Leza: Church, Dolmen and Wineries

Leza is located in the north of Rioja Alavesa. To the north, the area is bounded by the ridges of the Sierra de Cantabria, and to the south by the plain of Navaridas. The northern landscape of Leza includes the El Encinedo holm oak grove. A young oak grove lies east of the village. Thus, Leza is described both by its northern boundary formed by the Sierra de Cantabria and its southern opening towards the plain of Navaridas; the two oak groves complement this geographical description with specific landscape features.

Other places in the same broader area: Abornikano, Manurga, Izarra, Labastida, Elciego, Moreta, Lasarte and Samaniego.

Culture and History

The Iglesia San Martín was built at the end of the 15th or beginning of the 16th century. The church features late Gothic pointed arches and an Isabelline portal. The portal includes a Baroque equestrian statue of Saint Martin, which was installed in 1694. The construction period, pointed arches, portal and equestrian statue are therefore individual features that characterize the church as it is described today.

The Dolmen de El Sotillo in Leza is a dolmen dating from the Chalcolithic, or Copper Age, and the Bronze Age. It belongs to the group of monuments comprising the dolmens of the Álava lowlands. Excavations at El Sotillo uncovered Neolithic flint tools, an archer's bracelet, a metal awl and arrowheads. Bell Beaker pottery from the Chalcolithic and vessel fragments with zigzag decoration from the Bronze Age were also unearthed. The finds thus include tools, jewellery or equipment items, pottery and vessel fragments. Their dates range from the Neolithic through the Chalcolithic to the Bronze Age.

Leza has outstanding Renaissance houses from the 16th century decorated with coats of arms, as well as other stately buildings. The human-like figure known as Don Cicuta is lowered on ropes and by means of a pulley from the church tower to the entrance of the town hall. In this local tradition, the figure's route therefore leads from the church tower to the town hall; ropes and a pulley are expressly part of the process.

Festivals

During the San Juan celebration in Leza, a fire is lit on the eve of Saint John's Day, 23 June. When the fire has burned down to embers, chorizo and pork belly are grilled on it for everyone present. The patronal festival in honour of Saint Roch takes place in Leza on 16 August. The two celebrations mentioned therefore fall on different dates in the annual calendar: the San Juan celebration takes place on the eve of 23 June, while the Saint Roch festival takes place on 16 August.

Wine and Paths

La Lombilla is a small hill east of Leza. The village's wineries are located on the hill. There is also a picnic area surrounded by centuries-old holm oaks. La Lombilla therefore brings together a description of the hill east of Leza, the wineries located there and the picnic area surrounded by old holm oaks.

When planning the route, the Samaniego-Leza-Samaniego route specifies a distance of 20.1 km and six hours for the round trip. The information expressly refers to the entire outward and return route and combines the distance with a duration of six hours. Samaniego is both the starting point and the return destination of the named route.

For the broader travel overview: Alava.