The city of Jaca is undoubtedly the capital of the Aragonese Pyrenees. Its history, its location and its importance population make it an important center of services and a first-class tourist capital. The old city is surrounded by modern housing estates that host thousands of tourists throughout the year.

The visit to the city should always start in the cathedral, a magnificent example of Romanesque. Jaca Cathedral began to be built in the eleventh century a few meters from the temple of San Pedro el Viejo, which is not retained but its structure under St. Peter’s Square studied by archaeologists a few years ago. In fact, the paving of the plaza reproduces the silhouette of the old Romanesque church. Its foundation is dated to the early tenth century, after the conquest of the city and its fortress.

The Cathedral houses inside the Diocesan Museum, which some experts have dubbed the «Sistine Chapel of Romanesque painting. The main artery is Calle Mayor Jaca, via which brings together some of the main buildings of the city, like the beautiful Town Hall, sixteenth-century building with a facade plataresque and Renaissance courtyard. In the rest of the streets were erected numerous houses of the bourgeoisie jacetana dated many early twentieth century. From there you can start a tour that will take us to other churches of the city Santiago, Salvador, El Carmen or the remains of the chapel of Sarsa adorning the end of the avenue Oroel.

An essential stop is the secluded place of the Marquis de la Cadena and the Clock Tower, civil Gothic building erected in the mid-fifteenth century and is popularly known as Tower Jail for taking that role from the City to acquired in 1599 to locate in it the cathedral clock.

The Citadel is undoubtedly the most emblematic buildings of Jaca. What has in common with the city of Jaca Liège or Belgium’s port of Callao in Peru distant? Apparently nothing, but there is one detail that the sister among them: in all three cities there is a monument of similar characteristics that summarizes the historical vicissitudes of a turbulent era. The Ciudela or Castle of St. Peter is exactly equal to that of El Callao although this is located near the ocean and Liege.

It is a sixteenth century building erected by order of Philip II following construction techniques most advanced defense at the time: polygonal shaped pentagon, with bastions at the corners and half-buried building with a moat, which allowed a perfect defense from all sides.

* The Ciudela contains within itself the Military Miniatures Museum, featuring a collection of 35,000 of lead miniatures set out some 32,000 divided into 23 dioramas.

Another building that supports the frontier character of the city is the Rapitán Fort, built in the late nineteenth century in one of the hills surrounding the city, 1142 m. altitude and with splendid views to the south.

To end the stay in Jaca, we propose to know their green areas. The city parks allow a pleasant walk in the shade of trees. As an example, we propose the oldest, the Paseo de la Constitución, which links to the Paseo de la Cantera and their views of the river Aragon. When we reach the end of the Medieval Bridge of San Miguel (XV century). However, the green zone par excellence of Jaca is Mount Oroel, with its 1770 m altitude has become the symbol of the city.

Holidays:

Schutzheiligenfest. Santa Orosia (June 25) and San Pedro (June 29).
Among all, the act of «Worship» of the remains of St. Orosia is the most interesting and principal on the morning of June 25. The dancers of Jaca that during the act does not stop dancing, attest to the importance of the moment.

The Folk Festival of the Pyrenees:
It is as if the world decided to meet for a week to dance in the Pyrenees. Every two years, odd, during the first week of August the city of Jaca is home to one of the most multitudinous folk meetings.

Good travel!