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Alcañiz
«Alcañiz tiene un circuito de velocidad para motos.»Alcañiz has a speed circuit for motorcycles.
Alcañiz is the main centre of the Bajo Aragón, on the banks of the Guadalope, in an area covered with olive groves. It was the Aragonese seat of the Order of Calatrava, which built the castle there, and in its Gothic centre, the merchants' lodge and the Renaissance town hall stand side by side.
Did you know
The Grand Prix runs nearby.
The MotorLand Aragón circuit hosts the Aragon Grand Prix of the MotoGP world championship every year.
How they talk in Alcañiz
«Bajo Aragón» is the strongest territorial identity and appears continuously in products, newspapers and associations. «Alcañizano» is the local demonym.
charrar
To speak; to chat. Used in Aragonese speech to converse or talk, also in derivatives like «charrada».
Everyday life in Alcañiz
The «Motorland» circuit
The racetrack two kilometres from the centre brings international races here and teams that test all year round: on race days the hotels in the area fill up as far as Zaragoza.
The «Tambor» of Good Friday
In the Semana Santa of the Bajo Aragón, the drum is played for entire days, thousands of people together, until their hands are raw. The noise never stops, not even at night.
«El tambor no para en toda la noche.» — The drum does not stop all night.
The «Ruta del Tambor» of the nine towns
Alcañiz is part of a circuit of towns that share the same drum ritual: those who live here go from one to another in Holy Week, and recognise the different rhythms.
What to eat in Alcañiz
Migas aragonesas
Bread crumbled and sautéed with garlic, grapes and chorizo, until it comes apart in grains.
Pollo al chilindrón
Chicken cooked slowly in a sauce of tomato, red peppers and ham.
Ternasco de Aragón
Young lamb in the oven, with salt and lard.
Festivals in Alcañiz
Romería de los Pueyos
the second Sunday of May
You climb to the sanctuary above the town and spend the day up there, with the Virgen de los Pueyos and the feast on the grass.
Fiestas Patronales
the beginning of September
Giants and peñas fill the medieval centre, and the Virgen de los Pueyos comes down from her sanctuary.
What to see in Alcañiz
Castillo Calatravo
The castle of the Order of Calatrava, with 14th-century Gothic frescoes in the tower.
Lonja y Ayuntamiento
The Gothic merchants' loggia and the Renaissance town hall, one next to the other on the square.
Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor
The Baroque collegiate church, with the Gothic tower remaining from the previous one.
Where Alcañiz comes from
The castle of the knights of Calatrava
Iberian era
The oppidum
Settlement on the hill that dominates the Guadalope.
1157
Calatrava
Ramón Berenguer IV gives it to the Order of Calatrava, which makes it its headquarters in Aragon.
15th century
The Lonja
The merchants' loggia and the Gothic town hall are built on the square.
2009 → today
The circuit
Motorland brings the world championships of motorbikes and cars here.
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