Anguiano – Danza de los Zancos, Monasteries and Hiking Trails

Anguiano is closely associated with a distinctive tradition through the Danza de los Zancos. Los Danzadores de Anguiano have been recognised as intangible cultural heritage of cultural interest; the tradition is considered the oldest expression of popular culture in La Rioja, while the Danza de los Zancos is regarded as unique in Spain.

The La Magdalena festival, celebrated annually on 22 July, includes the Danza de los Zancos, the Troqueaos stick dance and a procession with Santa María Magdalena. The Danza de los Zancos is also associated with three regularly recurring festivals: the Fiesta de la Bajada de la Santa in May, the La Magdalena festival in July and the Acción de Gracias festival in September.

Culture

Outside the town centre, but within the municipality of Anguiano, lies the Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de Valvanera, which has been recognised as cultural heritage of cultural interest since 2003. The monastery church was built in the 15th century.

The Puente Madre de Dios is an 18th-century bridge over the Najerilla River and connects the Mediavilla and Cuevas neighbourhoods of Anguiano. In the Mediavilla neighbourhood, the Iglesia Parroquial de San Andrés was declared a National Artistic Monument in 1982.

The Iglesia de San Pedro de Cuevas was begun in the 15th century and completed in the 16th century; it preserves frescoes depicting the Annunciation and Calvary. The Ermita de Santa María Magdalena, a Baroque masonry building from the 18th century, stands 1.5 kilometres from the town centre.

Hiking Trails and Climbing

Rutas entre Hayedos includes 95 kilometres of signposted hiking trails in Anguiano across seven routes. Five of these routes are circular; the Route de Valvanera is the only purely linear route and leads to the Sanctuary of Valvanera.

The routes feature interpretive signage with QR codes and a route app that provides visitors with additional information about the surroundings. The Valvanera–Anguiano connecting trail is 15 kilometres long, linear and of moderate difficulty, leads to Anguiano and is not suitable for bicycles.

You can compare the various trail lengths, route types and the approximate duration of the visit to the wild vines side by side when weighing active and cultural priorities for your planning. The Anguiano climbing area is predominantly geared towards sport climbing; most walls face south, while Sector 6, “El Bercolar”, faces north and is suitable for climbing in very hot weather.

Nature

Anguiano has three trees listed in La Rioja’s inventory of notable trees: El Tejo, El Haya Torcida and El Castaño de la Nisia. El Tejo is considered to be a yew more than 1,000 years old, standing in a rocky location that is difficult to access.

The natural features of the Valvanera–Anguiano connecting trail include holm oak forests, Pyrenean oak forests, beech forests, mixed deciduous forests, mountain streams and forest fauna, as well as the Natura 2000 site “Sierras de la Demanda, Urbión, Cebollera y Cameros”.

The first and largest population in terms of numbers of wild-growing vines in La Rioja is located within the municipality of Anguiano. Visiting the wild vines of Anguiano is easy, possible on foot or by car, and takes about 1.5 hours from Anguiano.

Other Places

Other places: Briñas, Briones, Igea, Castañares De Rioja, El Horcajo, Alfaro, Aguilar Del Río Alhama, Villoslada de Cameros

Beans and Local Tradition

Alubia de Anguiano is a traditionally and artisanally produced local bean product; the Festival de la Alubia takes place on the third Sunday in November.

The Festival de la Alubia includes a market with local products, traditional music, a demonstration of the harvesting, sieving and sorting of the beans, as well as a public tasting of artisanally prepared beans with chorizo and bacon, cooked in the square.

For the overarching travel overview: La Rioja.