As well as the traditional Christmas markets and the lights announcing the arrival of this special season, the autonomous region of Aragon and its capital, Zaragoza, offer plenty of activities for you to enjoy at Christmas as a couple, with friends or as a family.
Put the date in your calendar: Christmas in Zaragoza officially begins on 2 December, when, at 6pm, the lights are switched on, signaling for the festivities to begin. For over a month (until 8 January), the city on the river Ebro will be dressed in all its finery to celebrate this magical time of year, and its streets will be bright and colourful, full of events and activities.
Traditional Christmas events in Zaragoza
The Christmas lights
One of the city’s distinguishing features at this time of year is of course its Christmas lights, which shine particularly brightly in different parts of the city: a spectacular blanket of stars will greet you in the bustling Paseo de la Independencia, the Northern Lights await you in the Plaza de San Felipe and you can stroll along the shopping street of Calle Alfonso beneath a canopy of lights as you make your way to the Plaza del Pilar.
The Nativity Scene
Here you’ll find some of the most charming and appealing scenes and activities of these festivities. Coinciding with the switching on of the lights, which will officially take place here, the popular and traditional Belén de Judea will also be declared open. This nativity scene receives hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
Covering an area of more than 1,000m2, and with its unique backdrop of the basílica del Pilar, this beautiful nativity scene is the largest in Spain (with life-size figures). It recreates some of the most iconic religious scenes (such as the Gate of Bethlehem, Herod’s Palace and the Souq), but also depicts some of Aragon’s traditional trades, amounting to more than a hundred life-size figures in total.
You can visit the nativity scene on your own or take a guided tour, which starts inside the basilica and explains the origins of the nativity scene tradition, and including a delicious tasting.
Zaragoza Christmas market and activities in the Plaza del Pilar
Also in the Plaza del Pilar, you can visit the Muestra Navideña, a colourful and lively market not only offering such delicious and festive products as roast potatoes, churros and crêpes, but also running numerous workshops that are free to attend (such as decorating biscuits or making Christmas decorations). You can also listen live to carol singing from different parts of the world or shop for Christmas gifts in some of the shops dotted around the square. There’s lots of fun for the little ones too, with puppet shows, street musicians and circus acts.
Still looking for more? Well, as in previous years, the Plaza del Pilar will also have a large indoor skating rink, a wishing tree where everyone can make their dreams come true and you can have heaps of fun going down a run on an inflatable toboggan! On 31 December, the square will also host the massively popular New Year’s Eve Party, from before the bells ring in the New Year until well into the early hours.
A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN ARAGON
At just over 200m above sea level, Zaragoza doesn’t often see snow (although some years a “miracle” does happen), but that’s not to say we can’t enjoy a “White Christmas” in Aragon. Luckily, the autonomous region has plenty of places where you can enjoy the snow, either practising one of the more traditional winter sports (downhill or cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing) or enjoying more unusual and alternative activities.
Skiing in Aragon
Aragon is a true paradise for winter sport lovers, as not only does it have six quality alpine ski resorts (Candanchú, Astún, Cerner and Formigal-Panticosa in the Huesca Pyrenees, and Valdelinares and Javalambre in the province of Teruel), but it also boasts numerous areas where you can go cross-country skiing, such as Llanos del Hospital (Benasque), Valle de Pineta or la Muela de San Juan (Sierra de Albarracín), to name a few.
Other mountain activities
But those aren’t the only ways of enjoying the snow in Aragon: in areas such as the Tena Valley, between the resorts of Formigal and Panticosa, you can go on excursions and guided rides on snow quad bikes, a thrill-packed activity which also allows you to explore some of the region’s most stunning scenery, out in the wilds.
There are also more relaxing options, for example a hiking route on snowshoes, through areas that can be seen from El Portalet, on the border with France, or the ibón (small mountain lake) of Piedrafita de Jaca.
Food lovers can opt for a mountainside dinner, as offered at the restaurant El Bosque, in a lodge at an altitude of over 2,000m, right in the resort of Cerler, and where you can savour some delicious local dishes from the Benasque Valley (including traditional desserts).
CHARMING ESCAPES
Another good way of spending your Christmas break in Aragon is to get out and about in the region and discover some of its most beautiful and picturesque spots, with all three provinces offering places steeped in charm.
The prettiest towns around Zaragoza
In the province of Zaragoza, it’s worth visiting the wonderful town of Daroca, just 74km from the capital and boasting an enviable heritage: its imposing city walls once had 110 towers and still hide gems such as the Puerta Baja (lower gate), considered one of the finest in Spain. Another of the town’s treasures is the colegiata de Santa María, a magnificent church with a combination of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles.
Another jewel is Sos del Rey Católico, a medieval town in the area of Cinco Villas. An hour and a half from the capital, it’s named after the Catholic King Ferdinand II of Aragon, who was born here, in the Sada Palace. Strolling through its maze of streets, you’ll encounter wonders such as the church of San Esteban, the Town Hall or the castle of la Peña Feliciana. It’s considered one of the Prettiest towns in Spain, and the beauty of its streets charmed the Spanish film director Berlanga, who shot one of his most memorable films here, La vaquilla (The Heifer).
In the province of Huesca, but only an hour and a half from Zaragoza, you’ll find the medieval town of Alquézar, a lovely place in the area of Somontano, whose charming houses huddle together at the foot of a hill, as if protecting themselves from the cold coming in from the peaks of the Pyrenees. As well as the castle and the beautiful collegiate church, the natural surroundings are stunning, with one of the highlights being the gorges of the river Vero.
Also in Huesca, although more to the west, you’ll find the magnificent city of Jaca. There are at least two must-sees here: firstly, the cathedral of San Pedro, a gem from the Spanish Romanesque period and a milestone on the Camino de Santiago, and secondly, none other than the ancient fortress known as the Ciudadela (citadel), built on the orders of Philip II himself.
Now in the province of Teruel, two towns rival each other in terms of beauty and individuality. The first is Albarracín, a majestic town with steep cobbled streets, reddish houses with a medieval air, a stunning city wall and sights such as the cathedral, the church of Santiago y Santa María and the casa-museo de los Pérez y Toyuela, the former home of these noble families and now a museum.
And just as beautiful is the quaint town of Valderrobres, in the area of Matarraña. As well as being one of the Prettiest Towns in Spain, this town in the province of Teruel is renowned for its wonderful medieval castle, its steep narrow streets and a beautiful stone bridge, the San Roque bridge, which leads you into the old town, one of the most charming in the whole of Aragon.
For more information: Christmas in Zaragoza
