Aragon Guide

The founding times of Huesca, capital of the Aragonese Pyrenees, are lost in the mists of prehistory. It stands on a hill overlooking the rich orchard lands of the river Isuela. Next to old buildings, there are other of modern construction, which were built following the example of civil Aragonese renaissance architecture. As a result the urban picture as a whole is nicely balanced. Among the most important sights there are San Pedro El Viejo, with a lovely Romanesque cloister, a Gothic retable and the sepulchres of King Ramiro II of Aragon and Alfonso I El Batallador; the 13C cathedral, with an interesting main portal, a Gothic cloister and the main retable by Damian Forment; San Miguel's and San Lorenzo's; the Romanesque Salas sanctuary; the Renaissance Town Hall, with an interesting hall and staircase; the old University, reformed in the 17C; and the house of the Climent family. A visit of the sights must include the Provincial Archaeological Museum with exceptionally interesting Romanesque and Gothic retables and a collection of sculptures and paintings, not forgetting the archaeological remains. The museum of the cathedral is also interesting.