Discover Utebo: Architecture, Festivals and Paths along the Ebro River

In Utebo, the tower of the parish church of Santa María de Utebo is known as the Torre de los Espejos because the light is reflected in the 8,000 ceramic tiles covering it.

Culture and History

A ceramic inscription on the Torre de la iglesia de Santa María names Alonso de Leznes as the tower’s master builder and records its completion in 1544. The parish church has a three-bay nave beneath a ribbed vault, as well as Late Gothic chapels between the buttresses; the Iglesia de Santa María is protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural, BIC).

Utebo has various buildings from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. They are made of traditionally used bricks covered with plaster and combine a material tradition interpreted as Islamic with Western artistic styles to create a distinctive architecture of the Aragonese Renaissance. Notable manor houses include large buildings on Callejuela and Calle del Hospital; they date from the 16th and 17th centuries.

The Centro Cultural Mariano Mesonada – Museo Orús is located on Plaza de España in the heart of Utebo’s old town. Since 2003, the Museo Orús has housed a permanent collection of paintings by the Aragonese artist José Orús. The Centro Cultural El Molino stands on the remains of Utebo’s old mill, which was initially used to produce flour and, in the 20th century, additionally to generate hydroelectric power via the nearby Acequia de La Almozara. The remains of the old mill have been incorporated into a public square used for outdoor cultural activities.

Nature and Paths

The Camino Natural de Utebo is 6.5 kilometres long, easy to walk and level, and runs along paved or unpaved paths; a short detour to the Soto is optional. It can be used on foot, by bicycle, on horseback or with another environmentally friendly means of transport. The route includes a station explaining the dynamics of the Ebro River, access to a Soto, a landing stage and a viewpoint with information about river fauna. The length, path conditions and means of transport can be considered separately for planning purposes.

Festivals Throughout the Year

The San Juan celebrations take place in the Malpica district on 24 June. They include the distribution of sangría and rosquillas, a tortilla de patata competition and popular ranchos. Every year on 19 June, Utebo holds the traditional San Lamberto festival.

The annual main festival of Santa Ana takes place on 26 July and includes competitions for floats and groups. Since 2016, the Feria Mudéjar has been recognised in Aragón as a festival of tourist interest and transforms Utebo’s old town into a Renaissance fair centred on the year 1544. It features live music, puppet theatre, parades, street performances, theatre, staged sword-fighting displays and Renaissance dances; historic market stalls showcase crafts and customs from the 16th century.

Geographical Location

From Zaragoza, Utebo is 12 km away via the N-232, A-68 or AP-68.

More Destinations

Borja, Casas de Esper, Bijuesca, Daroca, Villafeliche, Nuévalos, Berrueco, Albeta

To the higher-level travel overview: Saragossa.