ARAGON
 provincia (province) in the comunidad autónoma (autonomous community) of Aragon, northeastern Spain. Together with the provinces of Huesca and Teruel, it formed the old kingdom of Aragon. It extends north and south of the middle course of the Ebro River; it reaches the foot of the Pyrenees to the north. Zaragoza is bounded by the provinces of Tarragona, Lleida, and Huesca to the east and northeast, by Guadalajara and Teruel to the south, and by Navarra, La Rioja, and Soria to the west. The relief is mostly gently rolling tableland drained by the Ebro and its tributaries. Scarce annual rainfall of less than 15 to 18 inches (380 to 460 mm) in the Ebro basin makes irrigation important. All the main settlements are in the irrigated valleys, the Ebro being the chief link, with the Jalón Valley to the southwest ranking next in importance.
Mountains dominate the relief north and south of the east-west-trending Ebro River basin, which bisects Aragon into northern and southern portions. Administratively, Zaragoza province occupies the Ebro basin and is flanked by Huesca province to the north and Teruel province to the south. The Pyrenees rise to more than 9,840 feet (3,000 metres) and extend southward from France into Huesca. Their foothills, the pre-Pyrenees, decline in elevation southward to the Ebro basin. The Ebro River drains most of Aragon with the exception of its southernmost portion, which is linked to the Tagus River basin and the Mediterranean Sea. The Sierra de Gúdar occupies almost all of Teruel province as well as the southwestern corner of Zaragoza.
The two main things that make Aragón an attractive tourist place are its Culture and its Nature.
Aragón has an enormous artistic legacy, which is the result of its millennial history: old prehistoric towns, remains of the Roman civilisation, Romanesque hermitages, turrets and Muslim and Christian castles, monasteries, palaces and cathedrals are distributed all around its territory.
Nature offers a wide range of landscapes and different options for tourism: the Pyrenees and the Iberian mountain range offer an ideal environment for the practice of outdoors activities and adventure sports. Tourist exploitation is combined with a nature protection policy that has under strict protection more than 490.000 acres of National and Natural Parks, among which we must highlight the National Park of Ordesa, with over 35.000 acres.
During the winter season, 7 alpine ski resorts offer almost 300 kilometers of ski slopes in the resorts of Astún, Candanchú, Cerler, Formigal, Javalambre, Panticosa-the Lakes and Valdelinares. An equal number of ski resorts offer the possibility of practicing cross-country ski in marked circuits.
The gastronomy of Aragon combines the old traditional recipes of a hard-working people, subjected to the rigors of the climate, with innovative tendencies appreciated by even those with a discerning palate.
ZARAGOZA PROVINCE
 The most western lands of the province served historically as frontier between the Kingdom of Castile, Navarra, Aragon and the Muslim Kingdom. As a result, their main cities benefit from a very rich and varied patrimony.
The district of the Five Villas is located at the north and it starts up in the first valleys of the low Pyrenees. These five towns are Tauste, Sádaba, Uncastillo, Ejea de los caballeros (of the gentlemen) and Sos del rey católico (of the Catholic King). It is an area of orchards, and cereal fields which offer good yields.
Tarazona is located at the foot of the Moncayo, the dominant peak of the Iberian mountain range (2.300 meters high), and whose common meadow is a protected Natural Park, a space of great beauty and ecological value. The city functioned as defence post for the west of the community and it keeps treasures that remind us of their Roman, Arabic, Jewish and Christian past.
The Natural Park of the Monasterio de Piedra (Monastery of Stone), 20 kilometres away from Calatayud, contains the waterfalls of the river Piedra and it is one of the most beautiful places in Spain. The Cistercian Monastery is a National Monument and it harbours the Museum of the Wine of the Certificate of Origin of Calatayud.
The cultivation of the vine has a great tradition in the province, proved by the Certificates of Origin awarded to the wines of Cariñena, Field of Borja and Calatayud.
Following the river up from the capital, in the so-called ' Corridor of the Ebro', the main industrial area of Aragon is located, a net of supplying companies which extends around the factory of Opel in Figueruelas.
Caspe, the historical city where the Treaty that united the Crowns of Aragón and Castile in 1412 was signed, is the main city East of Zaragoza; it centralises the activity of an area of hard climate, of poor non-irrigated land agriculture, only mitigated by the orchards in the riverside of the Ebro.
ZARAGOZA CITY
 A Celtic settlement known as Salduba was captured by the Romans in the 1st century BC; they named it Caesarea Augusta, after Emperor Augustus; later it was captured by the Goths (5th century) and the Moors (8th century), under whom it became the capital of an indpendent emirate in 1017. The city was taken in 1118 after a nine-month siege by Alfonso the Warrior, King of Navarre and Aragón. Zaragoza remained the capital of Aragón until the end of the 15th century. From June 1808 to February 1809, during the Peninsular War, it resisted a French siege, surrendering only after some 50,000 defenders had died. Maria Augustin (died 1859), known as the ‘Maid of Zaragoza’ (Spanish ‘Agostina de Aragón’), became a national hero for her part in the defence; her story is told in Byron's Childe Harold (1812-18).
Zaragoza is rich in works of art, many of which show Moorish influence. There are two cathedrals - La Seo (12th-16th centuries), formerly a mosque, and El Pilar (17th century), which contains frescoes by Velázquez and Goya.
Zaragoza is known to be a "passing through" city, however all the visitors that make a halt here discover a rich and interesting city.
The so-called "casco viejo" (historic city centre), contains most of the history of Zaragoza. More than 2000 years of history and cultures such as the Roman, the Christian, the Arabic, the Jewish or Mozarabic have cohabited in that portion of the current city. The buildings, palaces and churches reflect the different styles and the exchange among cultures. In the Square of El Pilar, you will find the Gothic cathedral of La Seo and the Basilica of El Pilar, one of the main places of worship to Virgin Mary of the Christianity, with frescoes by Francisco de Goya. The Arab palace of the Aljafería, current headquarters of the Aragonese Parliament, is one of the best exponents of the Muslim art outside of Andalusia.
HUESCA PROVINCE
 Huesca is a province of northeastern Spain, in northern Aragon. Positioned in the middle of the Pyrenees, Huesca borders France and the French Departments of Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées. Within Spain, Huesca's neighboring provinces are Navarre, Zaragoza and Lleida.
Huesca derives its name from the Roman name of Osca, given to the Iberian tribes, or Oscians of the Vescetania region[1]. The term "Osca" may also share the etymological root of the word "Eus-kara", or Vasconi, who were Basque tribes that inhabited the northern mountain territories of Vasconia.
Covering a primarily mountainous area of 15,636 km², the province of Huesca has a total population of 218,023, (in 2006), with almost a quarter of its people living in the capital city of Huesca, which goes by the same name. The low population density, 13.94/km², has meant that Huesca's lush valleys, rivers, and lofty mountain ranges have remained relatively pristine and unspoiled by progress.
Home to majestic scenery, the tallest mountain in the Pyrenees, the Aneto; eternal glaciers, such as at Monte Perdido; and the National Park of Ordesa and Monte Perdido, rich in flora and protected fauna. Popular with mountaineers, spelunkers, paragliders, and white water rafters it is also a popular snow skiing destination with notable resorts in Candanchú, Formigal, Astún, Panticosa and Cerler
The romans colonized the province of Huesca, which formed the northern part of Hispania Tarraconensis, and continued to live there well into the 5th century until the arrival of the visigoths. As a challenging mountainous frontier region, it was difficult to dominate. The northern counties had at one time belonged to the Kingdom of Navarre but split off and managed to stem early moorish invasions in the middle ages by forming alliances between themselves and with the Franks, to become frankish feudal marches. The imperative of sovereignty, or independence, for the northern border counts, gave rise to the legendary Kingdom of Aragon, which was the precursor to the Empire or Crown of Aragon, and ultimately the Kingdom of Spain.
JACA
 Jaca is a small town located in the Aragon valley, in Huesca province, North East Spain. It's situated right in the centre of the Pyrenees mountain range, beside the French border.More and more people visit the town every year; it has become a top tourist destination. Visitors are attracted by its beautiful natural setting, architecture and history.Jaca is surrounded by some of the most beautiful valleys in the Pyrenees. Historically and artistically, it is an area of great importance, not just in Aragon, but also in Spain.
Jaca is a prime example of a traditional mountainous town that has adapted successfully to the 21st century. Rapid economic progress and the abandonment of traditional economies have left some mountainous areas struggling. Jaca has survived mainly through tourism. This came about quite naturally; Jaca has numerous attractions that make people want to go there.
Firstly, it is set in a privileged position. It's located in a depression, surrounded by the stunning valleys that follow the course of the Aragon River.
The surrounding scenery is one of Jaca's biggest assets. The variety of land and skyscape is immense and it changes quite considerably, depending on the season. This is a major attraction for the visitor.
Jaca is also an ideal mountain sports location. Visitors come here to go skiing and snowboarding on the nearby slopes during the winter. In spring, summer and autumn, walking, trekking, and sightseeing are popular, both within Jaca and in the surrounding mountains.
Jaca is the point of entry for many visitors to the nearby slopes. The city itself has numerous hotels and restaurants and an up to date communications system. This is why most people choose to stay here for their holidays.
Not only does it have some of the most stunning surrounding landscapes in the region, it also has a beautiful town centre. In the 11th Century, Jaca became the first capital of Aragon. To this day, an artistic legacy remains from that era. It can be seen in some of the fabulous architecture, monuments and churches.
Around Jaca, in a radius of not more than 30 km, there is are a number of colourful towns that can be visited: Asieso, Caniás, Abay, Banaguás and Guasillo.
TERUEL
 Today with modern growing techniques the province is recuperating its agricultural business with a drive towards quality and the production of quality goods under the Denominación de Origen label. The olive oil of the Bajo Aragón, the peaches of the Calanda and, especially, the Jamon de Teruel are star products that not only sell well locally but also internationally due principally to the richness of flavour.
The southern Sierras Ibericas are home to the region’s principal tourist areas and here there is a thriving industry of rural tourism related to the highly successful ski industry.
These latter are well provided for by the ski stations of Valdelinares and Javalambre which are located in a region of immense beauty and are highly important in terms of natural interest. For any skier or for someone looking for spectacular country in which to walk and spread their mental wings, these areas are a must.
The capital city, Teruel, has some 33,000 inhabitants and is the administrative centre of the province. Its original medieval character, its collection of ancient and beautifully preserved mudejar monuments which are constructed from brick and almost fluorescent tiles are so well preserved that it has been declared as Patrimony of Humanity under UNESCO’S conservation programme.
In Teruel the visitor can get a vivid glimpse of the fusion between the Islamic heritage and Christian architecture. Essential for any visit is the cathedral and the San Martin’s Tower.
Alcañiz is the capital of the so-called Lower Aragón. In this area Semana Santa is celebrated with particular fervour and colour, perhaps owing its attraction to the festivals that the cinematic director Luis Buñuel made famous in several of his films.
This town forms part of the ‘Ruta del Tambor’ which also includes villages such as Albacete del Arxobispo, Alcorisa, Andorra, Calanda, Híjar, La Puebla de Híjar, Samper de Calanda and Urrea de Gaén.
The beautiful village of Albarracín , which is situated at the feet of the Sierras Ibéricas, is without doubt the most important tourist destination of the province.
This town is a classic example of a medieval town that has remained unchanged since the time of the Catholic Kings. Its stone roads and houses that are still constructed using ancient techniques offer perhaps the best example of medieval architecture in Spain, if nor Europe.
In Mora de Rubeilos there is also a very well preserved castle-collegiate set in its original medieval surroundings.
Other towns of interest include the small town of Maestrazgo, on the frontier and located in a severe mountainous region; this was the last holdout of the carlist rebels of the end of the 19th century, Valderrobres where the visitor can savour the charm of the streets and which is crowned by its fortress church, and Mirambel, a small locality that is a journey back in time and which has also been declared as Patrimony for Humanity by UNESCO.
Vegetables and fruit play an important role in the gastronomic expression of Teruel. These include vegetables that are grown locally including green beans and other vegetables that in the rest of Spain may be considered those grown mostly in winter.
Especially good are the stews that use lots of garlic and potatoes. Meat is the most important ingredient of Teruel cuisine. Pork is used frequently and there is very little of the animal that is not used in cooking. From the locally fed and grown pigs is obtained the unsurpassable Jamon de Teruel, the Terulean Ham. These are of such high quality that they are controlled under a Denominación de Origen system.
ALBARRACIN
 Albarracín, just 28 km from Teruel, is one of the least known and most breathtaking places in Spain. Visitors to this beautiful Spanish village will be amazed by the unspoilt beauty of Albarracin, set in one of Spain's national parks in the the Universale mountains at 3.400 feet and overlooking the Guadalivar River.
To visit Albarracín and walk around its steep narrow cobbled streets is to go back centuries in time. The higher you climb, the tighter the bundle of little pituresque houses gets, and when you arrive at the top and walk up to the castle, the view of the village and its surrounding is simply breathtaking.
Albarracín is every inch a museum. It has a castle of Arab origin, walls, Renaissance art in the parish church, the Episcopal Palace with a museum, large houses and palaces.Albarracín, recognized as a National Monument since 1961, is a city which captivates at first sight thanks to the zeal with which its traditional architecture has been preserved.The Albarracín Cultural Park, with examples of post-Paleolithic art from between 6,000 and 1,000 years BC provides evidence of the age of its settlements.
Identified as Celtiberian Lobetum, most remains are from the period of Roman domination: memorial tablets which appear at the base of the cathedral and the impressive 18-kilometre aqueduct which ran from Albarracín to Cella.
Strolling through steep small streets with Moorish roots, you can come across gems such as the main square. Here you will find the city hall: one of its wings opens out onto an impressive viewing point over the river Guadalaviar. The current cathedral of El Salvador, attached to the old Episcopal Palace, was built in the 16th century. The Diocesan Museum, located in the Palace, contains a valuable collection of Flemish tapestries.
The month of May is famous here. On the first day of May, the young men tour the city singing the 'mayos', a nocturnal parade extolling the virtues of spring and which has a great deal of social significance. Also famous are its forging workshops, which produce exquisite pieces of handicrafts.
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