Calatayud´s natural environment

Qal´atAyyub Mudejar Art

In comparison to the rest of the area, Calatayud is the place where some of the best examples of Mudejar architecture in Aragon are preserved, despite some have dissapeared by destruction or by carelessness. Between all the existing buildings, the Collegiate Church of Santa María, declared a National Monument, is outstanding. The cloister, the vault and the imposing tower, which can be seen from a large part of the town, are the main attractions offered by the Arab legacy. But it is not the only church we can find here. Others like San Andrés, San Pedro de los Francos, Virgen de la Peña or the current collegiate church of the Holy Sepulcher are good examples of Mudejar art that Calatayud holds.

To gather further information about the old Muslim past of the city please visit the tourist information center placed in the Plaza del Fuerte, S/N.

Bilbilis Augusta Roman City

Within five kilometers of Calatayud lies the impressive ancient Roman city of the Jalón, Bilbilis. The birthplace of illustrious characters, such as the poet Martial.

The Mudejar heritage Art

Through the river Qal ´ en Ayyub as it was known, was dominated and ruled for four centuries by Muslims. All this time (714-1120) Arabs and Berbers left evidence of their culture with an impressive Mudejar artistic heritage. To go through The Mudejar Art route of Calatayud, we can follow the tracks of several rivers that cross the region. Starting with the Jalón River, the town of Ateca has one of the most captivating Mudejar towers in Aragon due to its four faces decorated equally. A short distance away, on a tower of the castle, was built the Torre del Reloj, a Mudejar sample from the 16th century. Following the same course in the direction of Terrer, the tower of the church is very similar to that of Belmonte and Aniñón. Other outstanding towers in this area are those of Huérmeda, Paracuellos de la Rivera and Saviñán.

If we take now the bank of the river Jiloca, its waters we will take us to many villages whose richness is more than remarkable. Maluenda, one of the Mudejar epicenters, has three churches with interesting apses, plasterwork, “Porticos” and, obviously, towers. Although something separate from the course of the river, the tiny town of Olvés hides a curious hermitage that, along with Velilla, Morata, Fuentes and Villafeliche, compose the epicenter Mudejar that passes next to the Jiloca.

El Perejiles, a river that flows close to its neighboring Jiloca, divides another route of Mudejar Art. Villalba and the remains of its mosque, the Church of Belmonte, the Tower of Mara and some vestiges found in Orera And Ruesca are well worth visiting.

A tributary of the Jalón, the Ribota River, and the neighbouring towns also retain numerous Mudejar remains. It is necessary to insist on the church of Torralba, Aniñón, Cervera de la Cañada, and to a lesser extent that of Villarroya de la Sierra, since it retains few remains.