La Rioja

I

Introduction

La Rioja, autonomous region, northern Spain, coextensive with La Rioja Province. The smallest of mainland Spain’s autonomous regions, La Rioja has an area of 5,034 sq km (1,945 sq mi). The region is bordered on the north by the Basque Country and Navarra, on the south and west by Castilla-León, and on the south-east by Aragón.

II

Physical Geography

La Rioja is situated on the western side of the Ebro Valley, on the Oja River—a tributary of the Ebro—from which the region takes its name. The northern part of the region enjoys a mild climate, and annual rainfall is plentiful. Further south the climate is typically Mediterranean—hot and dry, with temperatures reaching around 35° C (95° F) in the summer months. In the south-west the highest point in the region—San Lorenzo (2,262 m/7,421 ft), in the Sierra de la Demanda range; the Sierra de Cebollera and Sierra de Urbión ranges also have several peaks over 2,000 m (6,560 ft).

III

Population

With an estimated 308,968 inhaitants in 2007, La Rioja has the lowest population of Spain’s mainland autonomous communities. The distribution of the population is fairly uneven. While the average population density for the province as a whole is 57 people per sq km (148 per sq mi), nearly half of the region’s inhaitants live in the provincial capital Logroño (population, 2007, 145,866). The mountainous region in the south-west is very sparsely populated with no large settlements. The principal towns and centres of population in the region include Calahorra (2007, 23,768); Arnedo (2007, 14,082); Haro (2007, 11,463); Alfaro (2007, 9,576); Nájera (2007, 8,073); and Santo Domingo de la Calzada (2007, 6,537).

The Suso (6th century) and Yuso (16th century) monasteries in San Millán de Cogolla were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. An important Roman Catholic pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela passes through the region. Begun in ad 813 with the discovery of the tomb of St James the Great in Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galicia, the Way of St James (which passes through Logroño, Nájera, and Santo Domingo de la Calzada) was heavily travelled in the 11th and 12th centuries and several inns and monasteries along the route have been inscribed on the World Heritage List. An annual festival is held in Haro in June to celebrate the feast day of St Peter and St Paul, culminating in a famous “wine battle” that takes place in the town square. The Rioja Wine Festival, held in Logroño in late September is celebrated with processions and traditional markets.

IV

Economy

La Rioja is home to one of the most important viticulture regions of Europe. Wine and asparagus are the chief agricultural products, and beans, potatoes, peppers, and olives are also significant. An important wool region is in the north of the region. Extensive tobacco plantations are located in Logroño, which is also the region’s principal industrial centre. Manufactured goods include chemicals, motor-vehicle components, textiles, footwear, and furniture. Unemployment in the region is generally lower than the national average.