Zufía / Zufia

Zufía is the southernmost municipality in the Metauten Valley. Situated at an elevation of about 500 meters and approximately 10 kilometers from Estella-Lizarra, the village lies at the foot of the Lóquiz mountain range, in a location that marks the transition between the valley’s agricultural landscape and the limestone hills that border the territory to the north.

The village is laid out irregularly around the Church of San Miguel, built in the late 17th century using elements from an earlier structure. The church houses an interesting late 16th-century Romanist altarpiece, as well as a Gothic carving of Saint Helena, one of the municipality’s most notable works of art. Surrounding it are well-preserved traditional homes built of rough-hewn stone, featuring two stories and an attic, with wide doorways and some houses bearing coats of arms from the 16th to the 18th centuries that lend character to the ensemble.

The natural surroundings are one of Zufía’s main attractions. The forests of holm oaks and Spanish oaks surrounding the town offer peaceful walks and provide easy access to the Sierra de Lóquiz, an area particularly prized for hiking. In addition, the Basque-Navarre Railway Greenway runs through the municipality, offering a route accessible to both hikers and cyclists, with sweeping views of the Metauten Valley and the limestone cliffs of the mountain range.

The town’s patron saint festivities are held in honor of Saint Michael in late September or early October and are notable for the active participation of local residents and a cultural program that strengthens the town’s sense of community. Among the local curiosities, the well-known “rebote” stands out—a unique form of pelota that uses one of the church’s side facades as the fronton wall and reflects community life and traditions.