The town is named after Domingo García (later Santo Domingo de la Calzada), a native of Viloria de Rioja who is buried in the cathedral. Traditional accounts say that Domingo had previously sought admission to the monasteries of Valvanera and San Millán de la Cogolla but was turned away, after which he lived for a time as a hermit. He later dedicated himself to helping pilgrims travelling to Santiago de Compostela, building a road, a bridge over the River Oja and a pilgrim hospital. The name de la Calzada refers to the road he built. The settlement that became Santo Domingo de la Calzada developed around his pilgrim hospital. Today, he is the patron saint of civil engineers in Spain.
Qué ver en Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Catedral de Santo Domingo de la Calzada
According to the legend of the wrongly hanged pilgrim, Santo Domingo kept a young man alive after his execution. A roasted rooster and hen then came back to life as proof of the miracle (see also Barcelos in Portugal). A live rooster and hen are still kept inside the cathedral. The birds are changed monthly, with the other birds kept at the nearby Cofradía del Santo albergue. The saint's tomb lies in the crypt beneath the cathedral; the present monument incorporates elements from three earlier tombs dating from the Romanesque, Gothic and late-Gothic periods.
Torre Exenta
The Torre Exenta ("Freestanding Tower") is an 18th-century Baroque bell tower built separately from the cathedral on firmer ground. At 70 m, it is the tallest tower in La Rioja. It can be climbed for views over Santo Domingo de la Calzada and, on a clear day, across the surrounding countryside to the Sierra de la Demanda.
Dónde alojarse en Santo Domingo de la Calzada
