Standing on an ancient Roman crossroads, this Aragonese city and its wider county has preserved Mudéjar architecture, fine local wines and thermal spas.
Explore an ancient city strewn with architectural relics and towers dating back to the 9th century in Calatayud, a city within the county of the same name. With a long-held reputation for viticulture, agricultural produce and pristine river waters, Calatayud is a gastronomical treasure in the Zaragoza province.
The city of Calatayud is a great place to start your discovery of the region. Wander around the city’s ancient centre to appreciate its superb skyline featuring beautiful Mudéjar church towers and Moorish ruins. The city is named after the fortress Qal’at ‘Ayyüb, which dates back to A.D. 850. Check out 15th-century churches, Renaissance-style palaces and neoclassical mansions. A short distance northwest of the city is the Ancient Roman city of Bilbilis. This archaeological site has been excavated and it is possible to trace the old city limits.
Treat yourself to a visit to one of Calatayud’s luxurious thermal spas. Alhama de Aragón is an acclaimed spa town with a steaming thermal lake. Spend the day soaking in the curative waters and enjoy a remedial spa treatment. If you’d like to explore the fertile countryside, check out Monasterio de Piedra, the secluded parkland surrounding a 12th-century monastery that shelters a beautiful gorge and cascading waterfalls. There is a hotel, restaurant and wine museum located here.
Find out about the venerated Calatayud Denominación de Origen (DO), which refers to the exquisite wine varietals that are grown in the region. Go on a winery tour of the vineyards that lattice the slopes of the Ebro Valley and the foothills of the Sierra de la Virgen. You might try garnacha tinta, mazuelo, tempranillo and monastrell varieties.
Reach Calatayud by flying into Madrid (Barajas) or Zaragoza airports and catching a high-speed train into the region. The city of Calatayud is 53 miles (85 kilometres) from Zaragoza and 143 miles (230 kilometres) from Madrid. The region has a continental climate with hot and dry summers and quite cold winters. Visit in the summer to enjoy strolling around the ancient settlements in the sun or explore in winter to relish the warmth of the region’s thermal spas.
