Ateca: Mudéjar Heritage, Festivals and Hiking Trails

Ateca brings together Mudéjar buildings, religious traditions and hiking trails, with a connection to the Cantar de Mio Cid. This gives you different options when planning your trip: sightseeing and festival traditions in town, as well as a longer circular hike through the landscape around Alcocer. You can tailor your stay to whether you are mainly interested in architecture and history or would like to set aside time for a hike.

Mudéjar Buildings and Historic Sites

Santa María de Ateca and its tower are protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural. The church is a Mudéjar building; its tower stands out for its combination of ceramics and brickwork. The oldest part of the church dates from the 14th century, while the tower is older. The Torre del Reloj offers a different impression: this square Mudéjar tower was built in 1560 over a medieval masonry tower. Together, the two buildings illustrate different forms and phases of Mudéjar architecture.

The Casa Consistorial is another of Ateca’s notable historic buildings. Construction began in 1628; the building is in the Aragonese Renaissance style and features stone arcades and a distinctive gallery of arches. In the San Martín district, the Iglesia de San Francisco is the most prominent surviving part of a former Capuchin monastery. It houses a 17th-century altarpiece dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. The restored Castillo de Ateca is home to the Hotel Castillo Fortaleza de Ateca.

The remains of the Castillo de Alcocer lie in the La Mora Encantada landscape. The castle is also known as the Castillo de la Morica Encantada and is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural. The Mora Encantada itself is a clay outcrop in the Las Cárcamas landscape, associated with the settlement of Alcocer and the Cantar de Mio Cid.

Semana Santa and Other Festival Traditions

Ateca’s Semana Santa was designated a Fiesta de Interés Turístico in Aragón in 1996. The Hermandad de la Soledad has organised its processions since 1661. More than 300 people take part in the Santo Entierro, which features 34 pasos. At the Semana Santa Interpretation Centre, housed in the former sacristan’s residence next to Santa María, visitors can learn about the tradition’s structure and presentation. The exhibits include costumes worn by figures in the processions, historic standards and flags, and the brotherhood’s first record book.

The pilgrimages on Ascensión and San Lorenzo feature a special performance: young members of the brotherhood build three-tiered human towers that move through the streets. The Dance of Ateca also has a long history, with records dating back 400 years. This theatrical performance featuring Moors, devils, Christians and members of the royal household is staged regularly, at intervals of several years.

San Blas and La Máscara are celebrated on 2 and 3 February. The red-and-yellow-striped figure chases boys as they try to take its bells. La Máscara jumps over a fire in the Plaza de España, after which the traditional song Puente de Alcolea is sung. Carnival takes place 40 days before Semana Santa and is celebrated with elaborate costumes and prizes. The festivities in honour of the Virgen de la Peana run from 6 to 10 September. The programme includes processions, a solemn Mass, flower offerings, bull events, public dances in Plaza España and artistic performances.

Ruta de Alcocer and Practical Information

The SL-Z2 Ruta de Alcocer starts at the Arco de San Miguel, crosses the Manubles and joins the Camino del Cid. This 12.5-kilometre circular hike takes a little over three hours. Another marked route is R4 Valmayor-La-Sierra-La-Atalaya, where arrows indicate the direction to follow. The Centro de Interpretación Puerta del Manubles is also located in the Arco de San Miguel. When it opened in 2010, one of its three floors was dedicated to the Manubles and Jalón rivers.

A guided tour starts at the tourist office in Plaza de España. It includes the exterior and interior of the Mudéjar tower, the chapel of the patron saint Virgen de la Peana, and the Semana Santa Interpretation Centre. Before you arrive, check with the tourist office whether the tour is available and when it takes place. From Ateca, you can reach Calatayud by train or bus; check timetables and operating conditions before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Ibdes, Alfajarín, Tarazona, La Almunia De Doña Godina, Santa Engracia, Herrera De Los Navarros, Carenas, Aniñón.

For the wider travel overview: Zaragoza.