The lineage of the Ayalas

For centuries, the life in the Valley of Ayala, to the Northeast of Alava, was centred on the lineage after which the comarca (land) was named. This family had a great influence on the Kingdom of Castille during the Trastamara period. At present, the fortified towers and the ancestral homes are remains of those times when Aiara-Ayala had its own fuero (historical local charter) and the factional fights were constant.

Our route starts in the village of Amurrio, in whose outskirts the Zaraobe field is located. We take the A-624 road, which leads us through Respaldiza towards Artziniega. Before that, we take first a turnoff to the right in order to visit the Murga Tower and then another turnoff to the left to know the valley head village: Kexaa-Quejana.

A 14th century Renaissance palace embraces three of the four sides of the medieval Murga tower. The tower is surrounded by a green landscape of hills with hamlets.

The Ayalas impressive ancestral home in Quejana is a 14th century medieval site. It gathers a fortified palace, the convent of Dominicas, the chapel-tower of the Virgen del Cabello and the church of San Juan Bautista. One part of the palace is at present a museum about the lineage of the Ayalas.The chapel-tower of the Virgen del Cabello shines in the medieval site. In this place are the graves of the Ayala chancellor and his wife Leonor de Guzmán, with alabaster statues.

Following the A-624 road, we get to Artziniega, where we can stroll through its medieval area. In the façades of Artziniega you can count up to 47 coats of arms. Its medieval area has been declared a Monumental Site, where the Ayala and Bengoa towers stand out. If we have enough time, we can complete our route by visiting the Virgen de la Encina Sanctuary, which is located on a hill two kilometres from the village.