Tourist tours

Visiting Cariñena

Being the historical centre of the area, Cariñena holds a large history which is reflected in its rich artistic patrimony, Mudejar Arabic heritage, with distinctive buildings of Moorish, Renaissance and Baroque architecture.

The Church Ex colegiata de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora is officially declared a Historical  Monument with an unique artistic value. Among the well conserved Medieval buildings, you find the monumental Gothic Tower from the XIV century. With its robust, military and severe style, it is a splendid example of Gothic towers of stone in Aragon. In the beginning of the XVIII century, when building the actual church, parts of the tower’s building was reconstructed, and today, this is an architectonical prototype of great interest regarding baroque architecture in Aragón.

Among the public buildings, it is worth mentioning the Casa Consistorial, which is an Aragon- style palace of three floors, brick walls and an interior vestibule and arch form galleries in the two upper floors. The building was built during the Renascence, however, it was profoundly rehabilitated in the first decades of the XX century, where the arcade and the exceptional gallery was created.

About six kilometers from Cariñena, between the villages Alfamén and Longares, you'll find the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Lagunas, a church of special significance regarding its plasterwork decorations, some of the best preserved from the Baroque-Mudejar tradition in Aragón. Next to this building you may see a large part of the vineyards of SOLAR DE URBEZO, the plots of Pardina and Virgen de Laguna.

The Church of Santiago (an old synagogue), the Arazuri and Castana buildings, or the so called “old fountain” are other monuments of local interest.

This is an area linked to vine cultivation for thousands of years, that is why the best period to visit Cariñena is undoubtedly the beginning of September, during the harvest festivity. This day, the water is substituted with wine in the main fountain of the city, a tradition that began in 1585 when the King Felipe II visited the place.
Also, gastronomy lovers cannot miss the popular cookery meetings which take place in November. These are days to enjoy excellent food from Aragon and local wines.  

In the Museum of Wine, (Museo del Vino de la D.O. Cariñena), the house of the vine and the wine, you find a typical industrial winery from the beginning of the XX century. The museum shows a collection of more than 500 pieces that provides a straightforward historical and cultural view of the wines in the area. Next to the museum, the Cariñena P.D.O. Regulation Council is located, where an area for wine tasting, wine library and a specialised shop are to be found as well.

An interesting option to get familiar with Cariñena and some other places worth visiting in the Zaragoza province, is the Goya, ceramics and wine route. The house where Goya was born in Fuentetodos, the Ceramic School workshop in Muel and the wineries in Cariñena are three themes in a tour which unite the culture, handcraft and gastronomy of the area.
More information: Turismo DPZ