Aragon Guide

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  Gallocanta. Photo Surce: Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Zaragoza

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  Trasmoz Castle

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  Termas Pallares, Alhama de Aragon

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  Hospederia Castillo Papa Luna, Illueca

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  El Moncayo

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  Bishop's Palace

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  Old Bullfighting Ring

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  Alen de Aragon Hotel, Santa Eulalia de Gallego

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  Tarazona Riverside

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  Becquer Statue in Tramoz

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  XVI Century City Hall

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  Tarazona

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  Jewish Quarter in Tarazona

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  Tarazona Cathedral

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  Roman Temple in Fabara. Photo Source: Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Zaragoza

Calatayud, the old Roman Bilbilis, has a collegiate church - Santa Maria la Mayor-, the churches of San Andres, San Pedro and San Martin, the arch of Furiega and the ruins of a castle. The ruins of its predecessor, the Roman Bilbilis, rise defiant a few kilometres away. After its definite decline, the current settlement took on great importance. The fortresses that dominate the town date back to Islamic times. But the Moslem presence did not conclude with the Christian conquest, remaining visible for centuries thanks to the Mudejar art. The buildings of San Juan el Real, with paintings by Goya and of San Benito are also Baroque, contrasting with the Gothic shapes of San Pedro de los Francos or with the simplicity of the monumental gateways that lead to Zaragoza and Terrer.

Not very far away, next to the Monasterio de Piedra, a majestic Cistercian monastery founded at the end of the 12th century, an exuberant nature reserve spreads out with pathways for visitors that make their way between waterfalls, grottos and ponds. And after the narrow passes of the Mesa river, the spas of Jaraba open their doors, as well as those of Alhama de Aragon and Paracuellos de Jiloca, in the region, too.

Alhama de Aragon is an important health resort. The town has been known for over two thousand years, primarily because of the hot springs of the area. An Arab fortress was captured by El Cid in 1070 but then reverted to Moorish control until re-captured by king Alfonso I of Aragon in 1122. In the nineteenth century, the hot springs were exploited and several balnearios were built, four remaining in operation and popular with visitors today. A unique thermal lake of nearly two hectares is open throughout the year in the grounds of Balneario Termas Pallarés. The famous Cistercian abbey of Monasterio de Piedra with its water gardens lies approximately 25 kilometres to the south-west.

In Borja the Collegiate Chuch of Santa Maria, San Miguel's and Las Conchas House are outstanding. Borja is the capital of a prosperous territory thanks to the high quality of its agricultural products, especially its wine and oil, and to the growing tourist demand in search of novelties, such as its successful jazz festival. Sheltered by the remains of its castle, on narrow streets and squares with porches, which years ago housed the faithful from three religions, we can find 15th and 16th century palaces, as well as a fine group of religious buildings.

Carinena is a large, old town, famous for its wine bodegas. Out on the main road behind the church (cross the bridge onto the carretera and turn left), the Bodega Morte (daily 8am-8pm; free) welcome visitors to sample its wines, and buy bottles, or fill their own for next to nothind from the huge barrels. It has a remarkable Baroque church, a lovely Town Hall and a Saturday market.

Daroca is located in the basin of Calatayud, the valley of the Jiloca River. The Romans named it Agiria, building a strong castle to defend the Laminium road, which passed through the village and connected Zaragoza with Valencia. The Arabs gave it the name Calat-Darawca (862), and possessed it for 400 years, until Alfonso the Battler conquered it in 1120, and in 1141 issued a primitive legal code, which is unknown today. In the 12th century, Ramon Berenguer IV gave it the laws and privileges which made it the capital of the Community of Daroca, which had a great social and military influence in the Middle Ages. There were three social groups, Christians, Jews, and Muslims, which enjoyed the same laws and privileges.

Caspe, the historical city where the Treaty that united the Crowns of Aragon and Castile in 1412 was signed, is the main city East of Zaragoza Province; it centralises the activity of an area of hard climate, of poor non-irrigated land agriculture, only mitigated by the orchards in the riverside of the Ebro.
The sights in Caspe are the Church of santa Maria la Mayor and the important nearby Roman tomb of Fabara and Miralpeix.

20km of Daroca (Zaragoza Province) and a similar distance west of Calamocha (Teruel Province) on the N-234, Laguna de Gallocanta is Spain’s largest natural lake, a about 15 sq km in area (though it can almost dry up in summer). It’s a winter home for some 60,000 cranes and many other water fowl. A Centro de Interpretacion (978 72 50 04; open 10am-2pm & 4pm-8pm daily November & February; Saturday & Sunday only rest of year), with information and exhibitions, is on the Tornos-Bello road near the southwest corner of the lake where the cranes gather. Take binoculars if you can.

Muel is an important craft centre with many workshops and the Ceramic Workshop-School of Muel, belonging to the Local Government of Zaragoza. The chapel of La Virgen de la Fuente preserves wall paintings from young Goya.

The Natural Park of the Monasterio de Piedra (Stone Monastery), 20 kilometres away from Calatayud, contains the waterfalls of the river Piedra and it is one of the most beautiful places in Spain.  A place where water and stone have given shape to the most spectacular landscapes. Caves, waterfalls and riverside woods characterise this unique and unforgettable Aragones enclave.

One of the most beautiful towns in the province is Sos de Rey Catolico, which has a charming medieval air and was the birthplace of the King Fernando, the Catholic Monarch. Its most interesting sights are a parish church and Sada Palace.

Rueda Monastery is also of interest to art and architecture. It dates from the 13th century and the predominating style in the church, cloister and reflectory is that of the transition from Romanesque to Gothic.

Tarazona, also known as the Mudejar town, has very interesting sights, such as the cathedral, which was begun in the 12th century, La Magdalena's, the Episcopal Palace and the Town Hall.

Uncastillo, 109km from Zaragoza on the Sadaba-Uncastillo road. This place, stepped in history and full of sights, has two buildings which are protected as Sights of National Importance: Santa Maria's and San Juan's. The former has a beautiful, fortified tower, which is 14th century Gothic, and an interesting Romanesque portal. San Juan is 12th century Romanesque and has lovely Romanesque-Byzantine murals. Other churches of interestare those of San Martin and San Felices. At a distance of 3km, there are the Roman ruins of Los Banales, with baths, pilasters of the aqueduct and other interesting remains of a temple or forum.

Veruela Monastery is the oldest in the Province of Zaragoza, founded in 1146 by Pedro de Atarés. It is surrounded by crenelleted walls framed by round towers, which give it the air of a fortress. The original Cistercian architecture is hidden by other styles.

Ejea de los Caballeros (Aragonese Exea, commonly known by simply Ejea) is a town and municipality in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. It is one of the 5 main towns in the Municipality of the 5 Villages, of which the most important are Ejea de los Caballeros, Tauste, Sadaba, Uncastillo and Sos del Rey Catolico, the five towns from which the municipality receives its name. The town joined the Middle-Age Reign of Aragon in the year 1105 after taking it back from the muslims during the re-conquering of Spain. It still keeps many of it's Middle-Age buildings, such as the Church of El Salvador.

Just a short trip from Zaragoza, Illueca, were the Pope Benedict XIII, known popularly as Papa Luna was born, is a historic village with a rich Medieval heritage. One of the most famous landmarks is its castle, which stands on the top of Illueca and dates back to the 1300s.

Belchite is a village in Zaragoza province, Spain, about 40 km southeast of Zaragoza. On June 15, 1809, French and Spanish forces in the Peninsular War fought the Battle of María near Belchite. Between August 24 and September 7, 1937, Republican and Nationalist forces in the Spanish Civil War fought the Battle of Belchite in and around the town. The whole town was (and is) destroyed.

Fabara is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza. The Roman Temple of Fabara is probably the greatest and best preserved mausoleum -funerary temple- at the Peninsula. It was built at the end of 1st century or beginning of 2nd one, though many scholars think it was built at the end of 2nd century. It has the shape of a small Roman temple. In fact, it is that what we can see: a temple built for gods, since the tomb is down, in an underground chamber -conditorium- communicated by stairs from the cella.

Sadaba is a municipality located in the perfect setting of the Cinco Villas, within the lands of churches and castles, and of which this locality offers excellent examples. Sadaba is 47 kilometres from Tauste and 22 kilometres from Ejea de los Caballeros following the A-127 road. This border town with the kingdom of Navarre possesses two extraordinary building: its severe but formidable 13th century castle and the parish church of Santa Maria, one of the most outstanding Gothic buildings of the province.

Trasmoz is a small town in the region of Tarazona y el Moncayo located in the province of Zaragoza. Trasmoz castle, is known as the "Castillo de las Brujas" as it is believed that witches used it for their meetings. Becquer mentions it in some of his stories. There is an archaeological exhibition in the recently restored tower.

Fuendetodos is a small town in Aragon, located about 44 kilometers south-east of Zaragoza. It has a population of approximately 170, yet has nearly 25,000 visitors each year. The famous Aragonese artist Francisco de Goya was born there in 1746. The artist's birth house and a museum dedicated to his work are located in the village.

Los Monegros is a Spanish comarca located within the provinces of Zaragoza and Huesca. The area is prone to chronic droughts, and much of the area is semi-desert. Its maximum elevation is 822 meters, which can be found on the mountain called Oscuro. The climate is semiarid, with scare rainfall and high temperatures in the fall.