Ainsa, village of Legend

The castle of Ainsa, located at the western end of the historic center, is an imposing fortress whose oldest part is the keep, built in the eleventh century on Arab defensive structures. It was surrounded by a walled enclosure with towers at its corners, which offered shelter to the population in case of threat. Over time, the castle was transformed. Its current appearance responds to the fortification policy promoted by Philip II in the 17th century, following the defensive criteria applied in the Citadel of Jaca. For its enlargement, about seventy houses were demolished. Inside, the walls are reinforced with Romanesque style semicircular arches. The only gate connects directly to the Plaza Mayor, formerly preceded by a moat with a drawbridge. Today, the castle houses the Eco-museum, the Tourist Office, the Geopark Center and hosts events such as the Music Festival and the Sobrarbe Expo-Fair.

The Plaza Mayor of Ainsa, built between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, is one of the best preserved medieval ensembles in Spain. Trapezoidal in plan, narrower to the east, it preserves remains of the first wall, the Portal Alto, the Town Hall building and its characteristic side arcades, composed of semicircular and pointed arches, all different. Below them are two old communal wine presses. It was traditionally the scene of fairs and markets, and today the "Ferieta de Aínsa" is held in February and the "Expo-feria" of Sobrarbe in September. From the square there are two main streets: Calle Mayor, also called Gonzalo I, where there are notable houses such as Arnal or Bielsa, and Calle Pequeña or Santa Cruz, with more humble buildings and the church of Santa María. Both streets meet at the Plaza de San Salvador, where the remains of the 11th century church and the Latorre house, home to the Museum of Traditional Trades, are preserved.

The Miguel Marcos Contemporary Art Documentary Fund is a joint project between the Aínsa-Sobrarbe City Council and the Miguel Marcos Gallery in Barcelona. As a result of years of work on research, dissemination and promotion of contemporary art, the gallery gathered a valuable bibliographic collection that its director wished to preserve in Aragon. In 2013, a series of circumstances led to Aínsa being the town chosen to guard and preserve this collection. Located in the historic center, the collection aims to conserve, disseminate and make available to society a carefully selected bibliography on international contemporary art. It is aimed at both professionals and the general public. In 2019, an exhibition room was added, installed in a 1936 building in the old town. Today it offers indoor and outdoor spaces that allow the development of cultural, educational and social work linked to contemporary art.

Located about 1.5 km from the castle, the Cruz Cubierta (Covered Cross) is a small circular temple built in 1655. Inside, on a stone altar, there is a holm oak crowned by a cross, a symbol that commemorates the legendary reconquest of Aínsa. According to popular tradition, this was the exact place where, in the year 724, the battle between Muslim and Christian troops was fought. The legend known as "La Morisma" tells that, in the middle of the fight, a luminous cross appeared on a holm oak that encouraged the Christians to win and recover the city. This tradition is deeply rooted in the population. In the seventeenth century there are documents that reflect the support of the Crown to its representation, which at that time was staged in two acts: one in the Covered Cross and another in the Plaza Mayor. Nowadays, the performance takes place every two years, in the Plaza Mayor, with more than three hundred neighbors of Aínsa and the region as main actors.

From this spectacular viewpoint you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the Cinca River valley, the majestic Aragonese Pyrenees and the medieval old town of Ainsa, perfectly integrated into the landscape. It is an ideal place for contemplation and photography, especially at sunrise or sunset. From this point you can also start two hiking routes adapted to different levels:- Short route (Eco): a circular route of 1.5 kilometers, with a gentle slope of 33 meters, ideal for families or for those looking for a quiet walk. The complete route can be completed in about 30 minutes.- Long route (Covered Cross): a 4-kilometer route with a 115-meter slope, which allows you to discover natural and cultural environments, such as the hermitage of the Covered Cross. The estimated time to complete it is 1 hour and 30 minutes. Both routes are signposted and accessible from this point.