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Calatayud
—  Municipality  —
Flag Coat of arms
Calatayud Location in Spain
Coordinates: 41°21′0″N 1°38′0″W / 41.35°N 1.633333°W / 41.35; -1.633333Coordinates: 41°21′0″N 1°38′0″W / 41.35°N 1.633333°W / 41.35; -1.633333
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Aragón
Province	Zaragoza
Comarca	Comunidad de Calatayud
Judicial district	Calatayud
Government
- Alcalde	Víctor Ruiz de Diego (PSOE)
Area
- Total	154 km2 (59.5 sq mi)
Elevation	530 m (1,739 ft)
Population (2008)
- Total	21,905
- Density	142.2/km2 (368.4/sq mi)
- Demonym	Bilbilitano, na
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	50300
Official language(s)
Website	Official website

Calatayud (2008 pop. 21,905)^[1] is a city and municipality in the province of Zaragoza in Aragón, Spain lying on the river Jalón, in the midst of the Sistema Ibérico mountain range. It is the second-largest city in the province after the capital, Zaragoza, and the largest town in Aragón other than the three provincial capitals. It is the seat of the comarca of Comunidad de Calatayud.

The city has the title "Muy noble, leal, siempre augusta y fidelisima ciudad de Calatayud".^[2] Calatayud became the first democratic municipality in 1977, because elections were held one day before all the rest of Spain, to prepare for a visit by King Juan Carlos I. The AVE high-speed train line from Madrid to Barcelona stops in Calatayud.^[3]

Contents 1 History 2 Attractions 3 Fiestas 4 See also 5 Notes 6 External links

History

The city was founded on the site of a Celt-Iberian settlement^[4] by the Romans with the name Augusta Bilbilis and was the birthplace of the poet Martial in 40 CE.^[5] The site of the ruins of Augusta Bilbilis are approximately four kilometers to the north of the modern city of Calatayud.^[6] The modern town was founded by the Moors around the Ayyub castle, circa 716 CE.^[7]

The name Calatayud came from the Arabic Qal`at 'Ayyūb = "Ayyub's fort". The ancient inhabitants of Bilbilis moved to the new site. Occupying a strategic placement between the central meseta of Spain and the Ebro valley the city retained its importance in succeeding centuries. By the eleventh century a substantial Jewish community was present, surviving the reconquista until the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492.^[8] The city was re-conquered for by Alfonso I of Aragón in 1119. Many surviving examples of mudéjar church architecture show that the Moorish influence lived on.^[9]

The city was the capital of its own province^[10] in 1822–23, during the Trieno Liberal. During the Peninsular Wars a notable siege of French occupied Calatayud led to its capture by guerillas in 1811.^[11]

Attractions

One of the most notable Mudéjar towers of Aragón is the 15th century bell tower of the collegiate church of Santa María, which was built on the site of a mosque.^[12] The Muslim fortress is the biggest and oldest of the Muslim fortresses of the Iberian peninsula. The church of "San Pedro" was founded by Ferdinand II of Aragón ("Fernando el catolico") and it was there that the first Cortes (Parliament) of Aragon was held in 1411.^[13]

Fiestas

• Easter
• Pilgrimage (romerio) in honour of el Cristo de Ribota, May 1
• Saint Íñigo's Day, June 1
• Saint Roch's Day, August 14–16
• Virgen de la Peña, September 8–12

See also

• Calatayud (DO)
• Mudéjar
• Comunidad de Calatayud

Notes

External links

• City website
• Local wines
• Calatayud travel guide from Wikitravel

From Wikitravel

Calatayud is a city in the province of Zaragoza, in Aragon, Spain. It is located 85 km from Zaragoza and approximately 230km from Madrid. It is the fourth largest city of Aragon, after the provinincial capitals, Zaragoza, Teruel and Huesca. The population is around 18,000 and Calatayud is at an altitude of 530 metres on the river Jalon.

The city has a wide range of shops, bars, restuarants and accomodation. The mudejar towers of churches in the old city heart or casco are renowned. Dominating the skyline is a castle, parts of which date back to 850 AD. The Roman town, Bilbilis, lies four kilomteres from the modern town.

Get in

Road

Calatayud lies just off the main highway (A2-E90) between Madrid (2 hours) and Zaragoza (1 hour).

Air

The nearest airports are Madrid (Barajas) and Zaragoza.

Rail

Calatyud is served by regular high speed trains (AVE) from Madrid and Zaragoza.[1]

Get around

The city is quite small and it is possible to walk to all parts.

Bus

There is a city bus service operated by Aragon Tours, who also offer services to surrounding towns and villages. [2]

Rail

RENFE offer a local rail service to towns between Ariza and Zaragoza. [3]

Many of the old churches are in the mujedar style. This style was devloped by Muslim craftsmen who stayed in Aragaon after the reconquest.

• Church of Santa Maria, 15th century mujedar.
• Church of San Andres, 15th century mujedar.
• Church of San Pedro of the Franks, gothic and mujedar.
• Church-of Our Lady of the Rock, 16th century.
• Collegiate church of Santo Sepulcro, 17th century.
• Palacios of Sesé, Pujadas and Vezlope, renaissance style
• Palacio of Baron de Warsage, neoclassic.
• In the Arab Wall of the city, the Zaragoza gate.
• Castle of Ayud or Castillo Mayor. 9th-10th century.
• Old town hall. Plaza de Espana. The Old Consistorial House of Calatayud is a beautiful building of Renaissance style. It was modified in the 17th century, again in 1842.
• Old Roman city of Bilbilis lies 4 kilometers to the north west of the modern city. Much excavation has been down and it is possible to see the size of this settlement which was the birthplace of the Roman poet Martial.

Buy

There is a small market in Plaza Espana, several supermarkets and a range of other shops.

Eat

A wide range of restuarants are available. Amongst the most notable are:

• Hospedería El Pilar, Baltasar Gracián 15, ☎ 976 897020. Aragonese regional cuisine  edit
• Hotel Monasterio Benedictino, Pza. San Benito, ☎ 976 891500. Spanish cuisine  edit
• Mesón de la Dolores, Pza de los Mesones 4, ☎ 976 889055, [4]. Aragonese cuisine  edit

Sleep

A wide range of pensions are available:

• Hospedería Mesón de La Dolores, Plaza de los Mesones #4, ☎ 976 889 055, [5]. recepcion@mesonladolores.com  edit
• Hotel Monasterio Benedictino, Plaza San Benito, ☎ 976 89 15 00, [6]. info@hotelmonasteriobenedictino.com  edit

• Tourist Office, Plaza de Fuerte, ☎ 976 886322, [7].  edit

• Monasterio de Piedra. A park in a hidden gorge with waterfalls, cascades, fish lakes and a top class hotel, wine museum and restaurant.[8]
• Alhama de Aragon. A spa town with a hot lake, which is open for day visitors.[9]
• Jaraba Gorge. 7 kilometres of the natural gorge of the river Mesa, with pleasant walking routes.

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