Sádaba: Castle, Gothic Architecture and Roman Heritage

Sádaba showcases buildings from several eras: a 13th-century castle, the Gothic Church of Santa María and the Roman Mausoleum of the Atilii. Its architecture ranges from crenellated towers to a façade articulated with sections of a funerary monument. When planning your visit, it is important to consider the specific visiting arrangements as well as these differences.

Sádaba Castle: Towers, Cistern and Visiting Hours

Sádaba Castle dates from the 13th century and shows a clear Cistercian influence. It has seven crenellated towers. Inside are a courtyard with a large cistern and a chapel with a simple ribbed vault. The courtyard, cistern and chapel give the building distinct architectural features.

In July and August, visits are possible Wednesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 13:30 and from 17:00 to 19:30. During the rest of the year, visits must be arranged with the tourist office. Check the visiting hours before setting out so that you can plan your visit in accordance with the current arrangements.

Santa María: Aragonese Gothic Architecture and Interior Features

The Church of Santa María is considered one of the finest examples of Aragonese Gothic architecture. Its features include a single-nave layout, chapels between the buttresses, a polygonal apse and a star-ribbed vault. These elements describe both the layout of the church interior and its architectural form.

Inside are a main altarpiece attributed to Juan de Anchieta, wooden choir stalls and a Rococo organ dating from 1768. This allows the building itself and its specific furnishings to be considered separately: on the one hand, the floor plan, apse and vault; on the other, the altarpiece, choir stalls and organ.

The Mausoleum of the Atilii: A Roman Funerary Monument

About two kilometres from Sádaba, on the road to Uncastillo, lies the Mausoleum of the Atilii. The Roman funerary monument dates from the 2nd century and is also known as Altar de los Moros. It combines the functions of a tomb and a temple. Inscriptions link it to the Atilia family and name Atilia Festa as its benefactor.

The surviving façade has five round arches, separated by pilasters decorated with plant reliefs. Its front can thus be described by its repeated arches and ornamented dividing piers. The inscriptions supplement these architectural features with the recorded connection to the Atilia family.

Puylampa: Romanesque Church and Pilgrim History

The Church of Puylampa, also known as Puilampa, lies about three kilometres southeast of Sádaba. It is the only surviving part of a medieval monastery and a Romanesque building consecrated in 1191. Historically, it belonged to an Augustinian institution that served as a pilgrims’ hospital and was directly connected to the Way of St James. Its present-day architectural classification and its historical role in pilgrimage are two distinct aspects of the building.

The easiest and best-signposted access starts on the road to Pinsoro (CHE-1506). After the first petrol station, turn left onto a paved road, then continue along a well-used track to a private pardina, where signs point to the church. Before visiting, check the current access arrangements, particularly with regard to the private pardina.

Discover more destinations: Encinacorba, Lituénigo, Sobradiel, Novallas, Pozuelo de Aragón, La Almunia De Doña Godina, Quinto, Almonacid de la Sierra

For the wider travel overview: Zaragoza.