Lanciego/Lantziego, Municipality in Arabako Errioxa / Rioja Alavesa, Spain
Lanciego, also known as Lantziego in Basque, is a municipality in the wine-growing area of Arabako Errioxa / Rioja Alavesa in northern Spain. The village sits at the foot of the Sierra de Cantabria, surrounded by rows of grapevines and olive groves that stretch across the surrounding plains.
Lanciego was originally part of the Kingdom of Navarra and later belonged to the municipality of Laguardia before gaining its own status as a villa in 1630. With that title came the right to administer justice, symbolized by a stone pillar called a rollo-picota that still stands on the road toward Assa.
The oldest olive oil press in the region is still in use in Lanciego. Every year, villagers gather there to make olive oil the traditional way, and visitors can watch the whole process, from pressing the olives to filling the jars.
A good way to explore the village is on foot, starting from the main square, where local guides sometimes offer walks past the church, the old fountains, and the oil press. A visit to the nearby dolmen requires a short drive, so having your own transport makes it easier.
The composer Sebastián Iradier Salaberri, born in Lanciego in 1809, wrote 'La Paloma', a song that went on to become one of the most played pieces of music across the world. A plaque on his birthplace in Calle Iradier Salaberri marks the spot for those who walk past.
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