El Club · Sos del Rey Católico

Roita Castle (also known as Rueyta or Ruyta) is a ruined medieval fortress located at the top of the Barranco de la Rinconera, at an elevation of 920 meters above sea level, in the municipality of Sos del Rey Católico, in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon. It has a trapezoidal floor plan, with the longest side measuring approximately 25 meters, and retains two towers at opposite corners that flank a small parade ground. The eastern tower, with a square floor plan measuring 6 meters on each side, is better preserved and features arrowslits and a rectangular window; the western tower retains only three walls. The north- and east-facing walls are constructed of rubble masonry with a rounded corner, while the other two sides were built of ashlar, of which few remains are left. The site overlooks a commanding territory on the historic border between Aragon and Navarre, near Petilla de Aragón, and allows for surveillance of the Onsella River valley, Sos, and the Baztanes. Its origins date back to a Muslim fortress called Charat-Kachtilla, conquered by Sancho Garcés I of Navarre in 911 and later rebuilt during the reign of Sancho III the Great on top of that structure. The castle was given by the monarch to his wife Gisberga, who changed her name to Ermisenda. It is currently in a state of progressive ruin and was added to Hispania Nostra’s Red List of Heritage Sites in 2018 due to the risk of one of its towers collapsing. It is listed as a Site of Cultural Interest (Monument) pursuant to a 2006 resolution. Its archaeological and scenic value provides insight into medieval frontier defensive architecture and territorial control between Aragon and Navarre. The best time to visit is on clear days in spring or fall, when visibility of the valley is optimal and trail conditions are most favorable.

The Church of San Esteban de Sos del Rey Católico is a parish church located in the historic center of Sos del Rey Católico, in the province of Zaragoza, Aragón, within a medieval urban complex protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest. The building is associated with the Romanesque tradition of the Cinco Villas, although it also presents later reforms and additions that enrich its historical reading. Due to its construction characteristics, the church is generally dated to the Middle Ages, with a Romanesque main structure and later elements from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Among the documented features are its interior Romanesque structure, the Baroque altarpieces and the organ, as well as the north door and the atrium, recently restored. Its crypt stands out for its marvelous Gothic mural paintings from the 14th century and two magnificent capitals attributed to Master Esteban. Its heritage value lies both in its architecture and in the role it plays within the monumental ensemble of Sos del Rey Católico, a historic town closely linked to the kingdom of Aragon and the preservation of its medieval fabric. The church is part of the monumental tour of the town and is one of its most representative religious buildings.

Museo La Vaquilla is a small museum dedicated to the cinematic history of Sos del Rey Católico. The exhibition space is dedicated to the film *La Vaquilla*, directed by Luis García Berlanga, which was shot in Sos del Rey Católico in 1984 and released in 1985. The exhibition is located in the Palacio de Sada, with a separate entrance from the Fernando el Católico Interpretation Center, and features graphic and audiovisual material about the filming and its impact on the town. It is a contemporary museum resource integrated into a historic building in the town center. Its heritage value is primarily ethnographic and audiovisual, as it documents a well-known cultural episode in the recent history of Sos del Rey Católico.

The Palacio de Sada is a palace or stately home located in Sos del Rey Católico, Zaragoza, on the town’s highest hill, across from the parish church of San Esteban and next to the ancient castrum. It is also identified as the birthplace of Ferdinand II of Aragon, known as Ferdinand the Catholic, who was born here in 1452. Its origins date back to the early 13th century, although the building was expanded through successive additions until its current layout was completed in the late 16th century. It was also renovated in the 16th and 17th centuries, built upon the ruins of the old castle, which explains its hybrid character—a blend of a noble residence and defensive architecture. From an architectural standpoint, it features a sober, rectangular façade, dominated by horizontal lines and small vertical projections at the ends resembling turrets. The presence of battlements and its location on the rock reinforce its image as a fortress, and the Sada family coat of arms is featured on the main entrance. It currently houses the Ferdinand the Catholic Interpretation Center and the Sos del Rey Católico Tourist Office. The building is listed as a Site of Cultural Interest (Monument), which underscores its historical and heritage significance within the town’s monumental complex.

The Añués Tower is a medieval fortification of Romanesque origin, located in the municipality of Sos del Rey Católico, next to the Bardenas Canal and in the shadow of Mount Chaparral. Structurally, it consists of a square ashlar tower, approximately 4 meters on each side, with a crenellated top and arrowslits on its sides. Inside, a spiral staircase still provides access to the terrace. Attached to the tower is the Romanesque church with a semicircular apse and a rectangular nave (18 x 6 meters), currently without a roof but with the bases of the pointed barrel vault reinforced by three transverse arches. Next to the main structure stands a large house from a later period. From the viewing point, one can see a prominent medieval border watchtower, strategically located to monitor neighboring Navarre. The tower sits on a small elevation in the terrain, which underscores its defensive function. The natural surroundings of Valdonsella, with its landscape marking the transition between Aragon and Navarre, add historical significance to the site, which has been linked to the monastery of San Salvador de Leyre since the 9th century. The Tower of Añués is one of the least known and most mysterious sites on the border between Navarre and Aragon, documented as far back as 880. It was owned by the Castle of Leyre following a donation by King García Íñiguez and later by the Añués family until the Confiscation of Church Property. In 1840, it was acquired by the Bonafonte family, who still own it today. The best time to visit is during spring or fall, when trail conditions are most favorable and natural light highlights the tower’s stonework.