Route: Amurrio, Respaldiza, Quejana, Artziniega, Murgia.
In summer the moist sea air keeps the valley pastures green and in winter bathes this enclave bordering with Bizkaia in magical mist.
The Valley of Ayala, unlike others, does not take its name from the river that flows through it, but was named instead after one of the boldest and most notable families in the Middle Ages: the Alayas.
Every corner of the valley hides a historical or religious site or a place of encounter. First we have the complex of monuments known as Quejana, which includes a tower-house, church and convent, and then we have Campo de Zaraobe, where the lords sat around a table to engage in debates and vote.
In essence, the Valle of Ayala is enchantment, reading the stone walls and imagining what daily life was like in medieval villages such as Artziniega and Respalditza. Monasteries, churches, palaces and cobblestone streets entice us and capture our imaginations.
Protecting the valley from oak wood above sits the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Encina, a simple building housing an exquisite altarpiece.
