Aragon Guide

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  Jaca

This important city has different origin theories. In the 16th century, the Spanish imperial reporter Florian de Ocampo said that Jaca was founded by the Greek captain Dionisio Baco (know by the name Yaco) in 1325 before Christ. This theory was supported for the famous historian Alonso de Nebrija. But the real origin points to the 1000 before Christ, where the area was ruled by the Iberian tribe of jacetanos o iacetanos whom coin currency with the name of I.A.C.A. Their domain is a wide area of the Pyrenees. In the 2nd Century before Christ they were conquered by the romans. From Jaca the romans established an important control of the ways and paths of the region, increasing the trade.
In the 10th century the Aragon Count Galindo Aznarez II conquered the Echo valley and the Aragon river territories.

The counts became Aragon Kings, started important agricultural explotations that produced big incomes and allowed them to control the transit of goods through the Pyrenees. The king Ramiro I, in 1077 gives the "Fueros" or Special laws to Jaca (to attract free people traders) and to the City. Jaca become a commercial and courtesan city, residence of the Aragon Kings and key points in the Saint James way (Camino de Santiago). The Juderia or Jew neighbour was very important until their expulsion in 1492. In the last years Jaca has organized the World Championships of Ice skating, Hockey international competitions and other events related, like the Pyrenees Winter Games or the University winter games (Universiada). For years Jaca is trying to get the winter Olympicgames.

Many skiing competitions are arranged in the close winter stations of Candanchu, Formigal, Astun and Panticaso. Every year in the first week of August is made in Jaca an interesting world folkloric or traditional music festivals, with representatives of the 5 continents.