Cañas

Half an hour from Haro is the small Riojan municipality of Cañas, which is part of the so-called La Rioja Monasteries Route. Cañas is strongly associated with Saint Dominic of Silos, a native of this municipality.

In this small town, you can visit the Monastery of Santa María de San Salvador, known as the "Monastery of Light". This is one of the largest monasteries in La Rioja and was designed to house a female Cistercian community.

This monastery began construction in the 13th century, with the building of the church's apse and crossing; but it was not until the 16th century that the central nave was built. The church preserves several pieces inside that are true works of art. Among them are the choir stalls, the main altarpiece, and the wooden carvings of a Gothic Christ and the Virgin of Cañas. The last part of this monastery to be built was the cloister, between the 17th and 18th centuries; it is especially large.

The Parish Church of the Assumption of Cañas is a small construction that dates back, in principle, to the 12th century; although its apse and tower are from the 16th. The roof of this little church was also built at a different time, in a Baroque style.

The parish hosts two canvases representing scenes from the life of Saint Dominic of Silos: in the first, the saint is accompanied by captives; and in the second, his death is depicted. There is a third canvas dedicated to the Virgin.

The Hermitage of Santa María is another of Cañas' religious sites. It dates to the 16th century, but was rebuilt a century later. It is surrounded by a large green space, making the complex an enchanting place.