Arro: Architecture and Townscape

In Arro, the townscape is shaped by architectural heritage, religious architecture and a pilgrimage held on the Friday before Good Friday. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Arro, these themes can shape your travel plans: architecture, local religious history or a visit connected with the pilgrimage. The sights differ both in their architectural forms and in their location within the village.

Location and orientation

Casa Lanao is on the edge of Arro. It can be reached via a paved track that branches off the road between Arro and Aínsa. The Torre de casa la Abadía is on the village’s only street, in the higher part of the settlement, while the Iglesia de la Asunción is in the center. The landmarks therefore differ by location: the edge of the village, the upper part of the settlement and the center.

The Torre de casa la Abadía

The Torre de casa la Abadía is listed as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) in the Monument category. Its circular ground plan and its rise above the pitched roof of the house shape its design. It consists of two cylindrical structures of different diameters, separated by an edge. The difference in diameter and the separating edge articulate the structure; the circular ground plan is another aspect of its form. The tower’s designation as a Monument and its specific design are therefore two distinct ways of looking at it.

Church in the center

The Iglesia de la Asunción is in the center of Arro. The building, made of rubble masonry, has a rectangular nave. The choir is oriented east and has a straight end; there are two chapels on each side. The nave, choir and chapels give the building a clearly articulated form. The bell tower of Arro’s parish church, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, resembles the bell tower in Aínsa. This comparison concerns the tower and offers a specific point of reference for travelers who would like to compare individual church architectural features.

Hermitage and pilgrimage

The road to the monastery of San Victorián begins near Arro and provides access to the Ermita de la Virgen de los Dolores. The apse of the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores is semicircular, built of rubble masonry and covered by a quarter-sphere vault. Unlike the straight end of the choir at the Iglesia de la Asunción, the apse is semicircular, making it possible to compare two specific forms of religious architecture.

A pilgrimage to the Ermita de la Virgen de los Dolores takes place on the Friday before Good Friday. It is attended by residents of Arro and people from several places in La Fueva. During the pilgrimage, a Mass is celebrated, the fields are blessed and alms are distributed. If you would like to plan your trip around this custom, check the exact date in advance.

Views and vernacular architecture

The square in Arro serves as a viewpoint and offers a beautiful view over Sobrarbe. This view adds a landscape feature alongside the individual buildings. Arro’s vernacular architecture also includes several chimneys of the Alto Aragonese type. They add another architectural motif to the picture of local building traditions.

Discover more destinations: Seira, Berdún, Benavente de Aragón, Monzón, Sabayés, Centenero, Biescas, Gerbe

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