Alavesa Plain: The Road to Santiago

We propose a route laden with history, starting in San Adrián tunnel (1), between the hills of Aitzgorri and Aratz, which is accessed through a spectacular stone arch. Inside you can contemplate an old hermitage.
The stroll on foot up to this point from the town of Zalduondo (2) is truly worthwhile. Then head back to the town and visit the Church of San Saturnino de Toulouse (16th century) and its palaces. Lazarraga Palace houses an interesting Ethnographic Museum in which, amongst other things, the figure of Marquitos, a traditional character which symbolises the bad spirits and which is burnt during the local carnival, is explained. Nearby you will find the hermitages of San Julián and Santa Basilia, of pre-Romanesque style.

Then head along the A-3018 to Salvatierra-Agurain (3), an attractive walled town with well laid out, colonnaded streets with outstanding renaissance manorial houses and the churches of San Juan and Santa María. From here, take the A-4112 if you wish to visit the Sorginetxe dolmen in Arrizala (4), and then take the same route back to the A-3110, which will take you to Alaiza (5) and, by taking the A-4111 turn-off, to Gaceo (6). Make sure you visit the churches of these two towns, since both house interesting Gothic paintings. Continue along the A-3100 and the A-3140 to Alegría-Dulantzi (7), where you will find the Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Ayala, a building dating from the 13th century.
The route from this point is along the A-3112 and then the A-132 heading towards Vitoria-Gasteiz; take the A-4159 turn-off to reach Estíbaliz Shrine (8), of undoubted historic and artistic value, with Romanesque elements and subsequent Gothic complements. And in the capital of Álava (9) you will find testament to the Road to Santiago, such as the Chapel of Santiago, in the Cathedral of Santa María, or the Convent of La Magdalena. Leaving the city via Paseo de la Senda you will reach Armentia (10), where you will find the Basilica of San Prudencio, a jewel of Álava Romanesque, which was the episcopal seat in the times of Muslim domination, and subsequently the spiritual centre of Álava during the Middle Ages.

From here you can access the N-1 towards La Puebla de Arganzón (11), where we advise you to take a break to admire the Gothic church of La Asunción and its hugely valuable Plateresque altarpiece, along with the hospital of San Juan Bautista and the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Antigua. Continuing along this road will take us through different towns. After passing through Armiñón, take the N-124 and then the A-4106 turn-off to Salinillas de Buradón (12), a locality of Rioja Alavesa.
The road enters through the northern entrance of the walled centre, leaving through the southern entrance. In the meantime, admire the Hospital of Santa Ana, the Tower of Los Sarmiento and Ayalas, and the Church of La Concepción, from the 16th century. From here, the journey continues through La Rioja.