We stopped at the large car park beside the Las Norias municipal sports complex in Logroño. We were there out of season and felt completely safe throughout our stay. The car park is huge, and there was plenty of space for our 23-foot motorhome. It was very quiet, and nobody bothered us. On Sunday morning, a market was taking place beside the swimming pool, but even then the area was still quiet and not particularly busy where we were parked. The biggest advantage is that parking is completely free. The main disadvantage for us was the distance from the city centre: this is not a car park right next to the historic streets, so visiting the main sights requires a walk or another form of transport.
The car park is located beside the Complejo Deportivo Municipal Las Norias, one of Logroño’s major sports and leisure facilities. The complex was officially inaugurated on 10 June 1993 and was developed to provide a large recreational space on the northern side of the city, close to the River Ebro. Its facilities include summer swimming pools, tennis and padel courts, frontón courts, a climbing wall, a gym, children’s play areas and other sporting facilities. The main swimming pool measures 25 by 50 metres, while the large recreational pool covers around 5,500 square metres. There is also a shallow pool for younger children and several water slides. The complex is especially popular during the summer, when the pools and surrounding gardens attract families and local residents. The Sunday market nearby adds another regular activity to this part of the city.
For motorhome travellers, it is important to distinguish this large public car park from the separate motorhome service point in the surrounding area. The car park is principally intended for parking, rather than functioning as a fully equipped campsite. Water and waste-disposal facilities have been reported nearby, but they are separate from the parking spaces described here, so their current availability should be checked before relying on them. Visitor information also stresses the importance of using the marked parking arrangement rather than parking parallel to the kerb. During summer, motorhomes have been advised to use the far end of the car park rather than spaces near the swimming-pool entrance. Following the signs on arrival is the safest approach, particularly when the sports complex is busy.
Although Las Norias is outside the old town, it has a useful position for exploring the wider riverside area. The Ebro runs along the northern edge of Logroño, and the green spaces beside it provide walking and cycling routes. The Parque del Ebro is one of the main recreational areas, with paths running for approximately eight kilometres along the river’s right bank, from Parque de El Cubo towards the Iregua area. The park was opened in 1993 as part of the city’s effort to recover and improve the riverbanks for public use. Its landscape includes grassy areas, trees, footpaths and sections close to the river that may be flooded when water levels rise. For anyone who enjoys walking away from busy streets, this green corridor offers another reason to visit the area around Las Norias.
Logroño itself is the capital of La Rioja, a small autonomous community in northern Spain best known internationally for its wine. The city stands on the River Ebro, which has influenced its location, transport routes, agriculture and economic development for centuries. Its name is traditionally connected with the old word Gronio, often interpreted as referring to a ford or river crossing. The earliest written reference to Logroño, under the name Locrunio, dates from 956, when the settlement was donated to the Monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla by García Sánchez of Navarre. However, the history of human settlement in the surrounding area is older. Archaeological remains have been found on Monte Cantabria, while the Roman settlement of Vareia, now part of the wider urban area, was an important centre associated with the Ebro and its ancient transport routes.
The city’s importance increased considerably during the Middle Ages, particularly because of the Camino de Santiago. Pilgrims travelling along the French Way crossed the Ebro at Logroño, making the city a place where travellers, merchants and local inhabitants met. The river crossing was therefore much more than a practical connection between its banks: it helped transform Logroño into a commercial and strategic centre. The town also occupied a frontier position between the kingdoms of Castile and Navarre, making it important in the political struggles of medieval northern Spain.
In 1092, Logroño was destroyed during an attack by Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, better known as El Cid, whose conflict with García Ordóñez brought violence to the region. The city was restored three years later by Alfonso VI, who granted it a charter known as the Fuero de Logroño. The charter offered privileges and legal protections intended to encourage new inhabitants and stimulate economic growth. Its influence extended beyond Logroño: the legal model was subsequently used as a reference for other towns in what are now La Rioja, the Basque Country and neighbouring regions. The restoration marked an important turning point in the city’s development and helped strengthen its position within the Kingdom of Castile.
The Camino de Santiago continued to shape Logroño’s urban layout. The historic centre developed around the streets used by pilgrims and the routes leading to the river crossing. Churches, religious institutions, inns and commercial buildings grew up along these paths, while fortifications protected the settlement. In 1431, King John II of Castile granted Logroño the title of city. The town later received the titles Noble and Loyal, reflecting its established status and political importance. As the centuries passed, the city expanded beyond its medieval walls, especially during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, when railway connections, public services and new neighbourhoods changed its appearance.
One of the most important landmarks is the Puente de Piedra, or Stone Bridge, over the Ebro. A crossing existed here in the medieval period, and the bridge is closely associated with the Camino de Santiago. The present structure was built between 1882 and 1884, replacing an older bridge that had deteriorated. Its seven arches and long stone structure became one of the city’s defining features. For pilgrims arriving from the north, crossing the bridge traditionally meant entering Logroño before continuing towards the historic centre and the route to Santiago de Compostela.
Another important building is the Concatedral de Santa María de la Redonda, situated in the heart of the old town. The present church was developed over several centuries, mainly between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, on the site of an earlier Romanesque church. Its name, La Redonda, is associated with the shape of that earlier building. The church became a collegiate church in 1435 and was elevated to the rank of co-cathedral in 1959. Its imposing façade and twin towers dominate the surrounding streets, while the interior contains chapels, religious artworks and an important main altarpiece. It is one of the best-known monuments in the city and a useful starting point for a walk through the historic centre.
The Church of Santiago el Real is another important stop along the Camino. The present building dates mainly from the sixteenth century, although it incorporates later additions. Its façade includes a large sculptural representation of Saint James, the apostle associated with the pilgrimage route. Nearby, the Plaza del Juego de la Oca features a large representation of the traditional Goose Game, designed around the stages of the Camino de Santiago. The square and surrounding streets recall the city’s long connection with pilgrims and with the religious, commercial and cultural exchanges that accompanied the route.
The Church of San Bartolomé is another valuable example of Logroño’s historical architecture. Its construction began in the medieval period, and the building combines different architectural phases. The church is particularly notable for its Gothic portal, which includes elaborate sculptures. Together with the cathedral and Santiago el Real, it illustrates how religious buildings helped organise the urban landscape and how the city developed as an important stop on the pilgrimage route.
For everyday life, however, many visitors associate Logroño most strongly with its food and wine. Calle Laurel and the nearby Calle San Juan are particularly famous for their concentrations of bars serving pinchos, small portions of food that are often eaten with a glass of wine. Moving from one bar to another, sampling different specialities, is a well-established local tradition. Rioja wines have a long history connected with the surrounding vineyards, and modern production ranges from young wines intended for relatively early consumption to wines aged in barrels and bottles for longer periods. The wine industry is central to the identity of La Rioja and has influenced agriculture, trade, architecture and tourism across the region.
Logroño also has several museums and cultural attractions. The Museo de La Rioja, housed in the historic Espartero Palace, presents the history and culture of the region through archaeological finds, paintings, sculpture and objects from different periods. The Casa de las Ciencias, on the riverbank, is dedicated to science and education, with exhibitions and activities for visitors of different ages. These attractions complement the historic churches and streets, showing that the city has developed beyond its medieval origins while retaining much of its earlier character.
The relationship between Logroño and the Ebro is still visible in the city’s parks and public spaces. The river provides a natural boundary and a green corridor, but it has also been an important resource for agriculture and commerce. The city’s modern development has gradually opened more of its riverbanks to walking and cycling, allowing residents and visitors to enjoy the landscape without leaving the urban area. The combination of riverside green spaces, historic streets, churches, markets and wine culture makes Logroño a varied destination, even for people who are not particularly interested in visiting museums.
Our experience at Las Norias was straightforward: the car park was large, free, peaceful and felt safe, with more than enough room for our motorhome. The Sunday market beside the pools did not make our part of the parking area particularly busy. The only real drawback for us was the distance from the historic centre, which means that visitors should allow time to reach the main sights. Nevertheless, it is a useful option for anyone wanting a free place to park while exploring Logroño, particularly if they also want to enjoy the riverside paths or the facilities around Las Norias.