Discover Mendigorría: Andelo, Churches and Riverside Trails

The history of Mendigorría dates back to Andelo. Through Vespasian’s edict, Andelo was granted the status of a Roman civitas in 74 AD.

Culture

Andelo preserves a Roman urban area with paved streets, larger houses, public baths and shops. The preserved hydraulic system extends from the water intake to the city’s distribution centre; a one-hour guided tour presents the streets, neighbourhoods, houses and most important public buildings, as well as traces of this infrastructure.

Next to the Roman city of Andelo stands the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Andión, a building from the early 13th century. Its Proto-Gothic structure comprises walls, pilasters, the interior, the roofing over the foot end and a door. Inside, the chapel has a Baroque high altar, above which stands a medieval depiction of Our Lady of Andión.

A walk through Mendigorría’s old town leads to churches, Plaza de los Fueros, the town hall and houses bearing coats of arms. The parish church of San Pedro was rebuilt in the 16th century in the Gothic Renaissance style. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross, with a three-part nave, transept and polygonal apse. Its furnishings include a Rococo organ case from the second half of the 18th century. The parish church’s high altar is a Renaissance work signed in 1594 by Bernabé Imberto of Estella.

Getting around

The medieval bridge over the Río Arga towards Andión has seven arches, some of which are pointed. The walking route along the Río Salado runs from the crossing over the Río Arga along the riverbank to the picnic area on the Río Salado and can be extended by bicycle towards Mañeru and Cirauqui.

The picnic area on the Río Salado has tables, fire pits and an extensive stand of poplar trees. The route to Andelo’s hydraulic system reaches the Roman dam of Iturranduz, popularly known as „Puente del Diablo“; the round trip takes 1 hour and 40 minutes and has very little elevation gain.

The Carlist Route runs along paths where the Battle of Mendigorría took place in 1835. The official La Tierra del Carlismo gravel route passes through the riverside woods of the Río Arga to Mendigorría. The remains of the Roman city of Andelo lie close to the route within the municipality of Mendigorría and can be visited.

Events

The Mendigorría International Music Festival began in August 2004. It promotes culture and high-level training at historic sites with significant artistic heritage and usually takes place from late July to mid-August.

The Festival Romano de Andelo features an extensive programme on the last weekend of June, recreating life in Andelo 2,000 years ago. The festival includes a Roman market and hands-on workshops.

Connections

The regional road NA-601 connects Mendigorría with Puente la Reina and Larraga. At Puente la Reina, it connects to the A-12 motorway.

For a holiday apartment in Mendigorría, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions can serve as separate comparison points alongside the destination’s themes. Roman history, waterside routes and events thus remain separate areas of focus; accommodation details and the selection of experiences can be considered independently of one another.

Other places

Other places: Etxalar, Murillo El Fruto, Oiz, Mutilva Baja, Basaburua, Zuaztoi, Goñi, Riezu

To the main travel overview: Navarra.