Sos del Rey Catolico information
Sos del Rey Católico lies in the historic region of Cinco Villas, birthplace of Fernando I, king of Aragón and who would later be known as Fernando el Católico. In the foothills of the Sierra de la Peña mountains, and standing on a spur, is this town in the Zaragoza region. Its strategic position makes it a natural fortress and it was one of the most significant fortified sites in the region during the 10th and 11th centuries. There are still some tower-gates standing, such as those of Jaca, Nador, Zaragoza or Uncastillo.
Outstanding and emblematic structures in town, dominated by popular stone architecture, include the Palace of Sada, the City Hall or the medieval exchange. Other Renaissance palaces complete the urban layout inside the city. Also worth a visit is the church of San Esteban, whose crypt preserves wonderful Romanesque frescoes. Striking too is the collection of overseas pieces contained in the monastery of Valentuñana, brought by Augustinian missionaries.
In the northern part of Sos stands the castle built by Ramiro II in the 12th century. Prominent on its irregular plan is the Keep, a point from which the peaks of the Pyrenees can be seen, both those in Huesca and those in Navarre.
Source: Web server of Instituto de Turismo de España, TURESPAÑA.
Zaragoza guide