Alesanco: Church, Camino and BTT Route

Alesanco brings together sacred architectural history, the route of the Camino de Santiago Francés and a designated BTT route. The Camino is designated as a green route and passes through the town. The Río Tuerto flows through the centre; the Ermita de Nuestra Señora del Prado lies one kilometre to the east. This offers different ways to shape your travel plans: sacred architecture and art, pilgrimage traditions, landscapes or a cycling tour.

Churches and Art History

The parish church of Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción dates from the first half of the 16th century and is characterised by the Gothic tradition. Its main altar belongs to a later period: it is Baroque, and an inscription dates it to 1769. The church therefore brings together two clearly distinct periods: the time when the building was constructed and the date recorded on the altar. If you enjoy exploring sacred architecture while travelling, the Gothic tradition and the Baroque main altar offer specific points of interest for considering architectural and art history.

Another sacred building is the Ermita de Nuestra Señora del Prado. It houses a small Neoclassical altarpiece with panel paintings; at the far end is an image of the Virgen del Rosario dating from the late 16th century. Compared with the parish church’s Gothic character, the hermitage features a Neoclassical altarpiece, while the image offers a distinct point of reference in time. Together, the two buildings offer different ways to explore sacred art in Alesanco.

An annual occasion connects the hermitage with the parish church: every year on 13 September, the statue of the Virgin is carried in a procession in honour of the Virgen del Prado from the hermitage to the church. This recurring local tradition also links the two sacred sites. If you are planning your trip specifically around this procession, check the exact event date in advance.

The Camino and Las Ventas

The Las Ventas recreational area lies on the Camino de Santiago and serves as a resting place for pilgrims. The area includes a restored traditional Chozo-Guardaviñas, a historic vineyard hut. The animals listed for Las Ventas include the fox, Montagu’s harrier, calandra lark and Iberian emerald lizard. Thus, a traditional building type and specific animal species feature alongside the area’s role as a resting place on the Camino. The Río Tuerto provides another landscape feature in Alesanco: it flows through the town centre.

Cycling Route and Local Traditions

The Ruta en BTT: Los Monasterios mountain biking route is 36 kilometres long and has a cumulative elevation gain of 530 metres. It runs along tracks and paved roads and is rated as moderate. From Torrecilla sobre Alesanco, the route continues to Alesanco on paved roads. The distance, elevation gain and difficulty rating offer different reference points for fitting the ride into your travel plans. It is worth distinguishing between the route as a whole, which uses tracks and paved roads, and the section to Alesanco, which is specifically described as paved.

A culinary tradition is also part of the local calendar: a food competition is usually held during the celebrations in honour of the Apostle James. Anyone who registers can take part; the dish prepared is a tortilla. If you plan to travel specifically for the competition, check the exact date in advance.

In Memory of the Marqués de la Ensenada

A bust of the Marqués de la Ensenada in Alesanco is part of the town’s local history. The Diputación Riojana commissioned it for the Ibero-American Fair in Seville in 1929. The question of his birthplace is a separate matter: Alesanco shares with Hervías the historically disputed claim to be the birthplace of Zenón de Somodevilla y Bengoechea, the Marqués de la Ensenada (1702–1781). Historians have not reached a definitive conclusion on this question. The commission for the bust for the fair and the still-disputed birthplace tradition can therefore be considered as two distinct aspects.

Discover more destinations: Navarrete, Nájera, Grañón, Alcanadre, Villarroya, Santurde De Rioja, Zorraquín, Calahorra

For the broader travel overview: La Rioja.