Navasa: Romanesque Heritage, Bordas and Pilgrimage Traditions
Accommodation in Navasa
Navasa lies in the upper part of the Val Estrecha, at the foot of two prominent peaks. The parish church, traditional bordas and preserved wall paintings give the village a distinctive cultural character. Other features include a hermitage with a pebble floor in floral patterns and longstanding pilgrimage traditions. The landscape and a described cycling loop are also among the features that define Navasa’s character.
Landscape and cycling
The two prominent peaks at the foot of the village channel the Barranco Abale, a tributary of the Río Gállego. The landscape connections thus extend from the upper part of the Val Estrecha through the barranco to the Río Gállego. These named places and waterways help situate Navasa within its landscape.
One specific cycling option is the Ruta Cicloturista: it is 26 kilometres long, follows a circular route and leads to the road to Navasa. The distance describes the route itself and provides a clear reference point for planning. This makes the cycling route a distinct focus alongside the village’s cultural features, without combining the two into a single activity.
Romanesque heritage and traditional architecture
Navasa’s parish church, the “Church of the Assumption”, dates from the 12th century and reflects the influence of the Jaca Romanesque style. Its tympanum features a central Chrismon; the figures depicted are inspired by the western tympanum of Jaca Cathedral. The connection with Jaca is therefore evident both in the church’s Romanesque character and in the design of a specific work of art.
The bordas also form part of Navasa’s architectural heritage. Their floor plan combines a stable on the ground floor with an upper floor used for storing hay. The two levels therefore have clearly distinct functions. At the same time, the Bordas de Navasa ensemble preserves a consistent traditional architectural typology. In 2001, the Conjunto de las Eras y Bordas de Navasa was classified as a Bien Catalogado del Patrimonio Cultural Aragonés. This protection classification applies to the ensemble and adds its officially recorded heritage status to the consideration of its architectural form.
Wall paintings and hermitage
Two fragments of the same wall-painting cycle have been preserved from Navasa. One depicts the Adoration of the Magi and the Flight into Egypt. The second shows the heaven of the Evangelists with their symbols, along with two archangels. Together, the fragments combine narrative scenes with a depiction of the Evangelists and their symbols. They present different motifs that can be viewed as parts of a shared cycle.
The Hermitage of Santa Eulalia dates from the 16th century. Its pebble floor forms large floral patterns. Alongside the parish church tympanum and the wall paintings, a decorated floor is therefore also part of Navasa’s religious heritage. The parish church and the hermitage can also be distinguished by age: one dates from the 12th century and the other from the 16th.
Pilgrimage traditions
In May, Navasa takes part in the pilgrimage to the Virgen de la Cueva on Peña Oroel. The pilgrimage to Santa Orosia in Yebra de Basa on Trinity Sunday is also part of local tradition. The two occasions have different time references: the month of May and a specific Sunday in the liturgical year. If you would like to plan a trip around either tradition, check the dates for the relevant year.
Discover more destinations:
For the main travel overview: Jaca.
