Discover Igea: Palacio, Fossils and Dinosaur Tracks

In Igea, historic architecture and palaeontology present clearly distinguishable areas of interest. Those who wish to consider both side by side during a trip can view architectural history, fossils and dinosaur tracks as different ways of engaging with the town.

Culture and History

The Palacio del Marqués de Casa Torre dates from the 18th century and was designed in the Florentine style. In 1729, it was built by the first Marqués, Don Juan José Ovejas y Díez (1682–1732), who was born in Igea, with the finest Spanish and Italian artists. On 20 April 1983, the Palacio was declared a national historic-artistic monument by Royal Decree 1439/1983. If you wish to arrange historical impressions chronologically, the year of construction and the decree provide two clearly dated reference points. This means that the construction period and the later designation as a monument can be viewed as separate points in time.

Palaeontology

The Árbol Fósil in Igea is 10 metres long. The Centro de Interpretación Paleontológica de La Rioja is the only palaeontological interpretation centre in La Rioja. The Centro de Interpretación Paleontológica de La Rioja houses La Rioja’s most extensive fossil collection; the fossils come mainly from Igea and its surrounding area.

The official Recorrido de icnitas, the dinosaur track route, includes Soto en Cameros, Arnedillo, Munilla, Préjano, Enciso, Cornago, Igea and Inestrillas. The different scales—an individual object, an extensive collection and a route comprising several named places—can be considered separately when planning your own trip. This allows you to classify the palaeontological subjects according to their respective format without combining them into a single point of visit.

Active Pursuits

The Circuito de Pumptrack de Igea can be used with bicycles, skateboards, scooters and inline skates. The track includes a replica of a dinosaur track in the centre. The means of transport mentioned describe different ways of using the pump track, while the track replica reflects the connection with palaeontology. For your planning, the activity on offer and the dinosaur theme therefore stand side by side as two clearly recognisable aspects of the same place.

As additional places in the same regional context, you can include Aldeanueva De Ebro, Ezcaray, Ojacastro, Anguiano, Almarza De Cameros, San Vicente De La Sonsierra, San Román De Cameros and Villoslada de Cameros in your plans.

For a stay in Igea, a holiday apartment can be considered as a separate planning point alongside the topics of culture and palaeontology. On accommodation pages, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions appear as different details side by side. These three aspects do not describe the place itself, but rather the framework within which you make your choice for the trip and bring together the focal points around the Palacio, fossils and dinosaur tracks.

Dinosaur Tracks

La Era del Peladillo is considered possibly the largest dinosaur tracksite discovered to date in La Rioja. At the La Era del Peladillo site, visitors can follow the tracks of several dinosaurs. The site features numerous sauropod tracks, including two clearly distinct types: Brontopodus and Breviparopus.

For the overarching travel overview: La Rioja.