Camping in Zaragoza: the capital of the Ebro and its inland contrasts
The province of Zaragoza occupies the geographical centre of Aragon and, to a large extent, that of the Iberian Peninsula. Its position at the crossroads between Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia makes it an accessible and versatile destination, with an offer for outdoor tourism that goes far beyond the capital. Rivers, mountain ranges, steppes, wineries, monasteries and medieval villages make up a mosaic of contrasts that surprises those who venture beyond the motorway.
The city of Zaragoza deserves a stop of several days. The Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, of colossal dimensions on the banks of the Ebro, is the first visual landmark of the city. Next to it, the Aljafería Palace is one of the jewels of Islamic art on the Peninsula, and La Seo —the Cathedral of the Saviour— displays a mix of styles ranging from Mudéjar to Baroque. The El Tubo market area and its surroundings offer one of the liveliest tapas scenes in northern Spain, with the famous bars of Calle Estébanes and the streets around Plaza del Pilar.
South of the capital, the Monasterio de Piedra is one of the most unusual places in the province. The ruins of the old 12th-century Cistercian monastery are set within a natural park crossed by the Piedra river, which has carved waterfalls —the Cola de Caballo and the Lago del Espejo are the most photographed—, caves and natural pools into the limestone. It is a destination suitable for the whole family and compatible with a visit from a campsite in the Aranda district.
The Cinco Villas, in the north-west of the province, form a district of notable Romanesque heritage. Sos del Rey Católico —birthplace of Ferdinand the Catholic— is one of the best-preserved medieval ensembles in Aragon, alongside Uncastillo, with its imposing castle on a rock, and Ejea de los Caballeros, the district capital with Romanesque churches of great value. The Ebro and the Jalón trace river corridors suited to birdwatching, sport fishing and cycling routes along riverside tracks.
The Monegros, shared between Zaragoza and Huesca, are the great Iberian desert: a continental steppe of salt flats, juniper woods, endorheic lagoons and steppe wildlife —sandgrouse, little bustards, great bustards— that has no equal in western Europe. Far from being an inhospitable landscape, the Monegros have an arid, geological beauty that mesmerises those who travel slowly. As for the choice of campsites in the province, it is modest but well distributed, which allows you to explore it without having to concentrate on a single spot. The Cariñena DOC, the Campo de Borja and the Jalón produce internationally recognised wines, and the borage, roast ternasco lamb and fruit of the Bajo Aragón add a gastronomic note to every day outdoors in this land of contrasts.
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