Discover Enciso: Dinosaur Footprints, History and Holiday Apartments

The Virgen del Campo Site contains more than 500 dinosaur footprints left by theropods and ornithopods. The site preserves two intersecting trackways made by a carnivore and a herbivore, possibly depicting a struggle. The site includes dinosaur and crocodile replicas, a self-guided tour, a 360° viewer and dinosaurs in a mobile augmented-reality application.

When planning a trip to Enciso, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies for holiday apartments as separate details side by side. This keeps the selection tied to personal circumstances, while the palaeontological sites, historic buildings, walking route and recreational area provide distinct focal points for the stay.

Palaeontology

The Valdecevillo Site contains the first dinosaur footprints scientifically described in Spain. The site contains 168 dinosaur footprints and features six life-size dinosaur replicas. The La Senoba Site contains 130 footprints, including 10 theropod and 2 ornithopod trackways, and is signposted. The sites therefore differ in the number of footprints, the composition of the trackways and the visible replicas.

The Enciso Palaeontology Centre uses footprints to present different types of dinosaurs and explain their behaviour. It also has an area for the preservation, study and interpretation of palaeontological specimens.

Culture and History

The Church of Santa María de la Estrella is a Gothic church made of dressed stone and was built between the 15th and 16th centuries. The Church of San Pedro dates from the late 15th or early 16th century; its fortified tower dates back to the 12th century.

The Santa Bárbara Bridge is a medieval stone bridge over the Río Cidacos with three arches and serves as an entrance to Santa Bárbara Park, a local recreational area. Enciso Castle is considered one of the oldest castles in La Rioja; it dates from the 10th century and is considered to be of Arab origin.

The Hermitage of the Virgen del Campo has a Romanesque apse from the 13th century; the building as a whole dates from the 16th century. Traditionally, a mass is celebrated there in honour of San Isidro Labrador. This includes a procession in which his image is carried from the Church of Santa María de la Estrella to the hermitage, with visitors also taking part.

Other Places

Other places: Cuzcurrita De Río Tirón, Panzares, Peciña, Alfaro, Azofra, Cenicero, Villarroya, Sorzano

Experiences and Recreation

El Barranco Perdido has two free car parks, swimming pools, geysers, adventure courses and a climbing wall. At El Barranco Perdido, visitors can excavate fossils, catalogue finds in a laboratory and follow scientific clues about dinosaurs.

The walk along Monte Guilera is a short route that runs along the slope of the hill overlooking Enciso.

To the higher-level travel overview: La Rioja.