The Sierra de Guara

Torreciudad Monastery

On the road that descends the valley of the Rio Cinca, you pass the turquoise waters of the El Grado lake which contrast with the arid landscape of the Aragonese sierra. Suddenly, perched on a promontory jutting out into the lake, you can see the huge shrine of Torreciudad standing like a giant. Having been a Christian stronghold since the Reconquest of Spain from the Moors, this former hermitage dedicated to the Virgin Mary has become the home of Opus Dei and a place of pilgrimage for villagers from the locality and visitors from around the world. The esplanade is immense, but despite the crowds it is as silent as a cathedral, which along with the surrounding mountain and lakes, calls for contemplation.

Entry is free, as are the leaflets, audiovisual guides and guided tours.

Santuario de Torreciudad - 22 391 Torreciudad (Huesca). Tel : +34 974 30 40 25 - www.torreciudad.org 

From Ainsa, follow signs to Barbastro following the A138 south. After 42 km, turn left towards Torreciudad.

Alquézar

At a bend in the road, you will see in front of you a view of the village of Alquézar, perched like an eagle’s nest. The name has a middle-eastern ring, Al Qasr - ‘the fortress’ in Arab - is a relic of the Moorish occupation before it was retaken by Sancho I in 1609 to later become an outpost of the Reconquista. This unbelievably beautiful sight is accompanied by the scents of olive, juniper, almond and kermes oak trees. The narrow cobbled streets are perfect for dawdling round with their covered passageways and arcades that provide protection from the scorching sun. The Rio Vero flows at the foot of the citadelle and forms beautiful pools of crystal-clear water perfect for bathing.

From Torreciudad follow signs for Barbastro. At Barbastro, bypass the town by following signs to Huesca (N-123). Bear right to take the A-1232 to Alquézar.

The Walkway Trail

A pleasant walk that gives a taste of the waters and scenery of the famous Rio Vero, which is a very popular location for canyoning. After descending via alternate wooden walkways and steps carved into the rock, you reach the turquoise waters of the Rio Vero. An enchanting and enjoyable route featuring rock and water that runs along the cliffs by the church and takes walkways that are sometimes vertiginous, but which afford fantastic views. At the old hydro-electric power station, the path leaves the river bed and turns right to join a path that is shaded by almond trees and leads back to the village.

Starts at: La Calle Lucas. Incline : 200 m. Length : 2 hours. Circular walk on marked paths.

The Col de San Caprasio

The pass overlooks the Somantano region that is famed for its DOC wines. The view from the top is spectacular - on one side is the rocky mountainous region of Guara, whilst on the other is the expansive plain of Huesca.

From Alquézar, head for Colungo and Ainsa on the A2205. The pass is about 12 km from Alquézar.

Rio Vero Cave Art – A UNESCO world heritage site

Forty thousand years ago, humans left an exceptional prehistoric legacy here. More than sixty caves and shelters in the cliffs of the Rio Vero are decorated with cave paintings. All are registered as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. We recommend visiting the cave at Mallata because as well as cave paintings there is a bird’s-eye view of the river and a breathtaking panorama.

Park in the Portiacha car park on the A2205 a few bends after the Col de San Caprasio.

The Caves of Mallata

The path starts from the car park entrance with a short descent before climbing up to the meeting point for guided tours. Turn right and follow the path to the next junction. Turn right and continue straight on to the caves of Mallata. Return by the same route.

Incline : 100 m. Length: 1 h 15 round trip. Waymarked paths.