Lanciego/Lantziego

Strolling through the streets, we will find emblazoned houses and palaces, leading us to the Parish Church of San Acisclo and Santa Victoria, which dates back to the late 16th century and features a Renaissance altarpiece and a rococo choir with beautifully carved stalls. It houses an excellent baroque organ, one of the oldest in the Basque Country.

Continuing with the religious buildings, we have the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora del Campo, from the 18th century, which conserves an image of the Virgin, in the Basque ‘Andra Mari’ style, in its interior.

Among the civil buildings, the Palace of the Marquise of Armendáriz, from the 18th century, now the Town Hall, is particularly noteworthy, with its perfectly preserved basement cellars with ashlar stone arches.

Near the Town Hall, we can find a magnificent neoclassical fountain, washing place and drinking fountain and the birthplace of the musician and composer Sebastián Iradier y Salaberri, known worldwide for the Habanera piece, ‘La Paloma’.

This celebrated musician and composer, who contributed so much with his piece ‘La Paloma’ to the popularisation of habaneras, was born here. A plaque in his honour can be found on the house where he was born.

Lanciego/Lantziego is home to the oldest wine press in Rioja Alavesa and the Basque Country. Olive oil presses have been in use in this municipality since the 18th century, and olive oil is still produced using traditional techniques in a completely artisanal manner by the local people.