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Aragón

Probably Spain's most underrated region, Aragón offers riches wherever you travel, from the crusader-like castles and Romanesque churches of the north to the outstanding Mudéjar architecture of Teruel in the south. The regional capital, Zaragoza, is a major Spanish city of ebullient nightlife and absorbing culture (not least the work of local artistic genius Francisco de Goya), while dozens of picturesque medieval villages dot the serrated landscape, from pink-hued Albarracín to stone-clothed Sos del Rey Católico. But above all, what sets Aragón apart is the majesty of the central Pyrenees along its northern fringe. This is the highest and, for many, most beautiful section of the mighty mountain range – a rare delight for the eyes and a massive natural adventure playground with not only Spain's finest hiking and climbing but also much of its best skiing, canyoning, rafting and paragliding.

Explore Aragón

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Aragón.

  • Church

    Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar

    This great baroque cavern of Catholicism stands on the site where, the faithful believe, the Virgin Mary appeared to Santiago (St James the Apostle) atop…

  • Monastery

    Monasterio de San Juan de la Peña

    The road from Santa Cruz winds 7km up to the 10th-century Monasterio Viejo, tucked protectively under an overhanging lip of rock. A fire in 1675 led the…

  • Palace

    Aljafería

    The Aljafería is Spain's finest Islamic-era edifice outside Andalucía. Built as a fortified palace for Zaragoza's Islamic rulers in the 11th century, it…

  • Museum

    Fundación Amantes

    Teruel's most popular attraction pulls out the stops on the city's famous legend of the tragic 13th-century lovers (amantes) Isabel and Juan Diego. The…

  • Museum

    Museo del Teatro de Caesaraugusta

    The finest in Zaragoza's quartet of Roman museums was discovered during excavation of a building site in 1972. Great efforts, including an entertaining 15…

  • Museum

    Museo Goya

    Apart from Madrid’s Museo del Prado, this exceedingly well-laid-out museum contains arguably the best exposé of the work of one of Spain’s greatest…

  • Cathedral

    Catedral de Santa María

    This Gothic cathedral is one of Aragón's great surprises. The richly carved main portal dates from 1300, and the attached Museo Diocesano contains the…

  • Tower

    Torre de El Salvador

    The most impressive of Teruel's Mudéjar towers, 40m-tall El Salvador is an early-14th-century extravaganza of brick and ceramics built on the model of an…

  • Church

    Iglesia de San Pedro El Viejo

    San Pedro is one of the oldest and most important Romanesque churches in Spain, dating from the early 12th century. Its open cloister is adorned with 38…

  • Cathedral

    La Seo

    Dominating the eastern end of Plaza del Pilar, La Seo is Zaragoza's finest work of Christian architecture, built between the 12th and 17th centuries and…

  • Cathedral

    Catedral de Santa María de Mediavilla

    The exterior of Teruel's cathedral is a rich example of the Mudéjar imagination at work with its kaleidoscopic brickwork and colourful ceramic tiles,…

  • Cathedral

    Catedral del Salvador

    After two decades of painstaking restoration, Albarracín's 16th-century cathedral has been returned to its splendour of the 18th century, by which time…

  • Cathedral

    Catedral Santa María de la Huerta

    Tarazona's magnificent, multi-styled cathedral dates back to the 13th century. Its French-Gothic origins are evident in the vaulting and arches of the…

  • Museum

    Museo Diocesano

    The star turn of the excellent Diocesan Museum (accessed from inside the Catedral de San Pedro) is a collection of Romanesque and Gothic art rescued from…

  • Walls

    Muralla

    Albarracín's highest point, the Torre del Andador (Andador Tower) was built in the 10th century as a defensive outpost for the Muslim town huddled around…

  • Square

    Plaza Mayor

    Old Aínsa's broad, cobbled main plaza, lined by handsome stone arcades and houses, is one of Spain's loveliest. It was created as a market place and…

  • Architecture

    Estación Internacional de Canfranc

    The magnificent, 250m-long, Modernista structure of Canfranc station stands as a monument to a trans-Pyrenean railway that has lain idle for half a…

  • Historic Site

    Pueblo Viejo de Belchite

    The shattered buildings of Belchite village, 45km southeast of Zaragoza, stand today as a haunting reminder of the horrors of the Spanish Civil War. The…

  • Castle

    Castillo de Loarre

    This large, multi-towered, 11th-century fortress, raised in Christian/Muslim frontier territory by Sancho III of Navarra and then expanded by Sancho…

  • Museum

    Museo del Grabado de Goya

    This museum contains an important collection of Goya’s engravings, and acts as the ticket office for the Casa Natal de Goya, 100m along the street. There…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Aragón.

  • Activities