Peña Bajenza (also known as "Gate of La Rioja", "Mountains of Islallana" or "Rocks of

Viguera Viguera is a municipality in La Rioja, Spain. It includes the villages Castañares de las Cuevas, El Puente, and Panzares. History The earliest documentary evidence is in the Berber historian Ajbar Machmua, who told that Abd ar-Rahman I recover ...

") is a large rock formation situated just above the village of

Islallana Islallana is a village in the municipality of Nalda, in the province and autonomous community of La Rioja (Spain), La Rioja, Spain. As of 2018 had a population of 122 people. It is located next to the Iregua river, in the foothills of the Sistema ...

, part of the municipality of

Nalda Nalda is a municipality of the autonomous community of La Rioja (Spain). It is located near the capital, Logroño. Its population in January 2006 was 1,074 inhabitants over a 24.6 square kilometre area. History The town was the scene of the ...

, in the Spanish province of

La Rioja La Rioja () is an autonomous community and province in Spain, in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Its capital is Logroño. Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra, Arnedo, Alfaro, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and N� ...

. The 400-metre-high red-coloured rocks sculpted by

erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is distin ...

are part of the ''Peñas de Viguera'' and one of the most well-known landmarks of the region. The formation has several hiking and climbing trails and is home to colonies of

griffon vulture The Eurasian griffon vulture (''Gyps fulvus'') is a large Old World vulture in the bird of prey family Accipitridae. It may also be known as the Griffon vulture, though it may be used for the genus as a whole. It is not to be confused with Rü ...

s and other wild birds such the

Egyptian vulture The Egyptian vulture (''Neophron percnopterus''), also called the white scavenger vulture or pharaoh's chicken, is a small Old World vulture and the only member of the genus ''Neophron''. It is widely distributed from the Iberian Peninsula and ...

in summer. Two big crosses stand at the mountain. The first one can be found just in the beginning of the route (475 meters above the sea level). The second one (which is the most famous one) stands at the summit of the highest rock (941 metres above sea level). Each year on May 3, it becomes the destination of a pilgrimage known as the ''Romería de la Cruz''.Asociación para la protección del patrimonio de Nalda
Rutas por el patrimonio de Nalda
According to local legend, the cross commemorates a monk who killed himself by jumping from the top of the rock formation.

Routes

Although there are more than ten routes to arrive to the mountain, the most used one is the one which starts in Islallana walking through the asphalted ground crossing the Iregua river. Once crossed the river, the route begins to be full of land on the floor and the slopes start. Continuing in this way, the first cross, which is situated on the feet of the mountain can be seen. There the route finishes, and it starts a path. That zone is all covered by pines and some water pipes that indicate the fastest way to go up. Going through that way in slopes with a 28% of ramp, the route to finish at the top of the mountain is going to be clearly indicated. Once in the top, this route starts to go back to return to Islallana. This route takes 2 hours and a half and 8,45 kilometers to be done. Another very common route for pilgriners is the one which is like the first one, but instead of going back to Islallana, continues going through the South-West taking in all crosses the option of going to the left. On this route, the Hermitage of San Marcos is going to be found, and once there, passing through a valley and several hills, the route takes you directly to Castillo de Viguera mountain. The step is not very difficult, with an easy climb, so, if the rock is wet, is overcome with ease. The route finishes going to the North-East to arrive to

village. Joining

and

there is a road, which has to be taken to return to the beginning of this route. This route takes 5 hours long and 18,26 kilometers to be done.

Views

The views at the top of the mountain are with no doubth one of the most beautiful all around

. From there, several villages and the main city of the province can be seen. The views are definitely not suitable for people with dizziness. Most of the channel of the Iregua river can be seen, specifically throughout the route of the road which joins

Soria Soria () is a municipality and a Spanish city, located on the Douro river in the east of the autonomous community of Castile and León and capital of the province of Soria. Its population is 38,881 (INE, 2017), 43.7% of the provincial population. ...

and

Logroño Logroño () is the capital of the province of La Rioja, situated in northern Spain. Traversed in its northern part by the Ebro River, Logroño has historically been a place of passage, such as the Camino de Santiago. Its borders were disputed b ...

. Just below the almost vertical wall of the rocks, it is situated the village of Islallana (the place where we started for), 300 meters underneath the top. In the North-West Moncalvillo and Peña Moya can be seen, in the South-West, the Castle of Viguera, which is the second summit in one of the most typical routes. Also Rodalillo,

Arnedo Arnedo is the third largest town in La Rioja, Spain. It is located near Calahorra, and has a population of about 15,000 people. Its economy is based on the shoe industry. History The area of Arnedo has been inhabited as early as the Neolithic A ...

and Peña Aldera are situated in the East, and

, Albelda de Iregua and

on the West.Vistas desde Peña Bajenz
Vistas
/ref>

Celebrations

*Each year on May 3, it becomes the destination of a pilgrimage known as the ''Romería de la Cruz'', and people use to go to the top of the rock formation, most of them are parents and their young children. It is traditional for people from the zone to go to the top at least once in their lives, or in their childhood (with parents) or even when they are older (with their friends). *In summer is when most of the people use to go there, it is very common for the families from the surroundings to spend a day with their children going up in this mountain. Many people say that, although it could be dangerous, it is better to go in those days when the weather is not very sunny, to avoid the risks of having an insolation. *Many groups of young people also usually try to go to the top just for having a good time with their friends. Normally, they climb very early in the morning, they spend there the midday having lunch and taking photos, and at the afternoon they start to go down to return to their villages.

References

External links

Map of the Peña Bajenza and image of the white cross on the summit
on senderioja.es {{DEFAULTSORT:Pena Bajenza Rock formations of Spain Landforms of La Rioja (Spain)