Overview Navarra and La Rioja are located in the North of Spain. This Spanish region has its own autonomy, so it takes care of its own social services and education. People in this region speak their own language - Basque, but the official language is Spanish. The capital city is Pamplona. History The first settlements in this region were built in the Paleolithic era by the ancient tribes. Later on, the Celtic tribes came and conquered the locals. When the Romans came, they faced the resistance of Vascones - people who managed to retain their freedom and to keep their culture and language. The influence of the Visigoths and Arabs was not as strong in this part of Spain as it was in the rest of the country. The Basque culture flourished. Activities Navarra and La Rioja perhaps do not have many historical remains like the rest of Spain, but its nature is fascinating. This is where rural tourism began in 1991. Today, this region has several hundred guesthouses and a wide range of outdoor activities. Visiting some of the villages provides tourists a unique way of getting in touch with locals, their traditions and customs. This region is also popular for its wine. On the slopes of mountains are situated many vineyards. Visitors can enjoy collecting grapes and making wine with locals and moreover, they can also enjoy its taste. Because of the biodiversity, bird watching is also popular. Belabarce and Roncal are beautiful valleys and places where it is possible to meet bears in their natural surrounding. Cities and Places to Visit Bilbao is one of the biggest cities of the province. It has a population of over 900,000 inhabitants. This big, modern city was once a small village. In the 13th century, the town had only three streets and a port. During the 15th century, thanks to the export of wool, the town started to grow. The biggest expansion Bilbao achieved was after the discovery of iron ore in nearby mines. Today, this is an important industrial city. Some of Bilbao's main sights are famous museums such as Guggenheim Museum, museum of Fine Arts and Maritime museum. It also has many churches from the medieval period: Santos Juanes Church, the church of Sain Vincent and Santiago cathedral. Visitors are delighted with the old part of the town, with its narrow streets, many bars and restaurants and gift shops. Hondarribia is another lovely town in the region. It has significant historical heritage visible in the old part of the town. Its sandy beaches are perfect places to take a rest and enjoy the lovely surroundings. San Sebastian is a tourist attraction in Spain. Located between the bay and the mountains, it is a cultural and tourist center at the same time. This town with the population of 150 000 inhabitants has over 15 000 students. Mendoza's Castle is another important site that has to be seen. It was built in the 15th century and it served as a prison. Later, its walls were enlarged and got four new towers. The Castle has big windows and several galleries.
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