Elciego, by Alicia Lopez Mula

 Elciego is a mediaeval town located at the southern end of the province of Álava in the Basque Country.

It´s limits in the North with Navaridas and Laguardia and in the South with Ebro river and Cenicero.

The first knowledge of the existence of Elciego dates back to a document from the year

 1067, found in San Millán de la Cogolla.

There is a popular legend, quite widespread, and it says that where currently the hermitage of San Vicente is, there was a sales market that gave rise to the name of the town.

The primary languages spoken in the area are Spanish and Basque.

Two are the attractions of visiting Elciego: on the one hand, walk through its historic center, with its main square. And on the other hand, know one of the most famous tourist wineries in La Rioja, Marqués de Riscal.

For almost 100 years, Bodegas Marqués de Riscal, founded in 1860, set the standard for winegrowers, and harvesters bought the wine and grapes from them. Also, they hired a good part of the population in their vineyards.

The economic system of Elciego revolves around the world of wine.

Located in this medieval town, the Hotel Marquès de Riscal was designed by internationally renowned architect Frank Gehry.

Gehry's best-known works include, for example, the titanium.clad Guggenheim Museum, in Bilbao,  Walt Disney Concert Hall, in Los Angeles, Louis Vuitton Foundation, in Paris, etc.

 Its surrounding “City of Wine” provides the ideal starting point from which to explore the nature, tradition and exquisite gastronomy associated with wine.