Longares: Renaissance Church, Mudéjar Tower and Paloteo Dance

Longares is located on the Autovía Mudéjar A-23 between Muel and Cariñena. Zaragoza is 38 kilometres away, while Cariñena is 8 kilometres away. Cariñena is therefore the closer of the two reference points mentioned; the location between Muel and Cariñena provides a second geographical point of reference alongside these distances. Two themes are central to planning your trip: the architectural history of the parish church and Mudéjar tower, and the Dance del Paloteo, held on fixed dates in September. Walking routes offer an additional perspective on the town and region.

Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción

The parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC) and designated a monument. The present Renaissance building was erected over a Romanesque church; construction began in 1526. The Plateresque altarpiece was created towards the end of the 16th century: sculptor Domingo Tarín made it, and Estarmolín gilded it. The mummy of Doña Isabel de Ledesma is in the Chapel of San Pedro. The start of construction on the church and the later creation of the altarpiece mark distinct stages.

Mudéjar Tower, City Gates and Fountain

The Mudéjar tower is a freestanding square brick structure. Its interior is divided into six floors with barrel vaults. It is dated to around 1390 as a Christian defensive tower, making it older than the Renaissance church building, which began in 1526. Puerta de Zaragoza was rebuilt in 2002. Three of the five former entrance gates are therefore visible to visitors. Fuente de los Machos stands at the junction of the road from Longares to Calatorao. The fountain, built from dressed stone blocks, is the work of Francisco Rocha and belongs to a group of similar 16th-century fountains in the region.

Dance del Paloteo and September Dates

The Dance del Paloteo was recognised as a Fiesta de Interés Turístico de Aragón on 5 December 2005. It takes place twice a year as part of Longares’s patron saint festivities: on 2 and 8 September. Accompanying the procession, the dance follows a set route of about 400 metres through the streets of Longares. The two festival dates are six days apart—a specific detail to bear in mind if you are planning your trip around the Paloteo.

Walks and the Ruta del Vino

Longares is one of the municipalities on the Ruta del Vino Campo de Cariñena. Along the route, you can see medieval and Renaissance architectural monuments as well as noteworthy examples of Mudéjar art. The municipality’s tourism website provides the PDF “Paseos de arquitectura popular” for download. The Ruta del Vino also lists the walk “Paseo Longares,” with a downloadable route. Check that the download is available before your trip. The name “Paseos de arquitectura popular” refers to architectural walks; “Paseo Longares,” by contrast, is named as a single walk with a route.

Discover more destinations: Fuencalderas, Bardena Del Caudillo, Bardallur, Zaragoza, Biel, Luesia, Sediles, Grisel.

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