Logroño is situated in the north of Spain and has a population of about 150,000. It is in the region of La Rioja, a well-known wine producing area of which Logroño is the main city. The city was established as an important port by the Romans but then passed into the hands of the Celts, finally coming back into the possession of the kings of Spain.
As mentioned Logroño is where the wine trade of the La Rioja region has its base and it is possible to arrange visits to many of the wineries in the region.
The city has many historical buildings, mainly religious ones, and is one of the stops on the pilgrimage route “The Way of St James”.
The route through Logroño travels along the Rúa Vieja, passing the hostel for pilgrims and the Santiago fountain and then leaving the city via the Puerta del Camino.
Logroño is a good place to shop for shoes. It also has a number of very good restaurants and tapas bars and is well known for its lively nightlife at weekends. It is a bit off the usual tourist track and consequently the visitor is likely to experience more of the authentic Spain.
The Plaza del Mercado in the city centre is where most of the main streets radiate away from and it is here that the Santa Maria de la Redonda Cathedral is located. The cathedral is a fine example of a 16th century Gothic building. It was built on the foundations of a Roman church. An unusual feature is the two baroque towers at the front of the building, known locally as the twin towers.
An interesting visit for wine lovers is to the Cultura del Vino de la Dinastia Vivanco Museum. The museum is dedicated to the culture of wine and has many paintings with wine as their theme, ranging from Egyptian times to the present.
A remnant of old Rome can be seen in the Varea Romano which dates back to the 5th century. Here there is a house where some of the Roman generals had their living quarters.
