On July 22, La Magdalena is celebrated in Anguiano; the Rutas entre Hayedos hiking network also includes seven signposted routes covering a total of 95 kilometres. If you are choosing the town for a trip, you can therefore consider two specific questions: will the dance tradition and its festival days be the focus, or the type and length of a hike?

Dance tradition and recurring festivals

Los Danzadores de Anguiano are recognised as an intangible cultural asset of cultural interest. The tradition is considered the oldest expression of folk culture in La Rioja; the Danza de los Zancos is considered unique in Spain. Alongside the stilt dance, the La Magdalena festival on July 22 features the Troqueaos stick dance and a procession with Santa María Magdalena.

The Danza de los Zancos is associated with three regularly recurring festivals: the Fiesta de la Bajada de la Santa in May, La Magdalena in July and the Acción de Gracias festival in September. La Magdalena thus offers a set date in the calendar, while the other two celebrations provide additional opportunities to plan a trip in spring or late summer. The exact festival programmes may change; if you are travelling for a particular event, check the latest festival details in advance.

Bridge, churches and architectural history

The Puente Madre de Dios dates back to the 18th century, crosses the Najerilla River and connects the Mediavilla and Cuevas neighbourhoods. In Mediavilla, the Iglesia Parroquial de San Andrés was declared a National Artistic Monument in 1982. The Iglesia de San Pedro de Cuevas was built over two centuries: construction began in the 15th century and was completed in the 16th. The church preserves frescoes depicting the Annunciation and Calvary.

The Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de Valvanera lies outside the town centre but within the municipality of Anguiano; it has been recognised as an asset of cultural interest since 2003. Its church was built in the 15th century. Another historic building is the Ermita de Santa María Magdalena: it is located 1.5 kilometres from the town centre and is an 18th-century Baroque masonry building.

Hiking trails and how they differ

Rutas entre Hayedos comprises seven routes, with a total of 95 kilometres of signposted hiking trails in Anguiano. Five routes are circular; the Valvanera route is the only entirely linear one and leads to the Sanctuary of Valvanera. This makes it possible to compare circular routes with linear routes when planning a hike. Interpretive signs with QR codes and a route app provide additional information about the surroundings.

Another specifically described trail is the Valvanera–Anguiano connecting route. It is 15 kilometres long, linear and moderately difficult, leads to Anguiano and is not suitable for bicycles. Its natural features include English oak, Pyrenean oak, beech and mixed deciduous forests, mountain streams and forest wildlife, as well as the Natura 2000 site “Sierras de la Demanda, Urbión, Cebollera y Cameros”. Its length, difficulty level and bicycle restriction help distinguish this trail from the information about the route network as a whole. As trail conditions and signage may change, it is worth checking the latest route information before setting out.

Trees, wild vines and climbing

The inventory of notable trees in La Rioja lists El Tejo, El Haya Torcida and El Castaño de la Nisia for Anguiano. El Tejo is considered to be a yew more than 1,000 years old and stands at a rocky site that is difficult to access. The municipality is also home to the first and largest population by number of wild-growing vines in La Rioja. Visiting the wild vines is considered easy; you can go on foot or by car, and the visit takes approximately 1.5 hours from Anguiano.

The climbing area also offers specific guidance: it is geared mainly towards sport climbing, and most of the walls face south. Sector 6, “El Bercolar”, faces north and is suitable for climbing in very hot weather. If you are planning this activity, you can take the different wall orientations into account when choosing a route and check the latest climbing information before your visit.

Alubia de Anguiano and its festival

Alubia de Anguiano is a local bean product made traditionally by hand. The Festival de la Alubia takes place on the third Sunday in November. The festival includes a market selling local products and traditional music, as well as a demonstration of harvesting, sieving and sorting the beans. Beans are prepared by hand in the square with chorizo and bacon and offered for public tasting. The festival thus brings local produce and the preparation of the beans together in a dedicated event.

Discover more destinations: San Asensio, Sorzano, Agoncillo, Arnedillo, Berceo, Cuzcurrita De Río Tirón, Valgañón, Navarrete.

For the main travel overview: La Rioja.