choose the second option.
Ilustration 2: Vineyards in La Rioja
We head for Nájera, a good place where you can rest and do tourism visiting de Santa María la Real’s church, found on 1052. The remaining road do not have much difficulty. We leave Nájera, near the church previously mentioned. There are still 6km for the next stop.
Suso and Yuso monasteries in San Millán de la Cogolla
We go by a little track small stretch macadam and we arrive to Azofra, a little noble town in La Rioja. We go by old house with shield, symbol of nobility who lived in the locality. Also, we are going to visit the Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles’s church (Century XVIII) where there are a carving of Santiago Pilgrim. It’s less than 15km, so we get even closer to arrive to Santo Domingo de la Calzada and 10 to arrive the next town: Cirueña.
We can turn off road the Santiago to visit Suso and Yuso monasteries in San Millán de la Cogolla, they are considerer World Heritage by UNESCO. It’s near Azofra, only a 14km and, after, we will can continue on the road without turning back. We have to pedal 19km to reach Santo Domingo de la Calzada, although before we retourn the Way of St Jaimes and the yellow arrows. Check the schedule and opening days, so they change from winter to summer, we have checked it!
Santo Domingo de la Calzada
We continue by the Way of St Jaimes. Bit by bit, while roll in our bike, we see the grain fields are appearing. They are a signal that Castilla is closed and we leave La Rioja early, although it isn’t in this stage yet.
When you see a golf course, you will arrive to Cirueña, a little town where we dont pedal during long time, except if we want to visit it or rest before the straight. We left us less than 6km to reach Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Inmediately to pass this village, you will see Santo Domingo de la Calzada at the bottom. Definitily, it stand out the Cathedral Tower. In brief and after a medium difficult stage, we arrive to Santo Domingo.
We recommend visiting Cathedral, in addition, the old town is consider Set of Artistic Historical Interest.
Ilustration 3: View from Cathedral
Where sleep in Santo Domingo
The pilgrim hostel is found in Mayor’s sreet, also others places where you can sleep in Santo Domingo are elParador de Santo Domingo and Hostal La Catedral.
If you have mad this stage, tell us your experience!
