Alfaro, Spain

Alfaro is a small country town in the north of Spain, La Rioja community (world famous for its fine wines) It has a population of 9,800 inhabitants (approx.).

The first testimonies of human occupation of these lands are given by the archaeological findings of the Eras de San Martín site, corresponding to the First Iron Age in the 8th century B.C. On this first settlement there are evidences of continuity of the Second Iron Age settlement, corresponding to the culture of the Basques. This settlement must correspond to Ilurcis (Celtic-Iberian settlement), a name that is cited on the occasion of the founding of the Roman city of Graccurris.

The Roman general Tiberio Sempronio Graco arrived at Ilurcis and, after several conflicts with the city, created a new population nucleus in 179 B.C. The new city would be called 'Graccurris’, the first Roman foundation of the Ebro Valley, and it would become a fortress and municipality in the time of Emperor Tiberius.

The town is well-known for having the largest white stork colony in the world on a single building, San Miguel Collegiate (a clay-brick church built in the XVI century) During breeding season, almost 500 storks nestle on its roofs.

Alfaro’s vegetable gardens and fruit trees contribute to the town’s economy and also to every home’s Mediterranean diet and so do several wineries which produce some of the best wines in the region. Ecological agriculture is becoming more and more popular in the town.

All in all, Alfaro is a nice place to live in and their people are really welcoming and helpful to everyone who comes to visit the town.