Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada

Santo Domingo is one of the oldest enclaves in La Rioja. Domingo García (Santo Domingo) built a bridge, a hostel and a hospital in the 11th century to facilitate the pilgrims' journey to Santiago. Since then it has not stopped growing in importance and heritage.

The town and its wall are one of the best preserved in La Rioja. Its cathedral is impressive and houses a live rooster and hen in reference to the miracle of Santo Domingo who made a chicken fly from the plate after roasting it to prove the innocence of a pilgrim.

Over the centuries, Santo Domingo de la Calzada has strengthened its position as a nerve center for commerce and services. Today it is the main town in the Nájera region.

This old cathedral impresses with a simple, modern renovation. The specialty is the chicken coop which always has a pair of chickens that are changed every two weeks. It goes back to a quasi-biblical legend in which a young man was accused of stealing (compare Joseph of Egypt). When he was hanged, he was still alive weeks later. The judge, to whom the parents reported this, exclaimed: "This man is as dead as the two chickens that lie on my plate!" Then the roasted chickens flew up and away!

Mandatory visit on the Camino de Santiago