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Huesca Travel Guide


Huesca Cathedral (Spain)
Coat of Arms of Huesca (Spain)

Huesca
 
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Coordinates: 42.1401°, -0.408897°

Population: 54,136 inhabitants (2023)
 
 

Huesca is located north of Aragon, in Spain. It celebrates its major festivals from August 9 to 15 in honour of Saint Lawrence, patron saint of the city.

It is located on the edge of the outer mountain ranges of the Pyrenees, crossed by the Isuela River and surrounded by the Flumen River. From the city, one can see the Guara mountain range, also known as “the gateway to the Pyrenees”.

Its economy is based mainly on tourism. In addition, the industrial sector and the agricultural sector are developed, with cereals grown around the city.

Its cultural heritage is concentrated mainly in the areas of the Old Town and surrounding places. The best time to travel to this beautiful city is from April to October. During these months, the region enjoys warm temperatures and little rainfall.

Gastronomy is one of the greatest prides of the residents of this city. A wide variety of typical dishes is available, using products such as lamb and cod. Wines, sausages and empanadas are also made, all in brilliant preparations that will not leave any palate dissatisfied.

In this city, visitors discover a place full of history, culture, tradition and flavour.

Top 10 places to visit in Huesca

Huesca Cathedral

Huesca Cathedral (Spain)
This cathedral was built between the end of the 13th century and the beginning of the 16th century in a Gothic style. It was originally dedicated to Jesus the Nazarene but is popularly known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary.

It is located in the highest area of the hill above the primary settlement of Huesca, next to the Town Hall, in the historic centre of the city.

The cathedral contains a temple in the shape of a Latin cross, three naves with four sections, side chapels and the transept.
 
At the main door is a pointed arch with four archivolts decorated with figures of virgins, angels, martyrs and prophets.

In the centre of the tympanum is a carving of the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus between two thuriferary angels. To the right are the Three Wise Men and to the left a representation of “Noli me tangere”. The complex is protected by large Renaissance-style wooden eaves.
 
 
Inside the temple, the main altarpiece is the work of Damián Formet. It is made of alabaster with three scenes showing the passion of Christ. Baroque paintings from the 17th century on the domes of the chapels of Holy Christ of Miracles and Saint Joachim as well as Saint Orencio and Saint Prudence also stand out.

Diocesan Museum

Catedral de Huesca, Museo Diocesano
This museum of sacred art depends on the Bishopric of Huesca and the Chapter of the Cathedral of Huesca.

It is located in the cathedral square, in the historic centre of the city. Part of the museum is located in the cathedral itself.

It has four rooms in which collections from the cathedral and different museums and parishes of the diocese of Huesca are distributed.
 
The museum was founded in 1945 by order of Lino Rodrigo to contain a collection of objects in the antechamber and chapter house and facilitate its dissemination, thus creating the “Treasure of the Cathedral”.

Its contents are distributed throughout four rooms, representing sacred art in different collections: goldsmithing, Gothic, Romanesque and Renaissance-Baroque. It also has a small archaeological collection and samples of medieval texts.

Huesca Circle

Huesca Casino 817
Also known as the Casino of Huesca, this was built at the beginning of the 20th century and was one of the most important works in the city of that time. The project was carried out by the architect Ildefonso Bonells in 1901. It has a Modernist architecture style along with urban aspects.

It was built to serve as a location for the Liberal Party while also housing the Huesca Circle, a social and recreational club. When it opened its rooms, it received its second name: “The Casino”.
 
For the people of Huesca, it has great symbolic value and has been enjoyed by successive generations. Currently, it is maintained by the Huesca Circle Foundation.

It has a large central body crowned by a pediment symmetrical to the axis of the main façade. It is topped by four octagonal towers with a castle-fortress presentation that reinforces the solidity of its construction.

Saint Michael's Bridge

Huesca - Puente de San Miguel y rio Isuela 1
Saint Michael's Bridge is located over the Isuela River, on the old road from Huesca to Sabiñánigo. It is the work of the civil engineer Gabriel Rebollo Canales.

It was built in 1912 and replaced the old bridge next to the Convent of the Carmelites Calzadas of Saint Michael and its church. Although it is small, the bridge is a work of careful engineering that stands out for being one of the first reinforced concrete works in the country. Its design combines functionality and novelty in a construction system with modernist ornamentation.
 
Its structure consists of a reinforced concrete section with two main beams that support its lower part to the deck and rests on abutments of hydraulic masonry and carved ashlar.

The reinforced concrete structure has simple geometric figures made with moulds and combined with Modernist black cast iron ornaments. At the entrance and exit of the bridge are four reinforced concrete streetlights on low walls on the bridge railing.

Royal Basilica of Saint Lawrence

Real Basílica de San Lorenzo (Huesca - Spain)
This Baroque temple was built between 1608 and 1703 on an old Romanesque temple. During the reign of James II of Aragon, it was expanded and transformed into the Gothic style.

Located in Saint Lawrence Square, the basilica is dedicated to the patron saint of the city, as it is believed his parents lived here.

The church has a hall floor that integrates three naves of the same height with side chapels.
 
The large dome covering the transept dates from 1723 and forms a set of semicircular openings with stained glass windows that dim the light, creating a solemn structure in the temple.

The bust of Saint Lawrence, made of silver in the 16th century, is preserved in the sacristy. Every August 10 he is taken with a company of dancers to the cathedral.
 
 
The brick façade on a stone plinth was designed in the 18th century by José Sofí. It is shaped like an inverted grill. In the central section corresponding to the access rises the tower corresponding to the old factory. In the entrance portico is a semicircular arch with a niche dedicated to Saint Lawrence.

This church has several titles: royal, parish, collegiate, basilica and aggregate.

Church of Saint Dominic and Saint Martin

Huesca - Iglesia de Santo Domingo y San Martin 02
This parish church comes from the convent of the Order of Preachers. It was the seat of the Dominicans before being destroyed. It underwent changes and modifications during the ensuing centuries, with only the conventual church remaining today.

The reconstruction project was carried out by Brother Antonio Falcón following the Jesuit model. It has a wide central nave and small side chapels between the buttresses. In the transept, which is the same width as the three naves, a powerful dome rises with Baroque-style mural paintings.
 
The vault of the central nave is decorated with tondos representing the invocations of the Virgin collected in the litanies.

Baroque decoration surrounds the walls and vaults with paintings, tiled plinths and stucco reliefs. The church has a high choir, located at the foot of the main nave. The galleries above the side chapels preserve their primitive carpentry.

The façade is built entirely with brick, with a central body where the stalls are located with a semicircular arch, a large window and a niche. The enormous portal built later distorts the Baroque ensemble of the façade.

Huesca Museum

Huesca Museum (Spain)
The museum has its origin in a collection of artwork from the monasteries and convents of High Aragon that were nationalized by the confiscation of Mendizábal in 1835.

With these works, other collections and the support of the artist Valentín Carderera, together with the Artistic and Archaeological Museum of Huesca, it was founded in 1873.

The museum has been state property since 1918, but its management was transferred to the Autonomous Community of Aragon.
 
This is located in University Square, north of the city, near the Town Hall and cathedral.

The construction consists of two buildings: the Baroque-style Sertoriana University of Huesca around an octagonal patio and the Palace of the Kings of Aragon, where the Throne Room, the Bell Room and the Petronila Queen's Room are located.

The museum currently has eight permanent exhibition rooms, with a linear route. In them, one can see the rooms of the Palace of the Kings with temporary exhibitions and other cultural and public activities. In addition, it has lockers, shops and rest areas.

 


The archaeological exhibition displays objects from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages as well as Roman, Iberian and ceramic pieces, in addition to the heritage of cave paintings visible in the territory of Huesca.

Town Hall

Town Hall (Huesca - Spain)
The Town Hall is the headquarters of the Huesca City Council. It is considered an Inventoried Asset of the Aragonese Cultural Heritage.

The seat of the Town Hall is made up of three different contiguous factories: the medieval council (the City Houses), Saint James College and a 21st-century extension.

Various actions in the 16th century gave rise to the current factory in the oldest part of the Town Hall.
 
In the 20th century, the space occupied by the Town Hall grew and was completed with a later extension inaugurated in 2002.

Congress Palace

Palacio de congresos huesca
This multipurpose building, designed by Pedro Lafuente and Rafael Beneytez, was inaugurated on July 3, 2008. It is located on Los Danzantes Avenue.

It is a sober rectangular prism with ceramic facades and black stained glass. In this way, it serves as the basis for the volume that rises above the stage at more than 20 meters high.

During the day, it is surrounded by a translucent “skin”, while at dusk, it is illuminated with LED lights.
 
Inside is the mural of The Golden City, measuring 300 square meters and painted on panels attached to the wall. It is the work of Teresa Ramón.

The building has an auditorium for conventions and events, two multipurpose rooms, a presentation room, a press room, a TV set, three seminars for work groups, terraces for cocktail service, cafes and free private parking.

La Confianza Grocery Store

Ultramarinos la confianza
This grocery store is located in López Allué Square and was opened in 1871 by the merchant Hilario Vallier. It is considered the oldest of its kind in Spain.

Initially, it was dedicated to merchandise and silk. Later, it expanded its sales to include imported products from overseas such as coffee, chocolates, liqueurs, aromatics and smoked foods.

It was later acquired by the Villacampa-San Vicente family, who currently run it.
 
The owner was awarded the Business Woman Award in 2011 and is considered by the international press as “the queen of grocery stores”.
 
 
The ceiling of the establishment was decorated by León Abadías y Santolaria in 1871 with an allegorical composition of international trade and products sold there.

In 2013, the building was declared a historical and cultural heritage of humanity.

How to get around Huesca

Once one has reached the city by train, bus, private transport or plane, it is ideal to move within it on foot, as the main monuments are fairly close together.

For travelling longer distances, the city has two types of buses: the city bus and the tourist bus. The latter offers the option of travelling, in addition to the urban centre, to the cities and towns of the province, with a total of seven routes from which to choose. This information is published at the Huesca International Station.

Another means of transportation is taxis. These are located at the Huesca Intermodal Station. The main stop is located in Navarra Square and its service is available 24 hours a day.

Accommodation in Huesca

Trips to this medieval city are usually made to enjoy the outdoors. That is why, in Huesca, accommodation is offered on the outskirts in the form of hotels and hostels designed for those who enjoy outdoor adventures and extreme sports.
 
 
Another good option is rural houses. Within 50 kilometres around the city, one can find sites that include excursions to Sierra de Ordesa y Monte Perdido Natural Park and Sierra y Cañones de Guara Natural Park.

Gastronomy in Huesca

As we have mentioned, the gastronomy in this beautiful medieval city is one of its great attractions. Visitors must try its exquisite dishes.

Empanadico

This is a sweet “empanada” traditionally made in the pastries of Aragon. It is prepared in homes as a dessert at Christmastime.

Among the fillings for this “empanada”, the most popular is perhaps pumpkin and raisins, although potatoes and pine nuts, sour apple or cheese, among others, also stand out.

“Empanadico” is not only a sweet dessert. It can have other types of fillings, such as potato, pork loin or bacon. In this case, it is accompanied by any meat dish in the form of a tapa.

Aragon Ternasco

Ternasco
“Ternasco” is the star in typical Huescan recipes. This lamb, which is only a few weeks old, has a characteristic flavour.

This dish stands out for the juiciness and tenderness of its meat, which is prepared in a wood-fired oven.

The only seasoning is potatoes, wine and the juice of the lamb itself.

This meat is also very appetizing in stews.

“Trenza” of Huesca

The city's most emblematic product uses a puff pastry base with sugar and butter filled with nuts and is twisted into a braid.

This sweet comes from Central Europe and entered Spain through Logroño. It became famous in Aragon.

Currently, more than 350,000 units are sold throughout Spain. A frozen version of this dessert, steeped in history, is sold in supermarkets nationwide, but the exquisiteness of the product made in Huesca is incomparable.

 

Huesca “Bell”

This city with a pastry tradition reproduces old recipes, passed from generation to generation and innovating with new flavours, shapes and techniques. Among the best-known desserts is the Huesca Bell, a crunchy almond paste.

Its name stems from the Huesca Bell, where legend has it that Ramiro II beheaded 12 rebellious nobles for suppressing a revolt when his reign began.

Since 1880, it has been made using the original recipe with artisanal methods.

Other information of interest

Coins minted locally when the Iberians dominated Bolskam have been found in the city.

Currently, the wall remains standing from Joaquín Costa Street to the bullring. It was built by Muslims to protect the city from attacks by Christians from the north. The wall is 2 kilometres in length, with 99 towers and seven entrance gates. It is recognized as an Asset of Cultural Interest.

The ambient temperature in Huesca can be very changeable, with a warm climate. For rain lovers, it is the ideal place as there is abundant rainfall.

Huesca-Pirineos Airport has been declared an airport of general interest. Nearby is Zaragoza Airport, with direct train lines and a bus to the city.

An outdoor walk should include Miguel Cervet Park with the beautiful Las Pajaritas monument, a symbol of the city since 1929. Here, one can take a break from the noise of the city by enjoying a children's play area, leafy trees, ponds, monuments and sculptures.
 


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