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A few minutes’ walk from the main Peace Square (Plaza de la Paz) you will easily find a small square (the aptly named Plaza de la Iglesia – Church Square) containing the Parish church of Saint Thomas.  The building of this monument started in the 16^th century, built on a plot of an earlier church of the same name.

Also worth visiting is the Basilica of Our Lady of Vega which has great significance for the town of Haro, with several days of fiestas dedicated to her patronage every year (see our Events section).  The church is in the Baroque style, built in the 17^th century, and can be found at Avenida Breton de los Herreros.

Other buildings of note include the Banco de Espana, an ornate building which seems rather grand for such a small town, but a testament to her remarkable past.   There is also an interesting mix of palaces in the town centre, constructed in the 16^th to 18^th centuries, through which we can see an evolution of architectural design.  A number of these palaces have remarkable facades. Of particular note are the Counts of Haro Palace, built late 16^th/early 17^th century, located on the same square as the parish church of Saint Thomas and the fantastically ornate Palace in the Plaza de la Cruz, which was completed in the late 18^th century.

In terms of Museums, whilst Haro does have the usual indoor museums, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art located at the main Plaza de la Paz, it has also taken a more unusual approach to displaying its heritage, as perhaps befits a location with such a great climate – you can’t help but notice it’s Open-Air Museum.  In fact, the town proudly proclaims itself to be an open-air museum, although one might view it as more of an open-air art gallery. You do not need to walk for long in the town before noticing the vast murals on the sides of buildings, or the curious bronze statues. 

Dotted around the town you will find large bronze statues that catch the eye.  Amongst other themes are a number of statues that depict the town’s trades – vintners, coopers, wineskin makers, gardeners, they are all proudly standing there to remind you of what this town is about.

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The heart of the wine region is the “Barrio de la Estacion” or “station neighbourhood”. The train station was built in the 1860s and owes its existence to a historic event that some might say gave rise to a publicity boost for the Rioja wines, already known in the local area for their quality. In the late 1850s the Great French Wine Blight, properly known as Phylloxera, arrived from the US and decimated many European vineyards, notably the famous wines south western France, and of Bordeaux. While the French vineyard owners searched for a remedy, many of them went south, to Spain, in search of new territory. They took with them the French methods of wine production, which was a significant influence in the production of wine in the Rioja region. At around this time, the train station in Haro was opened and wineries were built in the surrounding area, enabling wine to be transported in bulk to Bordeaux.

From the historic centre of Haro the Barrio de la Estacion is just over 1km away, and can be easily reached on foot in under 15 minutes. If you are looking for long-established wineries and the opportunity for excellent tastings, this is the place to be. The area is home to 7 different wineries, of which no less than 5 have been in continuous operation for over a century. This area is often referred to as “The Golden Mile of Rioja”. It is a vibrant place, where various activities and events are organised throughout the year. This includes the District Station Tasting day, which usually takes place in June, during which in one day all of the wineries can be visited, with tastings of two wines and one tapas available at each one. The day is usually rounded off with entertainment such as a concert. There are also “wine passports” available at certain times of the year, which is a bit like a Haro version of a pub crawl. And in early December there is the turning on of the lights and a Christmas concert.

For anyone who wants to really immerse themselves in the wine culture during their visit to Haro, you can organise a trip through the local vineyards in a horse-drawn carriage, including a wine tasting and lunch in the vineyards. www.bodegasencarruaje.com

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At lunchtime the restaurants can get very busy as lots of Spaniards take advantage of the fixed price menus which offer excellent value for money, and usually include a choice of starter, mains and dessert, together with bread, wine and water included in the fixed price. It is a good idea to get there when service starts, often at 13.00, or you might miss out. 

If you are looking for a copious, tasty good value meal at lunchtime you should head to Plaza de la Paz – Peace Square – where, in the surrounding streets you will find an abundance of restaurants and cafes. 

As well as the many bars and restaurants you will also find bakeries selling some unusual, local delights.   Don’t miss the fantastic Rioja wine truffles!

For many people the best time to go out and eat is the early evening, when a whole array of eateries come to life, and you can experience the local buzz.   You will find in the area around Herradura Street a variety of old, traditional bars, where you can buy “pinchos” the local version of tapas, to eat alongside your choice of Rioja.  You can go from bar to bar, having a very special type of pub-crawl, where the food is as important as the drink.  The word pinchos comes from the Spanish verb pinchar, to pierce, and you may notice that most of these small dishes are skewered together with a cocktail stick.   A typical bar will contain a wide variety, often different types of topping on small slices of bread.  Don’t worry too much about what might be inside – they are all delicious!!

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