In almost all the lists of the most beautiful villages in Spain, you will find the name of Aínsa. And if you do not see it, be suspicious. Because this Huesca villa attached to the Pyrenees is an authentic medieval jewel that, luckily, has survived to many things and is still there for you to go, see it and admire it.
How long Ainsa exists is a very interesting question which history is not in a position to answer at all. It would be necessary to separate the real from the legendary, but since that, it is very difficult, we are going to present everything to you so you can decide.
They say that around the year 724, only thirteen years after Tarik and his people entered Gibraltar with the intention of make a mess, the Christians that took refuge in these mountains set out to battle with a certain Garcí Ximenez in charge.
That figure of Garcí, who reminds us a little to the one of the King Arthur of Britain, could be a mixture of several historical and legend characters tarred with the same brush. Or it could be entirely real, who knows. The thing is that this fight was looking well for the Muslim army until, just like that, a burning cross appeared miraculously on a tree and renewed the strength of the Christians, who thanks to the rush were able to reconquer Aínsa from the Half Moon men and turn the situation around. Since the nineteenth century, a cross covered by a temple located very close to the town reminds us of that strange event.
All that, you can believe it or not, as you like, but in any case, the history of the locality is millenary. Its castle, for example, was built in the eleventh century, although it was renovated in the seventeenth century, and also from the same period is the Santa Maria Church, which is considered one of the great treasures of Aragonese Romanesque.
Also, you cannot miss the Mayor Square, its size gives an idea of the importance that the town must have had during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, and also the narrow streets and the walls with its gates. In a few words: you must walk everywhere, see everything and smell everything to fully experience the strong character of the place and its flavour, more medieval than the Cid’s sword.
In the mountains of Huesca, in the region of Sobrarbe, one of those gifted towns is waiting for you. Believe what we tell you, the trip to this place its well worth it.
