Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to the Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada, in La Rioja
Facts in brief
Official star rating 4
Location The hotel is located on Plaza del Santo, next to the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
Annual opening Open all year
Closest airport Bilbao
Distance from airport 120 km
Closest railway station Haro
Distance from railway station 21 km
Hotel facilities and services
Restaurant, bar, garage, shop, car parking.
Out and about nearby
Santo Domingo de la Calzada stands on a vast plain, next to the River Oja. The foundations of the town are inextricably entwined with the Way of St James, the pilgrimage route from France to Santiago de Compostela. Within the town you will find the cathedral and tower, an interpretive centre dedicated to the pilgrimage route, a Cistercian convent and the monastery of San Francisco (home to the town’s other Parador hotel). Within the local area you will find the wineries of Haro, Logrono and the villages of La Guardia, Najera and Ezcaray.
Sports nearby
Golf, skiing, hiking.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Standard double room for 5 nights
From about
£1,290
Holiday Code EXH1854
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to the Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada, in La Rioja
The Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada is a 4 star converted pilgrim’s hospital in the centre of the town. The building dates to the 12th century and was erected by St Dominic to take in pilgrims travelling along the Way of St James, from southern France to Santiago de Compostela. The town’s history is inextricably linked with the pilgrimage route. According to legend, in the 11th century this location on the River Oja was covered by a dense forest of holm oak. A hermit named Domingo took up residence within the woods, dedicating himself to help pilgrims cross the tricky terrain, and it is for him that the town is named. The Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada is located on Plaza del Santo, near to the cathedral. We highly recommend visiting the cathedral building which is renowned for its elaborate altarpiece, free-standing tower, mausoleum and hen-house (linked to the story of a local miracle). The hotel’s public rooms retain much of the building’s original features such as the Gothic arches and wooden coffered ceilings of the reception area. There are 61 comfortable guestrooms throughout the building decorated in eye-catching shades of blue and white. Many of the rooms have four-poster beds, adding a sense of continuity and completeness to this historical hotel. The Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada has two dining spots for guests, the Restaurant Doncellas and Restaurant Las Doce Vueltas, both of which serve the delicious cuisine of La Rioja. In this region, the art of Basque cuisine is combined with traditional techniques from Castile and Aragón. Specialities such as stuffed piquillo peppers, minestra (a sauté of mixed vegetables) and bacalao a la riojana (cod in a peppery, tomato sauce) can be found on the menu accompanied by the excellent wines of La Rioja. The Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada’s location in the town centre makes it ideal for sight-seeing excursions and trips into the surrounding countryside. We recommend a stay at the Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada as part of a longer touring holiday in northern Spain.
Room descriptions
The Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada has 61 rooms, air-conditioning, heating, private bathroom, complimentary Wi-Fi, mini-bar and safe, television, telephone and hairdryer. The hotel has 1 specially equipped accessible room.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Standard double room for 5 nights
From about
£1,290
Holiday Code EXH1854
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to the Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada, in La Rioja
The journey and how you get there
For a holiday to the Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada, our clients usually hire a car from Bilbao airport and include it as part of a fly-drive touring holiday. We include flights from London and a hire car, depending on what you would like to do and what is most appropriate to your overall journey.
Additional information
Children: An extra bed for a single child can be added in all room types.
Other information: There are two Parador hotels in the town of Santo Domingo de la Calzada. The other Parador is called the Parador de Santo Domingo Bernado de la Fresneda and is a 3 star hotel.
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Standard double room for 5 nights
From about
£1,290
Holiday Code EXH1854
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to the Parador de Santo Domingo de la Calzada, in La Rioja
About La Rioja
La Rioja, by Spanish standards, is a small and compact region in the north of Spain, to the south of the Basque country and north of Castile and Leon. Sheltered from the Atlantic by the Sierra de Cantabria, La Rioja is a region whose name is synonymous with the high-quality wine produced in over 500 wineries. The vineyards form a patchwork on gently rolling hills and terraces above the valley of the River Ebro and are divided into three zones: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja. Each of these areas has a wine route the visitor can follow. Many of the wineries have been run by the same families with expert knowledge passed through the generations for centuries, whilst others are set apart by their stunning modern architecture. The Marques de Riscal winery is one place which combines both elements; founded in 1858 it is one of the oldest wineries in La Rioja but is also known for its iconic building which was designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. As well as the wineries, La Rioja is also known for its cultural significance and magnificent religious buildings. The town of Santa Domingo de la Calzada is a key stop on the St James’ Way pilgrimage route which traverses northern Spain and the cathedral here is well worth visiting. Meanwhile in the city of Logroño guests will find the Cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda with its twin baroque towers and elegant façade. The Ebro River winds lazily through the city and visitors can enjoy a relaxed, self-guided tour of the town, stopping in at the many bars to try the local pintxos paired with local wines.
Highlights of La Rioja
Wine-producing towns across La Rioja DOC region where visitors can enjoy cellar tours and wine tastings, which can also be enjoyed at the luxury vineyard hotels which we feature. La Rioja is subdivided into three zones; Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa. Follow the wine routes of each of these areas. The beautiful Iglesia de San Bartolomé and cathedral in Logroño. The Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, stopping point on the Saint James’ Way pilgrimage route. Numerous bars across the region which serve ‘pintxos’ (a Basque version of tapas), including those in Logroño. The attractive old town of Haro. The Museum of Wine Culture in Vivanco. San Millán Yuso and Suso (Upper and Lower) Monasteries, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in La Rioja, known for their role in the early development of the Spanish language. The hilltop walled town of Laguardia. Walking and nature watching in the Sierra de Cameros Natural park near Soria. “El Barranco Perdido” paleontology-themed amusement park. The pretty village of Ezcaray in the Oja River Valley, made wealthy by the wool trade, is popular with visitors for its outdoor pursuits and host of tapas bars.
Festivals in La Rioja
April: “Los Picaos” Easter procession in San Vicente de la Sonsierra. May: Saint’s Day festivities in Santo Domingo de la Calzada. June: Festivities of San Bernabé in Logroño, Haro Wine Festival and the Battle of Wine, Briones Medieval Festival. August: Bread and Cheese Festival in Quel. September: San Mateo Wine Harvest Festival (Logroño).
Gastronomy in La Rioja
La Rioja is best-known for its high-quality reds as well as many excellent white and rosé wines. A regional variation of tapas called ‘pintxos’ can be found throughout La Rioja, frequently eaten as a snack in bars. Enjoying pintxos like a local means visiting several bars and trying one or two small dishes in each, accompanied by local wines. Regional cooking varies from place to place but the key flavours and ingredients are simple and wholesome with high quality products from the region. Of particular note are the traditional stews made with fava or caparrón beans and a wide array of vegetables and pulses. Christians and Muslims have each left their mark on the region with pork and lamb forming popular bases for dishes, whilst fish caught from the Ebro also appear on the menu.
Climate in La Rioja
La Rioja is one of the colder regions of Spain and tends to have fairly mild summers and wet winters. The preferred time for visitors tends to be from June to September with most tourists avoiding the winter months of November to March. This part of Spain escapes the fierce summer heat found in the centre and south of the country with pleasant temperatures of around 20-25 degrees typical.
