Ábalos, La Rioja facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ábalos
Municipality
Ábalos
Coat of arms
Municipality of Ábalos
Ábalos Location in La Rioja, Spain Show map of La Rioja, Spain Ábalos Location in Spain Show map of Spain
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	La Rioja
Province	La Rioja
Comarca	Haro
Area
• Total	18.1 km2 (7.0 sq mi)
Population  (2018)
• Total	255
• Density	14.09/km2 (36.49/sq mi)

Ábalos is a small and historic town in the La Rioja region of Spain. It's located in an area called Rioja Alta, right next to the Ebro River. The town is surrounded by the Toloño mountains to the north and other towns like San Asensio and Samaniego.

View of Ábalos with the Church of "San Esteban Protomartir" and the "Fernández de Navarrete Palace", from the west.

History of Ábalos

Early History and Muslim Rule

Ábalos has a very long history. In the year 740, King Alfonso I of Asturias led an expedition along the Ebro River. At that time, Ábalos was part of the Muslim kingdom of Córdoba. The town was mentioned as "Abeicam" in old records. Control of the area went back and forth between Christians and Muslims until the late 800s or early 900s.

Medieval Times and Monasteries

During the 11th and 12th centuries, Ábalos was mentioned in documents from the San Millán Monastery. For example, in 1084, a church in Ábalos was given to the monastery.

Becoming an Independent Town

For a long time, Ábalos was a village connected to a larger town called San Vicente de la Sonsierra. Many important people owned the lordship of Ábalos over the centuries. In 1397, King Charles III of Navarre gave the town to Rui Lopez de Dábalos.

Later, in 1653, the town paid a large sum of money to separate from San Vicente. However, it wasn't until 1727 that Ábalos truly became an independent town. This happened when the town's residents bought the estate at an auction.

Important Families and La Rioja's Identity

The Fernández de Navarrete family played a big role in Ábalos's history. Francisco Fernández de Navarrete Ramírez de la Piscina, born in Ábalos in 1728, was a knight of the Order of Calatrava. He married María Catalina Ximénez de Tejada y Argaiz, whose uncle was a Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta.

Two of their sons were very important:

• Antonio Fernández de Navarrete y Ximénez de Tejada (1759-1830) was one of the "fathers" of La Rioja becoming its own province. He wrote a famous speech in 1813 about why La Rioja should be an independent province.
• Martín Fernández de Navarrete y Ximénez de Tejada (1765-1844) was a senator, a director of the Royal Academy of History of Spain, and a respected writer and historian.

Both brothers were members of the Royal Economic Society of La Rioja. This society was founded in 1790 and aimed to improve the region, following the ideas of the Enlightenment. Their work helped La Rioja become an independent province in the 19th century. Before that, the area was split between the provinces of Burgos and Soria.

Population of Ábalos

How Many People Live Here?

As of January 1, 2010, Ábalos had 369 residents. There were 231 men and 138 women living in the town.

Vertical bar chart demographic of Ábalos, La Rioja between 1857 and 2010

Legal population (1857-1897) according to the population census published by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística in the nineteenth century.      Legal population (1900-1991) or Resident population (2001) according to the population census published by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística.      Population according to the municipal register of 2010 published by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística.

What's in a Name? Etymology

The name "Ábalos" has appeared in old documents as "Dáualos." Some experts think it might be linked to a Basque word, or perhaps it comes from an ancient personal name like "Abaris." This would mean it was once known as "Avalos's village" or "Davalos's village."

Things to See and Do in Ábalos

Historic Buildings and Monuments

Ábalos is home to several interesting old buildings and monuments. Many of them show the town's rich history.

St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish Church

The St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish Church is a very important building in Ábalos. It was built in the 16th century in a beautiful Gothic style. The church has a single main area and a tall Baroque tower added later, between 1735 and 1740. Inside, you can see a large altarpiece from the mid-16th century.

Other cool things to see in the church include:

• The tomb of Francisco Antonio Ramirez de la Piscina, from the 18th century.
• The family tomb of the "Fernández de Navarrete" family. It has their coat of arms carved in stone. Many important family members are buried here, including Martín Fernández de Navarrete y Ximénez de Tejada, the famous historian.

Hermitages

Ábalos has a few small chapels called hermitages:

• The San Felices Hermitage: This old Romanesque chapel is located outside the town. It's believed to be the only part left of a monastery from the 12th century. You can also find ancient graves nearby.
• The San Roque Hermitage
• The San Bartolomé Hermitage

Famous Houses and Palaces

• The Virrey de Nápoles House: This house is known by the name "House of the Viceroy of Naples."
• The House of the Canton or of Ramírez de la Piscina: This house is made of stone and features the shields of the Ramírez de la Piscina and López de Ornillos families.
• Palace of the Marquises of Legarda: This grand palace is also known as the "Ramírez de la Piscina" or "Fernández de Navarrete" palace. It was originally built by the Ramírez de la Piscina family, whose shields are on the front. In 1710, it became known as the Fernández de Navarrete Palace. The palace has beautiful gardens with geometric designs that are still perfectly preserved today.

• Guardia House (or house of the wrought iron fence): This house is in Martín Fernández de Navarrete Square. It has an impressive coat of arms on its walls.
• Ornillos family house: This house is located in Plaza Fermín Gurbindo.

La Real Divisa Winery: A Taste of History

The Bodegas de la Real Divisa (Real Divisa Wineries) are some of the oldest wineries in La Rioja and even in Europe, dating back to 1367! They are owned by a family that holds the noble title of Marquis of Legarda.

The winery's name comes from an old emblem above its entrance: a jug or "terrace" with lilies. This symbol connects the winery to the Royal House of Navarre. The wine from this winery, called "Marqués de Legarda," was once served at the tables of many Spanish noble families.

The Order of the Terrace

The emblem of the jug with lilies is linked to the "Order of the Terrace," the first order of knights known in Spain. King García of Nájera founded this order in the 11th century. He did this to remember finding an image of the Virgin Mary in a cave, where a goshawk and a partridge were resting peacefully next to a jar of lilies. This story is part of the winery's long and interesting history.

Guardaviñas (Winekeepers' Huts)

In the southern part of Ábalos, among the vineyards, you can find restored huts called "guardaviñas." These were once used by winekeepers to watch over the grapes. Today, they are a tourist attraction. The most famous ones are the Prado and Piriguita vineyard guards.

Famous People from Ábalos

Ábalos has been home to several notable individuals who made important contributions:

• Francisco Antonio Ramírez de la Piscina
• Antonio Fernández de Navarrete y Ximénez de Tejada (1759-1830): A key figure in making La Rioja an independent province.
• Martín Fernández de Navarrete y Ximénez de Tejada (1765-1844): A well-known senator, historian, and writer.
• Julián Fernández de Navarrete y Ximénez de Tejada (1767-1820): He served as the Minister of Finance for Spain.
• Eustaquio Fernández de Navarrete y Fernández de Navarrete (1820-1866): An academic, writer, and historian.
• Francisco Fernández de Navarrete y Fernández de Navarrete (born around 1827): A lawyer and politician who served as mayor of Zaragoza multiple times.
• Antonio Fernández de Navarrete y Hurtado de Mendoza (1859-1936): An engineer and Marquis of Legarda.
• José Fermín Gurbindo (1935-1985): A talented musician and composer, known for his accordion skills.

See also

In Spanish: Ábalos para niños