Urrea de Gaén
Urrea de Gaén sits on the bank of the river Martín, half-way between the two county capitals, Albalate and Híjar.
In Urrea de Gaén the olive tree is cultivated for the production of the precious Olive Oil from Bajo Aragón. Moreover, there are crops of cereal, both irrigated and unirrigated, and of bagged Calanda peach.
Urrea de Gaén is known as the last Moorish aljama in Bajo Aragón and it preserves like no other town in the area its Muslim air, which is easily noticeable when we leisurely walk about its streets. Its main location is the Plaza de España, where the city hall, a simple baroque brick building with a restored guildhall, and the native home of Pedro Laín Entralgo are located.
The popular church of Saint Peter the Martyr is a case in point of the patronage undertaken by the Dukes of Híjar during the 18th century. This is a baroque classicistic temple designed by Agustín Sanz.
The chapels of el Calvario and Saint Barbara were erected on two small neighbouring hills, offering good views over the town and over the surrounding cultivated land, where reeds are hand picked and used for the manufacture of parts for musical instruments.
Urrea has been included as part of the Route of the Drum and Bass Drum in Bajo Aragón and, for that reason, Easter is celebrated with the solemn rumble of these musical instruments.
