Gates of the Villa

Of the six original doors of La Villa only two are preserved. One is the one in which we are, the access of the same is in the SO door of the Half Moon or of the Conception, giving exit of the street of the same name. The access is a semicircular arch, with an image of the Immaculate Conception from the XVI century in a niche inside the street, being the Immaculate Conception the patron saint of Briones. It is documented that by the year 1236 all the walls and gates to the town were already built, being very likely its construction around 1076, after the capture of La Rioja by Alfonso VI of Castile. The second gate that is preserved is the Puerta de La Villa, located at the mouth of the main street, has access from the outside in a pointed arch, with a vestibule covered by a barrel vault. The Briones coat of arms is sculpted on the doorway. A little more to the right and at the same height of the coat of arms, we can see a kind of closed window, in it was sculpted the coat of arms of the Girón family, who for so many years were lords of the Villa.