Under Cerro de San Miguel, in the heart of the municipality of Rioján Arnedohides the Cave of the Hundred Columns, a complex of excavated cavities that represent the most complex and impressive collection of galleries and chambers in the entire Cidakos Valley. This underground space, with its network of lights and shadows, lends an aura of mystery to this cave monastery built under the mountain. Arnedo, a town in the province of La Rioja, is also famous for its shoe industry and the historic wineries of the La Rioja region. Is Riojais famous for the long tradition of its inhabitants who have lived like cave dwellers for centuries in their unique cave homes.
The origin of this amazing cave goes back to middle agesWhen the prevailing insecurity in the valleys forced their inhabitants to seek refuge in safer places, either on the mountain or literally “underneath” it. This tradition of digging shelters in the sandy terrain of the central Cidacus Valley is thought to date back to the time of the Romans, who sought to escape barbarian peoples. In the course of seeking refuge and refuge, it is very likely that the rock complex contained its chambers Monastery of Saint Michael During the early Middle Ages, between the fifth and tenth centuries, as reported by some experts on the subject.
Although no remains of medieval architecture have been found on the hill (except the hermitage at the top), excavated rooms and galleries are considered the likely site of the aforementioned ancient rock monastery in San Miguel. The existence of a monastery dedicated to San Miguel is documented in the 11th century, as a will from 1063 indicates that Sancho Fortunones, lord of Arnedo, bequeathed it to the monastery of San Prudencio in Monte Latursi. Historians indicate that this monastery served as A hostel for hermitsReligious people who sought to isolate themselves from the world. In fact, death certificates for both monks and nuns have been found, indicating that it was a dual monastery.
the Internal structure The cave is Singular: The different galleries, with a distinctive reddish clay colour, continue with each other, and have been excavated at double height, perhaps to ensure that the shelter was “impervious to invaders”. Its roofs are supported by pierced columns, giving it a checkerboard-like appearance, with columns carved into the rock. These columbariums were probably used to bury the bones of deceased religious people. Life on the rock became a distinctive feature of Arnedo, giving rise to the name of its inhabitants “cave dwellers”. A tour guide to the city pointed out that this nickname, far from being an insult, acknowledges the historical fact that the Arnidans lived inside the caves for centuries.
This tradition of life continued into the twentieth century. It is known from census data that in the first decade of the twentieth century The twenties From the last century, some 200 families lived in the cave houses of Arnedo. Although the administrative decision to vacate the caves was officially made at the end of the 1950s, many Arnidans circumvented the restrictions by building communal facades in front of the caves, maintaining the cave as their boarding house and other uses associated with the Arnidan economy, which was mainly based on agriculture before the advent of the shoe industry in the 1940s.
Natural ventilation
Until then, they served as stables, beehives, haystacks and warehouses. The columbarium of the Cave of the Hundred Columns was reused in later times as a bathhouse and apothecary, uses which are now being recreated for visitors. The cave houses, recreated today at the Interpretation Centre, provided a significant advantage to their occupants: Constant temperature is about 15 degreesWhich provides shelter from the cold of winter and the intense heat of summer. The structure of these houses was simple, and generally had a central entrance (faucet) which distributes access to the naturally ventilated kitchen, bedrooms, pantry and animal stable. Cleanliness and shine have been maintained through annual bleaching works.
This rock complex in La Rioja has been adapted to suit your visit. Although a privately owned section was enabled in 2014, it was not until 2016 that adaptation works for the entire space were completed with the aim of improving it. Accessibility and safety And open it to the public to present it as a tourist resource. In 2020, the visit was expanded to show the historical uses of the cavities. The current route ends at the city’s old water reservoir, which was built in 1942, and gives visitors the opportunity to taste Rioja wine in a picturesque setting. Cashman Run by Bodega Fico.
The Cave of the Hundred Columns stands as one of the most impressive examples of megalithic phenomena in the Sidakos Valley, an environment of great importance that has been declared UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2003. This complex, with its alcoves, doors and open windows on its facade and the play of lights that let light into the religious buildings, offers a deep insight into the monastic, defensive and domestic history of life beneath the rock. Another reason to visit this city, rich in heritage, is Rioja’s historic wine cellars and quality shoemaking that today remains an authentic hallmark of Arnidan identity.