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PROTAGONISTS AT FITUR
Pedro Sanz President of the Autonomous Region of La Rioja
Interview to Pedro Sanz President of the Autonomous Region of La Rioja
1. Which are the main areas La Rioja is promoting at FITUR 2010?
The main aspects of tourism promoted by La Rioja at FITUR
are the Jacobean Holy Year 2010 festivities, the region’s potential as a unique tourist destination, a leading area for wine, nature and cultural tourism, and the region’s importance on St James' Way. The areas promoted are echoed in the design of our wine-glass-shaped stand that gives further emphasis to the region’s leadership in the
wine production sector. La Rioja also has a wealth of natural and artistic resources and a rich cultural heritage. This is evident from the extensive programme of activities planned to take place at FITUR, featuring around thirty events which include the official La Rioja Day celebrations, wine tasting activities, agreement signing ceremonies, children’s activities on the theme of St James’ Way, arts and crafts demonstrations and wine therapy treatments.
2. What are the must-see attractions on the route of the St James’ Way as it crosses La Rioja?
The 60-kilometre stretch of the St James’ Way that travels through our region enters La Rioja at Logroño, running through seven municipalities (Logroño, Navarrete, Nájera, Azofra, Cirueña, Santo Domingo de la Calzada and Grañón) and crossing four rivers. During the three stages of the route, visitors can lose themselves in the medieval history of this region with its significant historic, cultural and artistic heritage. These treasures include the symbolic monasteries of Yuso and Suso at San Millán de la Cogolla, cradle of the Castilian language; the monastery of Santa María la Real de Nájera, the spiritual centre of several Navarre monarchs and the cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, an important spot on St James’ Way, which will be celebrating its Jubilee Year with a huge array of cultural activities until May. The people of La Rioja are famous for their hospitable nature and famous cuisine featuring high quality products, which is also a great attraction, as is the beauty and variety of the nature areas.
3. What kinds of activities and information about the Jacobean Year 2010 will visitors find at the La Rioja stand at FITUR?
The La Rioja stand will feature a specific area promoting Jacobean Holy Year 2010, giving emphasis to St James’ Way and its route through La Rioja. Information will be available about all the Jacobean Year 2010 activities to be hosted by the La Rioja Regional Government to mark the occasion. These include the Jacobús tourist bus, concerts, exhibitions, special commemorative publications and signposting along the Jacobean route through La Rioja. Visitors can download information on the Jacobean route directly to their mobile telephones using a Bluetooth application. Storytellers will participate in a series of workshops entitled Los Pequeregrinos (The Little Pilgrims) that aim to interest children in the culture, philosophy and history of St James’ Way, particularly the stretch crossing La Rioja.
4. What are the new wine-related projects to be made available to visitors to La Rioja in 2010?
In 2010, visitors to our region will find themselves in region that is a national and international benchmark in wine tourism. We are offering numerous wine-related activities. These include visits to wine producers (bodegas), balloon rides, bicycle trips and horse riding over vineyards, a chance to join in with the grape harvest, wine tasting sessions, overnight stays at bodegas, wine-gastronomy matching activities and wine therapy treatments. La Rioja Regional Government complements this range of activities for tourists with options such as the vinobus (winebus) tourist bus, visits to wine producers and wine tasting sessions, wine workshops and the Cata con Estrellas (Tasting under the Stars) combining star gazing with wine tasting and Las noches de San Lorenzo (The Nights of St Laurence) with activities focused on the world of wine in August.
5. What kinds of tourists you expect to attract as a result of the forthcoming opening of the Barranco Perdido adventure park?
The first phase of the Barranco Perdido adventure park in Enciso will be open by next summer. This will make this area and its significant paleontological heritage an important tourist attraction, which will be beneficial to the development of the area’s economy. Unlike other themed leisure complexes and theme parks, El Barranco Perdido has been designed as a “paleoaventure park” where visitors can become palaeontologists, geologists or archaeologists and hunt for footprints, fossils and bone remains in an open excavation. They can also identify and classify the various findings and help to reconstruct skeletons. This paleontological leisure complex will offer numerous activities consisting of itineraries, games of skill, physical trials, several attractions and animations, and a unique leisure area with water attractions, restaurants, open-air cafes and relaxation areas.