Lower Rioja
Your visit to Calahorra can go far beyond its historic streets, museums and gastronomy. The city is also the perfect gateway to explore La Rioja Baja, a region full of charming little villages surrounded by vineyards, unique landscapes and a valuable cultural heritage.
A few kilometres from Calahorra lie beautiful villages that are the perfect complement to your getaway. These destinations are steeped in history and tradition, with landscapes that invite you to discover their most emblematic corners and enjoy unique experiences. Because visiting Calahorra also means opening the door to everything that La Rioja Baja has to offer.
Arnedillo
Arnedillo is located in the Upper Valley of the River Cidacos, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2003. At an altitude of 651 metres and covering an area of 48 km², it forms part of the Arnedo region and is 62 km from Logroño and 27 km from Calahorra. Its surroundings, which include Peña Isasa, Peñalmonte and Las Peñas de Arnedillo, are part of the Natura 2000 Network, offering landscapes of great ecological value and mountain trails. The first references to the town appear in the Middle Ages: Count Fernán González mentioned it in the 10th century as Arnietello. From 1170 onwards, it was a royal town by privilege of King Alfonso VII. Today, Arnedillo is known for its thermal waters and its privileged natural environment.
Hot springs
Arnedillo is famous for its mineral-medicinal thermal waters, rich in chlorides, sulphates, calcium, magnesium, iron, silicon and rubidium. They are hyperthermal and slightly radioactive, with an original temperature of 52.5 °C, and spring forth alongside the River Cidacos.
Chess Cave
This beautiful place stands out for its cultural and historical value in the Cidacos Valley. Located on a natural ledge on the Santa Eulalia Somera mountain, it features carved niches that extend from floor to ceiling, forming a striking, almost perfect checkerboard pattern.