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Tudela, what to see and do in the capital of the Ribera de Navarra.
Tudela, capital of the Ribera de Navarra, is presented to us as one of the most striking, important and interesting urban centers of southern Navarra. A city, which is surrounded by the paradisiacal desert of the Bardenas and the famous vegetable fields of the Ribera. And we must remember that in the Ribera Navarra we find some of the best vegetables of the whole peninsula. A fact that you will be able to contrast in some of the restaurants that we recommend you throughout this article. Ready? 
Tudela is the second largest city in Navarra. Not only by importance or extension, but also by the number of people who visit it. These numbers reflect the importance of places such as the Bardenas Natural Park, the SendaViva park or the historic center of Tudela itself. If you want to know each and every one of the spaces that we recommend you to see in Tudela, we recommend that you pay special attention to all the sections of this article. We are sure that they will be of help when planning your trip to Tudela. 
Tudela is an incredible city. A place where Arabs, Jews and Christians lived together for years leaving an incredible cultural and architectural heritage. And this is noticeable when we visit the city. Especially in the historic center and in the hill of Santa Barbara. Do you want to know what to see in Tudela with us? 
What to see in Tudela.
Most of the tourist attractions of Tudela are concentrated in its historic center, an area that can be visited on foot comfortably in a morning. Although Tudela is one of the most important cities of Navarra, most of the places we recommend you to visit are located within a radius of 900 meters. 
Square of the FuerosThe Plaza de los Fueros is one of the most emblematic spaces of Tudela, a square that revolutionized the city with its construction in 1691. A meeting place, which marks the boundary between the historic center and the rest of the city. The decoration of this square is usually what most attracts the attention of travelers, and is that since 1966 the facades of the buildings that make up this square have coats of arms of the towns of the merindad. It is here, where we find the church of Santa Maria, the tourist office or the Casa del Reloj. 
House of the clockThis building was built in 1687, although the tower that today houses the clock was not built until 1875. Undoubtedly one of the highlights in the aforementioned Plaza de los Fueros. As a curiosity, it should be noted that it was restored in 2011. 
CathedralThe cathedral of Tudela, the cathedral of Santa Maria, was declared a National Monument in 1884. The construction of this temple was carried out on the site of an ancient mosque in the 12th century. Since then it has undergone several extensions and reforms, which makes the temple has different artistic styles. In its interior we must emphasize the main altarpiece, work of Pedro Díaz de Oviedo in the 15th century. 
Decanal PalaceThis architectural complex was built in 1477 and renovated in the 18th and 19th centuries. Since 2000 this palace houses the Museum of Tudela. Another of the attractions of the city. 
Muñoz Sola MuseumThe Museum of Modern Art of Tudela, the Muñoz Sola Museum, is located next to the cathedral, the town hall and the house of the admiral. A space in which we find works of art of the 19th century among which the collection of the Navarrese painter Cesar Muñoz Sola stands out. 
Marques de Huarte PalaceThis historic building located next to the old city walls, houses since 1987 the archives and the library of Tudela. Although this palace was built between 1742 and 1745 by order of Diego Huarte y Francia, over the years it has been the temporary residence of personalities such as Charles IV, Ferdinand VII and Isabel II. The current building is the consequence of the different reforms carried out. Among them, we must highlight the main facade, which was covered with plaster and adorned with incredible paintings. 
Church of the MagdalenaThis temple built in the 12th century on the site of a Mozarabic temple stands out for housing the tomb of Count Rotron de Alperche, who conquered Tudela from the Muslims in 1119. Also for the different excavations that have been carried out in recent times. 
Church of San JorgeThis temple located next to the Mercadal square and the Marques de Huarte Palace was built by the Jesuit order in 1608. In fact, it was part of the Jesuit convent. This church underwent several reforms in the years 1750 and 1767. 
Bridge over the Ebro RiverThe bridge over the Ebro River is one of the entrances and exits of Tudela. Therefore, one of the first samples of civil architecture that we find on our arrival. A route very frequented by the people who visit the Natural Park of the Bardenas Reales, the park of Sendaviva or the village of Arguedas. A structure of 360 meters of length, that composed by 17 arches, allows us to cross the riverbed of the river Ebro. Although it is believed that the current stone bridge was built in the Middle Ages over an earlier one, there is no evidence of this. 
Sacred Heart of JesusThis monument located on what was the origin of the current city of Tudela, the natural watchtower of the Santa Barbara hill, offers us one of the best views of the whole Ribera Navarra. For its part, the park surrounding this statue, is full of the remains of the castle that stood in this same place. You cannot leave Tudela without visiting it. 
Church of San NicolasThis church, built in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 18th century, is, according to experts, one of the most important Romanesque temples in Tudela. Here were the remains of Sancho VII the Strong before they were moved to Roncesvalles. 
House of the AdmiralThis palace, located in the heart of the historic center, represents one of the most important examples of civil architecture in Tudela. A building of the sixteenth century, which was restored both its exterior (2007) and its interior (2010) on several occasions. We must highlight the decoration of its main facade. 
Mother church of the Good ShepherdThis church is located in a complex in which there is also a convent of the Capuchin order. These religious structures were created in the 19th century. The current convent was built in 1900 and housed a school between 1942 and 1975. 
Murals of TudelaTudela, Arguedas and Peralta are the scene of the international exhibition of muralism Avant Garde. Thus, during our visit to Tudela we will find a good number of murals distributed throughout the city. A very interesting initiative that reminds us of the route of the murals of Vitoria Gasteiz. 
Mercadal SquareThis square has great historical importance. And it is that this space was for centuries the market of Tudela. A place that was nothing like the square we see today. According to historians, it was a narrow street where the merchants crowded together. 
Market of AbastosTudela’s municipal market, the Mercado de Abastos, is located in the historical center, in the heart of the city. An ideal place to buy some of the most demanded local products of the area. The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 14:30 and from 17:00 to 20:00. Saturdays from 8:00 to 15:00. Sundays closed. 
Regio CinemaThis emblematic cinema of Tudela was inaugurated in 1943 and closed in 1989. Today, the building still retains its historic name on the main facade as well as its main architectural elements. After more than 30 years closed, the building was put up for sale for 1.5 million euros. 
Sculpture Carlos III The NobleIn 2004 the sculpture of Carlos III, King of Navarre, was inaugurated next to the Cathedral of Tudela. The sculpture was designed and elaborated by Francisco Lopez, who visited the tomb of the Cathedral of Pamplona in order to create a bust as realistic as possible. 
Pedro Legaria ArmendarizThis priest from Navarre was born in Tudela in 1878. After studying in the seminary of his city, he moved to Murchante where he worked as a priest for many years. It is here, where Pedro began to give shape to what would later become the Handmaids of Christ the King. An institution, which at the time of Pedro’s death in 1956, had more than 17 centers in Spain and America. 
Town HallThe Town Hall of Tudela is located in the Plaza Vieja, next to the cathedral. A building, which was built on the “Casa del Almudi” and has had several renovations throughout its history. The last one, in 1994. The town hall preserves some of the spaces of the original building. An example of this are the cellars that were used for years as a prison. 
Waterwheel of TudelaThis 19th century threshing press appeared during the excavations that the archaeologist Juanjo Bienes carried out next to the church of San Jorge. According to this archaeologist from Navarre, it is an 1847 threshing floor in a good state of conservation (the deposits and part of the vertical press are preserved). Undoubtedly, these historical remains are a surprise for people walking through the old town of Tudela. 
Although these are some of the most outstanding places in Tudela, they are not the only ones, if you want to know in depth the capital of the Ribera de Navarra, we recommend a visit to the Monreal Tower, the Jewish quarter, the monument to the 3 cultures, the monument to the heart of Mary, the Marquis of San Adrian Palace, the Church of San Anton, the Mejana Gate or the Church of teaching.
Where to sleep near Tudela.
If you are looking for a good, nice and cheap accommodation to visit Tudela, the natural park of the Bardenas reales and the Sendaviva park, we recommend you to consider the possibility of booking one of the rural houses in the Bardenas that we recommend. They are establishments with good location, cleanliness and attention. Lodgings with really competitive prices. 
What to see in Tudela in 1 day.
Most of the attractions of Tudela can be seen in 1 day. We could even make a quick visit to the Bardenas Reales Natural Park. However, it would be a bit stressful. Therefore, we recommend you to plan a getaway of at least 2 days to get to know the whole Ribera Navarra. If you decide to visit Tudela in just one day, we recommend that you dedicate your time to visit the historic center, the area where most of the tourist attractions of Tudela are concentrated. In addition, we recommend that you go up to the monument of the Sacred Heart to enjoy the sunset from one of the strategic points of the city, the hill of Santa Barbara (you can go up by car). 
Where to eat in Tudela.
Tudela is famous for its vegetables. With good reason. In the fertile lowlands of the Ebro, in the vicinity of the town of Tudela, we find fields of artichokes, borage, thistles and much more. Farmland, which extends to the Bardenas Natural Park itself. Among the streets and squares of Tudela, we find places where the unbeatable raw material of Navarra is allied with the good work of the chefs for us to taste some incredible vegetable dishes. If you feel like trying some of these delicacies, we recommend the restaurant 33 (medium/high price) or the bar Jose Luis (specializing in pintxos and raciones). 
Where to park in Tudela.
Tudela has several regulated parking areas. In fact, in the center, we must pay for parking in many of its streets and squares. We recommend parking in the Avenida Argentina parking lot or in the Paso del Prado parking lot (located next to the Ribotas sports complex and the Ebro River). Be careful, although the latter is the best located to visit each and every one of the spaces that we recommend you to see in Tudela, we must point out that it is considered a flood zone (the city council is not responsible in case of damage). Remember that the parking lot on Avenida Argentina has a motorhome area. By the way, the city center has several spaces where you can only enter for loading and unloading. Be careful. 
Video of Tudela.
As usual, we wanted to complement the words and photographs in this article with a short video. An audiovisual, with which we intend to show you what you will find during your visit to Tudela. If you like this kind of videos, we encourage you to subscribe to our YouTube channel to discover all the places and experiences that we recommend in Euskal Herria. We are waiting for you!
What to see near Tudela.
The city of Tudela is not the only attraction of the Ribera de Navarra. And as we have been indicating throughout this article, this area of southern Navarra is full of places to see and enjoy. We recommend you to visit this Navarra of contrasts that we have talked about so much. A clear example can be found in the desert of the Bardenas and the forests of the Navarrese Pyrenees.
How to get to Tudela.
Tudela is well communicated. A fact that allows us to reach the capital of the Ribera de Navarra comfortably both by public and private transport. Of course, if you want to enjoy each of the spaces that surround this city, if you do not want to focus on the attractions of Tudela, private transport is the best choice. Here are the options:
- Private transportIf you opt for private transport, depending on your point of origin, you can use the national road N-232, the highway A-68, the highway A-15, the national road N-121.
- Public transportationIf you opt for public transport, the train and bus are your best options. The train station “Tudela de Navarra” offers daily connections with the most important towns of Navarra and with many of the capital cities of the north of the peninsula. Examples are Castejón, Tafalla, Calahorra, Bilbao, Logroño, Donostia San Sebastián, Vitoria Gasteiz, Zaragoza, Madrid or Barcelona.
History of Tudela.
The history of Tudela is undoubtedly one of the most interesting aspects of the city. There are so many chapters that have been written in this urban center that we should dedicate another article to it. It is for this reason that we have decided to leave you with a few brushstrokes on the history of Tudela.
- Different excavations carried out at Cerro Santa Barbara have provided archaeologists with a good number of remains to analyze. Among all of them we must highlight several ceramic fragments from the 5th century BC.
- The urban center emerged in the ninth century by the hand of the Muladi Amrus Ibn Yusuf.
- In the ninth and tenth centuries the urban center expanded with the arrival of the first Jews.
- After the reconquest of Tudela, the Muslims reached an agreement to live according to their culture on the outskirts of the city. Outside the walls. The same thing happened with the Jews.
- With the Christian faith, several of the religious temples we have today began to be built. Among them the cathedral.
- In the 13th century Tudela was more important than Pamplona (Iruña in Basque) both in extension and in the number of inhabitants.
- In 1516 the Muslims were expelled from Tudela, which led to the Moorish quarter and the mosque being converted into a Christian house and temple.
- In 1516 the walls and the rest of the defensive elements of Tudela were destroyed.
As you have been able to see, Tudela offers us a good number of places to visit. Most of them, in the historic center. We recommend that you get lost in its narrow streets discovering each of these wonders. We are sure you will love it. In case you have any doubt about what to see in Tudela, we recommend you to use the comment system that you will find under these lines. We will try to respond as soon as possible. Ondo pasa!
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