Enciso can be explored on two levels: through dinosaur footprints, whose sites differ in scale and interpretation, and through buildings from several centuries. You can shape your stay around palaeontology, cultural heritage or a mix of both.

Dinosaur Footprints: Sites with Distinctive Features

Those who want to focus on palaeontology will find several different sets of tracks in Enciso. The Yacimiento Virgen del Campo comprises more than 500 dinosaur footprints made by theropods and ornithopods. Two intersecting trackways were made by a carnivore and a herbivore; they may depict a fight. The site also features dinosaur and crocodile replicas, a self-guided tour, a 360° viewer and a mobile augmented-reality app that depicts dinosaurs.

The Yacimiento de Valdecevillo contains 168 dinosaur footprints and features six life-size dinosaur replicas. It is also home to the first dinosaur footprints scientifically described in Spain. La Senoba offers a different focus: the site contains 130 footprints, including ten theropod and two ornithopod trackways, and is signposted. The different numbers and features give you a concrete basis for comparison when deciding which sites interest you most.

At the Centro Paleontológico de Enciso, different types of dinosaurs are introduced through their footprints and their behaviour is explained. This complements the study of individual trackways with interpretations of who may have made them and how they lived.

Churches and Castle: Different Historical Periods

The Iglesia de Santa María de la Estrella is a Gothic ashlar church built between the 15th and 16th centuries. The dates for the Iglesia de San Pedro differ: the church dates from the late 15th or early 16th century, while its fortified tower dates back to the 12th century. The Ermita de la Virgen del Campo offers another point of comparison: its Romanesque apse dates from the 13th century, while the building as a whole dates from the 16th century.

The Castillo de Enciso dates from the 10th century, is considered one of La Rioja’s oldest castles and is described as being of Arab origin. Along with the churches, it shows how far back the documented building periods in Enciso reach; the dates of the individual buildings, however, remain distinct.

Bridge, Walking Path and Tradition

The medieval Puente de Santa Bárbara is a stone bridge over the Río Cidacos with three arches. It serves as an entrance to Parque de Santa Bárbara, a local recreational area. The short Paseo por el Monte Guilera runs along the slope of the hill that overlooks Enciso. As a walking route, it offers a different experience from visiting buildings and archaeological sites.

A local tradition also forms part of the area’s cultural character: a mass in honour of San Isidro Labrador is traditionally celebrated at the Ermita de la Virgen del Campo. For the procession, his image is carried from the Iglesia de Santa María de la Estrella to the Ermita; visitors also take part. The specific proceedings may vary.

Planning Your Stay in Enciso

When looking for a hotel in Enciso, you can first consider what you want to focus on during your stay: the different dinosaur footprints and how they are interpreted, or the churches, castle and bridge. If you want to combine both, you can consider the themes separately when planning rather than infer a fixed itinerary from the descriptions. This lets you decide for yourself which discoveries to make time for, and use Enciso’s palaeontological and historical attractions to help plan your stay.

Discover more destinations: Cenicero, Galilea, Gallinero De Cameros, Tricio, Ventosa, Villoslada de Cameros, Villarroya, Santurde De Rioja.

For the overview of the wider region: La Rioja.