Historic ‘Bajo Aragón’

Hundreds of drums and bass drums shake in one voice in one of the most thrilling and amazing moments during Easter in Bajo Aragón. A deafening sound breaks the silence in the nine villages of the ‘Drum and bass drum’s Route’ (Ruta del tambor y del bombo). Film maker Luis Buñuel, one of the best and most influential cinema directors in the world, used to visit his hometown Calanda during Easter. Another town where drums tremble at Easter is Alcañiz. But Alcañiz also shakes with engines at Motorland Aragon circuit, holding every year one of the Bike GP races.

The river Martín digs deep river canyons throughout the River Martín Cultural Park, in a spectacular scenery. And if you feel like to find out the worthy archaeological remains from the Age when Iberians inhabited this land, follow the Route of the Iberians in ‘Bajo Aragón’. It won’t let you down. Another wonder, heading south, is the Geological Park in Aliaga, the first one in Europe. A natural space where gazing beyond the rocks to the last 200 million years of our planet’s history.

In Fuendetodos, Goya 's hometown, the house where he was born is opened to the public and four of his most important painting series are exhibited in the Engraving Museum. The old town of Belchite is world famous, wiped out during our Civil War. The silent ruins along the alleys will overwhelm you and, at the same time, will provoke a thinking about their not so old grief.

Can you picture yourself being a coal miner for one day? A little further south, you are going to live this experience at the Mining Museum in Escucha, running into deep ground to know first-hand how hard their working conditions used to be. Slow down because this territory, a mining area, is worth being visited calmly, with former mining towns (Escucha, Utrillas or Andorra) surrounded by astonishing sceneries.

Romans realized how allure and rich these lands were, as they built the first city in the Ebro Valley: colony Celsa. Moreover, one of the Cistercian jewels in Aragón is waiting for you, the monastery of Rueda, the main attraction in this area.

¿Do you know Aragon’s sea? Well, Aragón hasn’t got a seashore, but two massive swamps in a row, Caspe and Mequinenza, an ideal scenery for fishing and water sports.

Very close from here, the new town of Fayón lies by the shore. Apart from enjoying the leisure opportunities provided by the swamp, an interesting museum devoted to the historical Ebro Battle can be visited. And a short drive heading south will lead you to Fabara, where the 2nd century Roman mausoleum, in very good condition, is opened to the public.