There are several distinct themes to consider when choosing a stay in Arenzana de Abajo: the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, the mechanical Nativity scene displayed at Christmas, the Najerilla River and the September festivities. There is also another religious building and a hermitage near the river. This lets you weigh up architectural history, Christmas traditions, riverside recreation and festival dates according to when you travel and what interests you.
Church and architectural history
The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is designated a National Monument and was built from ashlar masonry during the final two thirds of the 16th century. Its interior comprises three naves, each with four bays, a three-part polygonal apse and ribbed star vaults. At the foot of the church, the choir loft sits above a ribbed star vault. Each nave is thus divided into four bays; a bay is a section of a building. These individual architectural features give a more precise sense of the spatial layout than the description “three-naved” alone.
The main altarpiece provides another point of reference in time. This ensemble of gilded and polychrome-painted wood dates from the early 17th century, is adapted to the apse and is of considerable historical and artistic value. The church and altarpiece thus represent two distinct chapters in the history of the church: the church was built in the 16th century, and the main altarpiece was added in the early 17th century.
Nativity scene and other religious buildings
At Christmas, the only mechanical Nativity scene in La Rioja is displayed in Arenzana de Abajo. It is currently housed in the town’s church. Covering 50 square metres, it features 18 scenes depicting crafts such as carpentry, lumberjacking and knife sharpening. Its scale and number of scenes come together around a clear theme: the Nativity scene portrays various crafts in mechanically animated scenes. Its Christmas exhibition period sets this feature apart from the church’s architectural history.
The Casa de la Inquisición and the Ermita del Carmen also offer distinct points of historical reference. According to its inscription, the Casa dates from 1556. The Ermita del Carmen was built in the 17th century in honour of the Virgin of Carmen and is located on the LR-113 road, very close to the Najerilla River. While the inscription on the Casa gives a specific year, the Ermita’s construction is dated to a century.
The Najerilla and festival dates
You can swim in the Najerilla River at Puente de Arenzana. The extensive recreation area there includes barbecue facilities. Along the riverbanks are planted poplar groves, as well as scattered willows and ash trees. The Najerilla can therefore be enjoyed both for a specific recreational facility at Puente de Arenzana and for the vegetation along its banks.
Two culinary traditions in September can be distinguished by their dates. The Festival del Pimiento y la Anchoa has been held since 1997 on the Sunday before the celebrations in honour of Nuestra Señora de la Antigua on 8 September. The Concurso de Calderetas has been held since 1992 on the first day of these September celebrations. So the festival takes place on the preceding Sunday, while the competition is held on the first day of the festivities. If you plan your trip around either date, it is worth keeping an eye on the specific event, not just the month.
Another religious event takes place during Holy Week: a procession goes around a wayside cross and then returns to the village. This adds a different point in the calendar to the September festivities.
Discover more destinations: HuĂ©rcanos, Valgañón, Berceo, Santo Domingo De La Calzada, Badarán, Galilea, Muro De Aguas, Cuzcurrita De RĂo TirĂłn.
For the broader travel overview: La Rioja.
