Calahorra: Roman and more

Calahorra, 2nd largest city in La Rioja, only got on our radar when we were trying to figure out how to kill four nights in Logrono. In the end, we went back to Calahorra from Tudela for a day trip.

Calahorra goes back to Roman times when it was called Calagurris. Remains/ruins of a circus, thermal bath, houses, aqueduct, city wall, sewers, etc. could be seen around town. There are speculations of the location of an amphitheater. It has been a seat of a Catholic diocese since the 5th century. More recently, there is also a parador. Nevertheless, Calahorra has a shabby look to it.

Theoretically Calahorra is in the Rioja Baja wine region; however, the real pride of Calahorra is vegetables. The most shining place in the town is the Vegetable Museum. We happened to be there right after their vegetable festival to catch the dozens of vegetable "costumes", very unique and creative.

We hopped off the bus in Calahorra and walked directly to the large, ancient, and sumptuous Cathedral of Santa María which was IMO extremely photogenic. Sun-Ling had to pull my camera and I out of there in order to visit the Vegetable and Roman Museums before they closed. Here's a few photos where I try to show the immensity of the building.







The Martyrs's Baptismal Font.

A small section of the choir.

A few of the retables.

The Martyrdom of San Emeterio and San Celedonio.



Not to mention the distinctive 4-column clock tower. Note that it's 12:35. We are on time. ;-)

And later, the opposite side.



Plant-Based Fashion Styles at the Museo de la Verdura de Calahorra.







The Roman Museum was ho-hum...



...But the self-guided tour around town of the Roman sites was pretty good.

The weekly market was closing down as we started the tour.

The site of the Roman Circus is still an open space, Paseo Mercadal (see Google map below), and home to outdoor restaurants, and monuments from the past and present.

And there is a small section of the original Circus at one end.

Nearby is a section of a Roman Aqueduct.

The not-completely-excavated Yacimiento de la Clínica, Roman villa and thermal baths from the 1st century, is the highlight of the Roman sites, but was closed the day we visited. We had to peer in from the fence.

Also, a section of the Roman wall and a Roman gate. The view from the city wall. And from another point, the view to the Cathedral (front) and Sanctuary of the Virgen del Carmen (back).

The Virgin of Carmen.

There are a few Modernismo buildings on the main drag. The most interesting is the Casa de las Cariátides.