Routes through the Monasteries of Huesca
CWe begin our lovely journey in Villanueva de Sigena, where we start by visiting the female monastery Sigena, originally founded by Queen Doña Sancha the wife of King Alfonso II. The design of this impressive monastery comprises of the church, cloister and various other interesting buildings. The chapel housed various historic Roman friezes, Mudejar ( Spanish Muslims under Christian rule) ceilings and numerous paintings, more or less all where destroyed including the auditorium during the Civil War, although some of the ruined paintings have been conserved in the Art Museum of Cataluña and Barcelona.
Whilst on the road to the town of Huesca, we take a break in Sena, where we visit the numerous archaeological deposits and Sariñena, with its immense lake which has a large variety of bird species nesting there.

We continue our journey on the main road to the lovely town of Huesca, where we can visit the impressive Roman monastery of San Pedro el Viejo, which originates back from the year 1,117 and has been declared a national monument. Situated in what was originally a Mozárabe area ( Christians living in the Moorish part of Spain ),one of the oldest in Spain. The interior comprises of three buildings and has a cross with three apses as well as a collection of paintings conserved from the 13th century, a spectacular display of Gothic choir seating, sculptures of the "Timpano de Epifania", embossed scenes, and numerous sepulchres, such as the historic ones from Aragon`s King Alfonso I el Batallador and Ramiro II el Monge. As well there is the Gothic Cathedral, Provincial Museum, the San Miguel and Las Miguels churches, the Roman Santa Maria de Fuera church and the baroque style San Lorenzo church.

From Huesca we move on to Alquézar, a town in which the urban area has retained it's ancient medieval village ambience, with narrow, paved streets to explore. The spectacular Colegiata de Santa Maria de Alquézar stands out, raised up on a hill, the structure consists of the Torre Vigía , the old ruins from the original city walls, a large fortified tower and fragments of the original Roman church. Inside there are scenes from the San Juan de la Peña school, a large impressive altarpiece, a 13th century Roman Christ of great historical value, and a cloister which can be accessed through the lovely Museum of Sacred Art, whose origins where a combination of 11th century Islamic and Benedictine. In the surrounding areas you'll find the Vero river where you can visit one of the numerous caves full of ancient Bronze age paintings.

On the C-134 we pass by Santa Cruz de las Serós, which has the ruins of a 11th century female monastery conserved, and arrive at San Juan de la Peña, where we visit the unusual Roman monastery of the same name. Excavated into the rock the monastery consists of two floors, on the lower floor you'll find the Mozárabe church with an impressive display of Roman friezes and a Conciliates Lounge, the upper floor has a wonderful mausoleum of noblemen and church hierarchy .The surrounding area also has the Botaya, Alastuey and Binacua Roman churches to visit as well.

We take the c-134 again until the Puente de Reina where we take an interesting detour to Selva de Oza, where we stop and enjoy the magnificent scenery of countryside and mountains, passing through Hecho to Siresa where we visit the Roman San Pedro de Siresa monastery, with the preserved church, chamfered cord, blind arches and some original Gothic tables.