Logroño

Coordinates: 42°27′54″N 2°26′44″W / 42.46500°N 2.44556°W / 42.46500; -2.44556
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Logroño
Panoramic view
Plaza del Mercado
Stone bridge over Ebro
Monumento to Espartero
Flag of Logroño
Coat of arms of Logroño
Map
Location of Logroño
Logroño is located in La Rioja, Spain
Logroño
Logroño is located in Spain
Logroño
Coordinates: 42°27′54″N 2°26′44″W / 42.46500°N 2.44556°W / 42.46500; -2.44556
CountrySpain
Autonomous communityLa Rioja
ComarcaRioja Media
Government
 • MayorConrado Escobar (PP)
Area
 • Municipality79.57 km2 (30.72 sq mi)
Elevation
384 m (1,260 ft)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Municipality152,485
 • Density1,900/km2 (5,000/sq mi)
 • Metro
197,000
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Websitewww.logro-o.org
336 km (209 mi) to Madrid; Fuero given in 1095

Logroño (Spanish: [loˈɣɾoɲo] ) is the capital of the autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain. Located in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, primarily in the right (South) bank of the Ebro River, Logroño has historically been a place of passage, such as the Camino de Santiago. Its borders were disputed between the Iberian kingdoms of Castille, Navarre and Aragon during the Middle Ages.

The population of the city in 2021 was 150,808 while the metropolitan area included nearly 200,000 inhabitants. The city is a centre of trade of Rioja wine, for which the area is noted, and manufacturing of wood, metal and textile products.

Etymology[edit]

Origin of the name[edit]

The origin of this toponym is, as for many other places, unknown. The name Lucronio was first used in a document from 965 where García Sánchez I of Pamplona donated the so-called place to the Monastery of San Millán. In the Fuero of Logroño from 1095 it appeared under the name Logronio, except once when it was called illo Gronio. The most broadly accepted theses seem to be those which indicate it is a late latinization by prefixing the article "lo/illo" to the old toponym Gronio/Gronno,[2] a word of Celtic origin which means the ford or the pass.[citation needed] It is believed that this name was due to the frequent use of this place to cross the Ebro river.

Other historians have proposed alternative theories, such as a possible derivation from Lucus Brun or Lucus Beronius ("Sacred place in the Beronian forest"), but its etymology remains unknown.[3]

Titles[edit]

John II of Castile granted it the title of "City" on 7 February 1431 in Palencia and ratified it on 20 February in Valladolid,[4] thus it stopped being called "Village", despite there being no explicit justification of the reasons for that change. 20 July 1444 the same king added the titles of "Very noble", Spanish: Muy Noble, and "Very loyal", Spanish: Muy Leal, which up until today appear in the seal of the city. In this case, the reason was the loyalty of the habitants against the homonymous king John II of Aragon, because despite the «long war, and wounds and deaths, and robberies, and fires, and damages and oppresions», the city remained loyal to the service of the king of Castile.

5 July 1523, the king Francis I granted it the three fleurs-de-lis for the shield of the city for its resistance during the French siege in 1521.

It also received by Royal Decree the title of "Excellence" 6 December 1854 from Isabella II, as a reward for its behavior during the cholera epidemic which devastated the city.

Geography[edit]

Logroño is located in the northern region of La Rioja, on the river Ebro, 384 metres (1,260 feet) above sea level. The Camino de Santiago passes through the city. The geographical coordinates of the city are: 42° 27′ N, 2° 29′ W.

The city lies 152 km (94 mi) from Bilbao, 172 km (107 mi) from Zaragoza, 336 km (209 mi) from Madrid and 468 km (291 mi) from Barcelona.

History[edit]

Puente de Piedra.

Logroño was an old settlement, first of the Romans, under the name of Vareia,[5] a commercial port, and then of the Celts.[dubious ] From the 10th century, possession of Logroño was disputed between the kings of Navarre and those of Castile; the region was finally annexed to Castile. The name is a combination of le and Groin, mashed together as Logroño over time. Alfonso VI of Castile granted Logroño in 1095 a charter of rights that served as a model for other Spanish cities. In 1609 and 1610 Logroño was the main seat of the Basque witch trials, part of the Spanish Inquisition.

Famous people from Logroño include Manuel Bretón de los Herreros, Fausto Elhúyar, Práxedes Mateo Sagasta, Rafael Azcona, Ramón Castroviejo, Pedro J. Ramírez, Navarrete "El Mudo".

Demographics[edit]

Population centres[edit]

Politics[edit]

List of mayors since the democratic elections of 1979
Term Mayor Political Party
1979–1983 Miguel Ángel Marín UCD
1983–1987 Manuel Sainz Ochoa PSOE
1987–1991 Manuel Sainz Ochoa PSOE
1991–1995 Manuel Sainz Ochoa PSOE
1995–1999 José Luis Bermejo PP
1999–2003 Julio Revuelta PP
2003–2007 Julio Revuelta PP
2007–2011 Tomás Santos PSOE
2011–2015 Cuca Gamarra PP
2015–2019 Cuca Gamarra PP
2019–2023 Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza PSOE
2023– Conrado Escobar PP

Economy[edit]

Con-catedral de Santa María de la Redonda.
New financial zone of Logroño.

Logroño is the shopping and financial capital of La Rioja. Its economy is heavily reliant on wine, the most popular of which is Rioja D.O. Logroño is twinned with Dunfermline, Darmstadt, Libourne, Dax, Rancagua, Ciudad de La Rioja, Brescia, El Hagounia. The airport Logroño-Agoncillo connects the city with Madrid.

Food[edit]

There are over 50 taperías (tapas restaurants) located within a four-block area near the town center. The traditional tapas restaurants often serve only one tapa [such as seta (mushroom), served as pinchopintxo in Basque – meaning one serving, or media ración ("half portion"), a small plate of tapas, but offer the Rioja D.O.

Climate[edit]

The weather in Logroño – mostly due to its peculiar location, both in terms of distance to the Atlantic coast and in the situation along the course of the Ebro river, is characterized by values ranging from those typically found in temperate oceanic climates to the warmer and drier ones observed in southeastern mediterranean regions of the river's valley. However, the weather station has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSk) with subtropical influences. The average annual temperature is 13.9 °C (57 °F).[6][7] Although infrequent, unusually low temperatures during the winter can drop to −5 °C (23 °F) or even lower, while daily high averages may exceptionally exceed the mark of 38 °C (100 °F) in a particularly hot summer. The average annual precipitation is about 400 mm (15.75 in), regularly spread over the whole year: from 20 mm (0.79 in)–25 mm (0.98 in) in drier periods to the 45 mm (1.77 in)-50 mm (1.97 in) range in the rainiest.[7] The winds that affect the city are as follows: the northerly Cierzo, the southerly Ábrego, the easterly Solano, and the westerly Castellano. Intermediate winds are the northeasterly Navarrico, the northwesterly Regañón, the southwesterly Burgalés and the southeasterly Soriano.[citation needed]

Climate data for Logroño (1991–2020 normals, extremes since 1948)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 19.3
(66.7)
23.1
(73.6)
28.8
(83.8)
31.2
(88.2)
39.8
(103.6)
42.2
(108.0)
42.8
(109.0)
40.8
(105.4)
39.0
(102.2)
31.4
(88.5)
27.4
(81.3)
21.4
(70.5)
42.8
(109.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 10.4
(50.7)
12.2
(54.0)
16.3
(61.3)
18.6
(65.5)
22.8
(73.0)
27.5
(81.5)
30.4
(86.7)
30.5
(86.9)
25.9
(78.6)
20.5
(68.9)
14.0
(57.2)
10.4
(50.7)
20.0
(68.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.4
(43.5)
7.3
(45.1)
10.5
(50.9)
12.5
(54.5)
16.3
(61.3)
20.6
(69.1)
23.1
(73.6)
23.1
(73.6)
19.4
(66.9)
14.9
(58.8)
9.7
(49.5)
6.7
(44.1)
14.2
(57.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 2.3
(36.1)
2.4
(36.3)
4.6
(40.3)
6.5
(43.7)
9.9
(49.8)
13.6
(56.5)
15.7
(60.3)
15.8
(60.4)
12.8
(55.0)
9.3
(48.7)
5.4
(41.7)
2.9
(37.2)
8.5
(47.3)
Record low °C (°F) −11.6
(11.1)
−9.6
(14.7)
−8.8
(16.2)
−3.6
(25.5)
0.6
(33.1)
4.8
(40.6)
7.2
(45.0)
6.2
(43.2)
3.0
(37.4)
−1.2
(29.8)
−8.2
(17.2)
−11.6
(11.1)
−11.6
(11.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 36.8
(1.45)
31.3
(1.23)
37.3
(1.47)
44.6
(1.76)
45.8
(1.80)
45.3
(1.78)
32.1
(1.26)
20.4
(0.80)
31.0
(1.22)
37.8
(1.49)
48.3
(1.90)
37.3
(1.47)
448
(17.63)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 6.9 5.9 6.1 7.2 7.6 5.6 3.7 3.4 4.4 6.7 7.7 6.7 71.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 109 137 198 209 240 281 321 298 232 172 112 97 2,406
Source: Météo Climat[8]
Climate data for Logroño (1981–2010 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 19.3
(66.7)
23.0
(73.4)
27.6
(81.7)
31.2
(88.2)
37.6
(99.7)
42.2
(108.0)
42.8
(109.0)
40.6
(105.1)
39.0
(102.2)
31.4
(88.5)
27.4
(81.3)
21.4
(70.5)
42.8
(109.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 9.9
(49.8)
12.0
(53.6)
15.9
(60.6)
17.8
(64.0)
22.0
(71.6)
26.9
(80.4)
30.1
(86.2)
29.8
(85.6)
25.8
(78.4)
20.1
(68.2)
13.8
(56.8)
10.2
(50.4)
19.5
(67.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.9
(42.6)
7.2
(45.0)
10.2
(50.4)
12.0
(53.6)
15.9
(60.6)
20.1
(68.2)
22.8
(73.0)
22.7
(72.9)
19.3
(66.7)
14.7
(58.5)
9.5
(49.1)
6.5
(43.7)
13.9
(57.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 2.0
(35.6)
2.4
(36.3)
4.6
(40.3)
6.3
(43.3)
9.7
(49.5)
13.3
(55.9)
15.6
(60.1)
15.6
(60.1)
12.9
(55.2)
9.2
(48.6)
5.3
(41.5)
2.8
(37.0)
8.3
(46.9)
Record low °C (°F) −11.6
(11.1)
−9.6
(14.7)
−8.8
(16.2)
−3.6
(25.5)
0.6
(33.1)
4.8
(40.6)
7.2
(45.0)
6.2
(43.2)
3.0
(37.4)
−1.2
(29.8)
−8.2
(17.2)
−11.6
(11.1)
−11.6
(11.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 28
(1.1)
23
(0.9)
26
(1.0)
46
(1.8)
47
(1.9)
44
(1.7)
30
(1.2)
21
(0.8)
26
(1.0)
37
(1.5)
40
(1.6)
38
(1.5)
405
(15.9)
Average relative humidity (%) 78 72 65 64 62 57 55 58 64 72 77 80 67
Mean monthly sunshine hours 105 133 189 198 225 270 312 285 220 164 113 93 2,305
Source: AEMET[7][9]

Places of interest[edit]

Façade of Parliament of La Rioja in Logroño.
Santa María de Palacio Church.

Recreation (plazas and parks)[edit]

  • Paseo del Príncipe de Vergara (El Espolón): Located in the financial center of the capital and positioned in the center by the statue of General Espartero.
  • Plaza del Ayuntamiento: Located on the Avenue of Peace, the modern Town Hall of Logroño, designed by architect Rafael Moneo, is in a large plaza where in years past it has seen numerous public acts, festivals, expositions, concerts, and in the last few years, during Christmas, a life size reconstruction of the nativity scene.
  • Parque del Carmen: Located near the bus station, this park has a variety of flora and fauna including several ducks and birds.[citation needed]
One of the Palaces of Espolón.
  • Plaza del Mercado: Located somewhere near Calle Portales, one of the most famous avenues of the city, at the foot of the Round Cathedral. This is where the nightly festivals of Logroño occur, near Calle Mayor (Marqués de San Nicolas Street).
  • Parque del Ebro: Located near the Ebro, an extensive park full of vegetation ideal for relaxing. Also has a bike path traversing through the park.
  • Parque de la Ribera: Next to Parque del Ebro, recently constructed. Here many gardens are found alongside the Plaza de Toros de la Ribera. Also: Riojaforum. Palacio de Congresos y Auditorio de La Rioja
  • Parque de San Miguel
Parque del Ebro.

Social life[edit]

Calle del Laurel, known as "the path of the elephants" and Calle San Juan are typical streets where various restaurants and tapas bars offer some of the best pinchos and tapas in northern Spain. Calle Portales is the main street in the old town, where people like to walk and sit in the terraces to eat a meal or drink wine. Calle Marqués de San Nicolás (otherwise known as Calle Mayor) is the main area where people spend weekend nights.

Broadcasting stations[edit]

Southwest of Logroño, at 42°26'34"N 2°30'43"W, there is a mediumwave broadcasting station with a transmission power of 20 kW.

Sports[edit]

Triple jumper Carlota Castrejana is from the city. David Lopez Moreno, the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder is from Logroño.

Festivals and traditions[edit]

Arch of Saint Barnabas.

The patron saint of Logroño is Santa María de la Esperanza.

The most important festivals are:

  • San Bernabé (Saint Barnabas), celebrated on June 11, commemorating the victory and resistance of Logroño against French invaders under Francis I that besieged the city in May and June 1521. During this celebration, fried trout is typically served by the Fish Brotherhood, along with bread and wine, allegedly the only foodstuffs available in Logroño during the siege.
  • San Mateo, celebrated between September 20 and September 26. Since 2006 the celebrations start the Saturday before September 21 (the day of Saint Matthew) and last for a week.

During the first week of January there is a cultural festival known as "ACTUAL" with music, theater and art.

International relations[edit]

Twin towns and sister cities[edit]

Logroño is twinned with:

Logroño is associated with:

Transport[edit]

The city is served by the Logroño railway station.

In popular culture[edit]

In the 4th season of the HBO television series True Blood, the witch Antonia is from Logroño. She refers to herself as Antonia Galván de Logroño. In the Netflix original series Money Heist, where members of the band of bank robbers use cities as codenames, their accomplice Benjamín Martínez is jokingly given the codename 'Logroño'.

Notable people[edit]

Some notable people from Logroño are:

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. ^ I. Rodríguez y R. de Lama, Colección diplomática medieval de La Rioja, vol. I, Logroño 1979, 272–293
  3. ^ Urbano Espinosa (1993). "El gentilicio Berones en el topónimo Logroño". In Jürgen Untermann; Jaime Siles (eds.). Studia palaeohispanica et indogermanica J. Untermann ab amicis hispanicis oblata. Edicions Universitat Barcelona. p. 139. ISBN 978-84-475-0418-3. El gentilicio Berones en el topónimo Logroño Urbano Espinosa Logroño forma parte de un reducido grupo de topónimos mayores en la España septentrional. cuya etimología resulta inexplicable.
  4. ^ Rolled leather parchment sealed with lead and the royal seal. Valladolid, 20 February 1431. Logroño municipal register
  5. ^ Keay, S.; R. Mathisen; H. Sivan; R. Talbert; T. Elliott; S. Gillies. "Places: 246729 (Vareia?)". Pleiades. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  6. ^ "Weather in Logroño". Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  7. ^ a b c "Standard Climate Values for Logroño". Agencia Estatal de Meteorología. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Météo climat stats Moyennes 1991/2020 Espagne (page 2)" (in French). Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Extreme Climate Values for Logroño". Agencia Estatal de Meteorología. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Städtepartnerschaften und Internationales". Büro für Städtepartnerschaften und internationale Beziehungen (in German). Archived from the original on 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
  11. ^ Rioja, La. "Actos del 50 Aniversario del hermanamiento entre Dax y Logroño - laRioja.com. Foto 1 de 38". www.larioja.com.
  12. ^ A-Z Twinning and Networking (. Accessed 2010-11-02.)
  13. ^ "Ayuntamiento de Logroño | Hagunia" (in Spanish). Xn--logroo-0wa.es. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  14. ^ "Ayuntamiento de Logroño | Libourne" (in Spanish). Xn--logroo-0wa.es. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  15. ^ "Ayuntamiento de Logroño | Rancagua" (in Spanish). Xn--logroo-0wa.es. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  16. ^ "National Commission for Decentralised cooperation". Délégation pour l’Action Extérieure des Collectivités Territoriales (Ministère des Affaires étrangères) (in French). Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-12-26.

External links[edit]