Journey through the History and Tradition of Rioja Wine

This elegant masonry mansion, built in 1774 as the keystone of the main balcony indicates, is testimony to the impact caused by the palace of Don Esteban Francia. Its façade faithfully reproduces the layout of the former, highlighting the characteristic tri-lobed arch of the entrance door. However, it softens some decorative elements due to its advanced period. The building is in an excellent state of preservation and proudly displays the coat of arms of the Gadea family, perfectly visible on the façade, consolidating its heritage and aesthetic value in the urban environment.

The Palace of the Marquis of San Nicolás, in Briones, is an outstanding example of 18th century civil Baroque architecture in La Rioja. This imposing building now houses "La Casa Encantada", the Ethnology Section of the Museum of La Rioja. Inside, everyday objects, household goods and traditional utensils become valuable testimonies of the daily life of past generations. An intimate journey into La Rioja's past that allows visitors to discover customs, trades and ways of life through a carefully designed museography that gives voice to popular memory.

The hermitage of San Juan, also known as Santo Cristo de los Remedios, is a notable example of 18th century religious architecture in Briones. It was built between 1737 and 1748 on the remains of an old hermitage dedicated to San Juan Bautista. Its octagonal plan inscribed in a rectangle and its large central dome stand out for their originality. The facade has a niche with the image of the original saint and a belfry crowning the whole. In its interior it conserves rococo altarpieces of the XVIII century. The Cristo de los Remedios resides here between September and May; the rest of the year it is moved to the parish church.

The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Briones, begun in 1521 in Elizabethan Gothic style, is one of the most emblematic monuments of La Rioja. Its imposing Baroque tower, the work of Beratúa y Arbe (1756-1760), and its magnificent Renaissance façade stand out from the rest. The temple houses a rich artistic heritage: Baroque altarpieces, noble chapels, 16th century paintings and an organ by Gasparini. Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1981, its interior reveals centuries of history, faith and art, reflecting the religious splendor of the town.