Stage Two - La Rioja - Part 1

Logroño, capital of the autonomous community of La Rioja, has always served as an important station on the pilgrims route to Santiago de Compostela. Outside the Church of Santiago is the Pilgrims Fountain, from which those heading to Santiago have drunk for centuries. Shortly after this picture was taken we passed through the gate in the old city walls and were on our way to Burgos, the next major stop.


We had become used to the grandiose, gilded retablos standing over church alters. At the Church of Asunción in Navarrete the single retablo covering all three naves took our breath away. The baroque detail was magnificent and I felt we had to have the image of San Roque, the patron saint of the pilgrim, accompany us as we proceeded.



On the way to Nájera we engaged in a small detour that took us a couple of kilometres south of today’s Camino to Sotés. Our reason: a casa rural that appeared very attractive on the internet. Upon arrival we found the climb worthwhile: we would be staying in a renaissance palace with rooms decorated to fit a time long before our century.