Laguardia heritage and Lagares River cleanup progress

The medieval village of Laguardia, located in the Álava province within the Rioja Alavesa region, is noted for its historical preservation and unique underground wine cellars. Founded in the 10th century as a fortified town, the village maintains its medieval character through narrow cobblestone streets and ancient walls. Its historical landmarks include the churches of Santa María de los Reyes and San Juan Bautista.

Beneath the historic center lies an extensive network of underground wineries excavated directly into the rock. These cellars, some over 500 years old, provide a constant temperature ideal for aging high-quality wines. These spaces serve as both functional sites for wine production and tourist destinations for guided tastings.

In Vigo, efforts to clean the Lagares River are nearing completion. After decades of dealing with industrial and sewage discharges that affected the river and Samil beach, inspections by the Ministry of Environment have identified that only three remaining pollution points need to be resolved. Out of 57 alerts recorded over five years of monitoring, most were related to rainwater relief points, leaving only a few specific sanitation issues to be addressed.