Tricio: Roman Heritage and Sacred Architecture

When choosing a destination, Tricio offers several distinct points of interest: Roman history, sacred architecture, local festivities, and a protected tree. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Tricio, you can start by deciding which of these themes you would like to shape your stay. The historical evidence ranges from the Roman settlement that preceded the town to churches and burials from later centuries.

Roman History and the Basílica de Santa María de los Arcos

Tricio’s Roman predecessor was called Tritium Magallum and was a pottery center. Terra sigillata vessels spread throughout the Roman Empire from there. The local Roman pottery workshops produced red ceramics bearing the potter’s name on the bottom, which is why they are called terra sigillata. The town’s history is therefore connected not only with buildings, but also with a specific craft tradition.

The Basílica de Santa María de los Arcos was built as a Roman mausoleum in the 3rd century and converted into a Christian basilica in the 5th century. Its longitudinal plan comprises three naves. Arcades separate the side aisles; they rest on Corinthian columns made from fragments of 1st-century Roman columns. The present-day basilica also contains large reused columns from a monumental temple built around the 2nd century. These architectural elements and the building’s earlier use make it possible to trace different phases of Roman and early Christian history in one place.

Beneath the basilica’s floor are early Christian tombs from the 5th and 6th centuries, reused Roman sarcophagi, medieval burials, and Roman and early Christian funerary steles. Excavations in the town of Tricio and on the Arcos site also documented pre-Roman remains beneath the hill of Tricio. There is scholarly uncertainty about the earliest settlement.

Churches and Local Landmarks

The Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Arcos was designated a national historic-artistic monument by Royal Decree 788/1978 on March 30, 1978. Another stop for those interested in sacred architecture is the late Gothic Iglesia de San Miguel, a 15th-century parish church. It houses the mausoleum of Celedón Pardo y Agüero, personal physician to Philip IV. Above the church clock is a tile bearing a snail motif, regarded as a symbol of the municipality of Tricio.

The original Virgen de Arcos, a pre-Romanesque Black Madonna dating from the 11th century, is also kept in Tricio’s parish church. The basilica and parish churches thus represent different aspects of the town’s religious and historical heritage: from architectural history and burial sites to sacred art and a municipal symbol.

Planning Visits and Festivities

The Basílica de Santa María de los Arcos is open on weekends. You must arrange an appointment by phone in advance to visit. As access information may change, check opening times and appointment arrangements before your trip.

Local festivities include a traditional donkey race. The celebrations of San Bartolomé on August 24 include the Festival del Caracol, with tastings and snail races. If these events are relevant to your trip, check the dates and program in advance.

A Protected Tree in Tricio

The Álamo de la Fuente adds a natural point of interest to Tricio’s historical themes: a protected white poplar (Populus alba), classified as particularly noteworthy, stands in the town. Its age is estimated at around 105 years. Its size and aesthetic value are reasons for this designation. Alongside its architectural and settlement history, Tricio therefore offers another point of interest for travelers who are interested in remarkable trees.

Discover more destinations: Bobadilla, Hornos de Moncalvillo, Sorzano, Viniegra de Abajo, Gallinero De Cameros, El Cortijo, Badarán, Nájera.

For the overview of the wider region: La Rioja.