Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Medieval municipality on the Way of Saint James in La Rioja, Spain.
Santo Domingo de la Calzada is a municipality along the Way of Saint James in the La Rioja region of Spain, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Haro. Its compact old town with narrow streets preserves medieval structures, including several hostels and a central square facing the cathedral where pilgrims often rest.
The settlement arose in the 11th century when Domingo García built a bridge over the Oja River and accommodations for pilgrims to ease the journey to Santiago. Over time the community grew into a municipality, while the cathedral expanded and was rebuilt between the 12th and 18th centuries.
The name traces back to Domingo García, an 11th-century hermit who cared for pilgrims and built infrastructure for their journey. Today walkers carrying shells and staffs pass through the old town on the marked route to Santiago, while locals go about their daily life in the streets around the cathedral.
The town lies west of Logroño and can be reached via the N-120 national road that connects several cities in the region. Pilgrims find accommodation of different kinds in the center and around the church, while visitors can view the bell tower and interior spaces outside of worship times.
A Gothic henhouse inside the cathedral shelters white chickens that recall a medieval legend and are replaced roughly every two weeks. This tradition continues to this day and draws visitors eager to witness the unusual sight of poultry inside a religious building.
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