We are celebrating our first year with more than 30 associated municipalities and having achieved participation in expert forums and a programme of art and heritage management initiatives with an impact throughout the province.

The entity’s annual work plan has contemplated measures related to research and projects, communication, investment and development. Among the actions, it is worth highlighting the participation in the Desafío Programme, the ‘rural Erasmus’ promoted by the Diputación de Zaragoza through the DPZ Chair on Depopulation and Creativity, which has allowed four students from the University of Zaragoza to carry out training internships within Territorio Mudéjar.

In this way, between July and October, the students worked on “quality in the management of accessibility to monumental heritage” through different practical training and applied research activities, broadening their skills and improving their preparation through training based on direct work with the territory and its resources. Their work, which will be presented in mid-November, has made it possible to design a tool for information and diagnosis of the possibilities of the historical-artistic resources of Territorio Mudéjar on Google Earth, opening up multiple possibilities for the future.

Along the same lines, in August the call was resolved and five work placements were awarded in rural areas in which 16 researchers and professionals will study the design and implementation of projects linked to cultural and heritage resources, seeking synergies with innovation in rural schools, skills-based training and the creation of professional heritage networks in rural areas. The selected teams will develop their projects in the coming months.

In addition to this, we have been incorporated into the group of models of good practice in the management of heritage resources in rural areas to form part of the MOMAr Interreg Europe Project of the Provincial Council of Zaragoza, financed by the European Union, which will work until 2023, together with agents from five other European countries, on the definition of new effective and sustainable management strategies through the historical, artistic and natural resources of the province of Zaragoza, taking into account the special characteristics of our territory.

Territorio Mudéjar, increasingly present in heritage and innovation forums

In our first year, we have developed an intense agenda of visits, presentations and various actions to show the potential of our network of municipalities among experts in heritage, development and innovation. As examples, in the academic field, we are actively working with the universities of Zaragoza, Granada and Santiago de Compostela; we have participated in environments to promote innovation that focus on the possibilities of rural areas, such as ‘Tomorrow begins today ‘ -promoted by Empresa Nacional de Innovación S.A. and organised by Ifema Feria de Madrid and the Barrabés Group in June – and will participate at the end of October, for the second time, in the Digital Tourist congress – promoted by Segittur, REDES and different ministries -, a key event for the ecosystem of smart destinations.

In terms of forums for heritage experts, in August we organised a working meeting in several towns in the province of Zaragoza with a delegation from the board of directors of the Spanish Committee of Icomos, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, the only non-governmental organisation in the world dedicated to the conservation and protection of cultural heritage. It is associated with Unesco, and advises it on nominations of properties as World Heritage Sites, as well as supervising their maintenance. The Council is made up of experts from different disciplines who work on the basis of common principles, and who promote the protection and use of monuments, also developing promotional actions.

In addition to this working meeting, we will participate in the 1st Annual Symposium on Natural and Cultural Heritage Icomos Spain, to be held in Madrid from 21 to 23 November, and in the World Heritage Managers Meeting in Cordoba, an annual event promoted by the Ministry of Culture and Sport to which we have been invited and which encourages the meeting, analysis and discussion of the problems that managers of sites inscribed on the World Heritage List encounter on a daily basis. In this edition, which will be held in Cordoba from 6 to 8 November, the central theme will be accessibility and cultural heritage.

At this meeting, the entity will present the keys to the project “Definition of a specialised professional profile for cultural heritage declared UNESCO World Heritage located in rural territories”, a proposal approved in the call for grants 2019 for the conservation, protection and dissemination of properties declared World Heritage of the Subdirectorate General for the Protection of Historical Heritage of the Ministry of Culture and which will be developed during the next year 2020.

Territorio Mudéjar has also been a collaborating entity in the recent commemoration of the 625th anniversary of the appointment of Benedict XIII, Pope Luna, as Pope.

Similarly, the association is working to generate “network” projects with which to articulate public-private partnerships for the development of projects that attract investment to the territory based on its cultural and heritage identity. In this sense, we are collaborating with the Aragonese Network for Rural Development in the preparation of a cooperation project with eight local development groups and rural schools, which will be developed in the coming months.

In addition, Territorio Mudéjar is co-director of the project “Cartografía de Identidades Rurales”, directed together with Marta Fernández of the company Ad Hoc, and which has been selected by the Ministry of Culture in the 2019 call for proposals to promote cultural industries.

In terms of dissemination, so that the inhabitants of the municipalities of Territorio Mudéjar are aware of the treasures they have in their villages and become prescribers of this wealth and diversity, conferences and visits have been held – and will continue in this new academic year – coinciding with important dates in the towns that make up the association. We have also taken part in fairs such as Aratur – the Aragonese Tourism Fair – which was held in May, where the tourism and cultural potential of the associated towns and villages was shown.

We will continue to promote Mudejar cultural heritage during 2019 with other initiatives such as the organisation of a working day for specialists and media professionals. Our aim is for them to learn about this exceptional legacy firsthand and to appreciate the potential of its declaration by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

A solid and well-designed foundation

Our director, Victoria Trasobares, recalls that this association was born a year ago as an association of town councils interested in consolidating a unified and collaborative management network for their historical-artistic resources after many years of effort to define a solid organisation for the future. The more than 30 localities that currently make up the association have in common an artistic legacy of Mudejar art, declared a World Heritage Site since 2001.

“We believe that the balance we can make of this first year of Territorio Mudéjar is more than satisfactory,” says Trasobares. “After the constitution of the association, we carried out all the internal start-up work and, in these months, we have also begun to build the technical and theoretical foundations that are fundamental for the dynamisation work that we will carry out in the coming years to be based on a solid and well-designed foundation that is essential to support the different lines of work that Territorio Mudéjar is putting in place so that the historical and artistic resources of its municipalities become a real driving force for development”.

Over the weekend, a delegation of the Spanish Committee of ICOMOS, the International Council of Monuments and Sites, visited several municipalities in the province of Zaragoza that belong to Territorio Mudéjar to learn about the activities that have been launched and the projects to be undertaken in the medium and long term.

Alicia Castillo, the president of this entity linked to UNESCO, advising it on world heritage nominations, considers that Territorio Mudéjar’s heritage management model demonstrates the change in dimension afforded to cultural values. “They must be dealt with in a multi-faceted, comprehensive manner across the territory, because the building itself is not what has value,” she explained. She believes that what makes a heritage space interesting are the people that bring it to life, that preserve it in their memories and that maintain it as part of their inheritance. In addition, she pointed out that one of the most valuable features of rural areas is their landscape, the place where a monument is set, and the relationship that the inhabitants have with that asset. For this reason, she feels that complicity with the inhabitants of a region is crucial. “We are all tired of flagship projects designed by a single institution or a single stakeholder that fall flat when launched because they didn’t take anyone else into account,” she noted.

Mainstreaming the region as a network

Territorio Mudéjar is made up of 32 city councils in the province of Zaragoza that decided to join forces one year ago to manage their historical, artistic and natural resources in a unified, collaborative, sustainable manner. These towns all share a common artistic legacy of Mudejar art, which was declared UNESCO World Heritage in 2001. Based on this connection, a work plan was drawn up which outlines among its objectives heritage outreach actions within and beyond these towns, making use of this world-renowned, highly valued brand and placing the participation and relevance of the town’s inhabitants at the forefront.

Arranging this tour for the ICOMOS members was yet another step in this line of work. “We need to spotlight the region beyond the local level to familiarize people with our towns, the people behind these projects, the situation day to day in each of these places,” remarks Victoria Trasobares, director of Territorio Mudéjar.

The president of the International Council of Monuments and Sites praised the initiative of this association because it endeavors to create a network of diverse assets in places that are hard to mainstream. According to Alicia Castillo, “It’s a very good idea, especially because it makes use of an opportunity”.

ICOMOS board of directors in Tobed

On Sunday morning, a meeting of the board of directors of ICOMOS Spain was held at Espacio Mudéjar in Tobed. Afterwards, the board members met with representatives of local associations and groups devoted to heritage management. The purpose was to hear their proposals for cultural management and to familiarize those who, in one way or another, manage local cultural resources with the duties and goals of this Council.

Since last Friday, the ICOMOS delegation has visited the cloisters of the collegiate church of Santa María la Mayor in Calatayud, the palace of the Condes de Argillo and the church of San Miguel, also known as La Señoría, in Saviñán, as well as the churches of Cervera de la Cañada and Torralba de Ribota. On Saturday, they left Tobed to visit the church of Torrellas, which was originally a Mudejar mosque, the Casa de la Estanca and Casa de las Conchas in Borja, as well as the Museo de las Momias in Quinto and the abandoned village of Rodén. They ended the day at the closing event of the Ancient Music Festival in Daroca.

On behalf of Territorio Mudéjar, we hope that this visit marks the beginning of a partnership and close contact with this Council, which is composed of heritage experts in a range of fields, all working on common grounds to promote the protection and use of monuments.

Territorio Mudéjar plans to assess the possibility of joining the entity, which would put us into contact with its network of professionals working throughout Spain and enable us to propose collaboration projects with other Autonomous Regions based on rural areas but with a global approach

Territorio Mudéjar is joining in on the celebration of International Museum Day, established by ICOM in 1977, leading us to reflect this year on the new roles that these spaces play as active stakeholders in their communities. Our region offers a wide range of possibilities in terms of the museums in our towns. Most of these spaces were created with a clear intention to interact with the towns’ inhabitants and have played an active role as cultural hubs in these rural communities.

In these spaces, some of the most beloved and characteristic features of our towns are on display, enabling us to learn about the history of the region through their magnificent art collections and museum spaces.

In light of the astounding range of possibilities, the large number of “hidden” treasures and the variety of the offerings available to us this weekend and year-round, we have listed some highlights here. We hope this little guidebook helps you plan your trips.

Alagón

Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Hispano-Mexicano (Hispano-Mexican Contemporary Art Museum)

Plaza San Antonio, nº 2. Tel. 976 61 18 14. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10:00 am-1:00 pm and 5:00 pm-8:00 pm. Price: Check with tourist office.

Aniñón

Museo del Aceite (Oil Museum)

Calle Joaquín Costa, nº 1. Tel. 692 055 881. Opening hours: Every day with advance booking. Price: To be agreed.

Ateca

Centro de Interpretación de la Semana Santa (Holy Week Interpretation Center)

Calle Castillo s/n. Tel. 976 842 005 / 686 716 631. Opening hours: Thursday, 5:00 pm-6:30 pm. Sunday, 10:30 am-12:00 noon. Price: € 2.00 Combined with Santa María Parish Church.

Belmonte de Gracián

Espacio Baltasar Gracián (Baltasar Gracián Space)

Calle San Roque, s/n. Tel. 976 892 093. Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday with advance booking. Price: Free of charge.

Borja

Museo de la Colegiata (Museum of the Collegiate Church)

Plaza de Ntra. Sra. de la Peana, s/n. Tel. 670 230 780
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Saturday, Sunday and holidays, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Price: Free

Museo Arqueológico(Archeological Museum)

Plaza de San Francisco, s/n. Tel. 976 852 947. Opening hours: Saturday, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Sunday 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Price: free

Museo Baltasar Gómez (Baltasar Gómez Museum) Only during exhibitions.

Museo Santa Clara (Santa Clara Museum)

Calle del Rey, s/n. Tel. 976 867 076. Opening hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Tours by appointment or on weekdays, when booked in advance by contacting the museum by phone. Price: Free

Calatayud

Museo de Calatayud (Calatayud Museum)

Plaza Santa Teresa de Jesús, s/n. Tel. 976 897 816. Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Sunday 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Price: free

Museo de la Colegiata de Santa María (Museum of the Santa María Collegiate Church)

Calle Amparados, s/n. Tel. 976 886 322 (Tourist office)
Opening hours: Saturday, 11:00 am to 1:30 pm. Price: € 2.00 Tower visit, € 2.00. Free admission for children.

Museo de la Iglesia de San Juan el Real (Museum of the Church of San Juan el Real)

Avda. San Juan el Real, s/n. Tel. 976 886 322 (Tourist office)
Opening hours: When the church is open. Price: € 2.00 / free admission for children.

Museo de la Dolores (Museum of the Dolores Church)

Plaza Mesones, s/n. Tel. 976 546 581. Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Sunday 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Price: € 2.00

Casa de los Cabezudos (House of the Big-Head Figures)

Calle Fernández Ardavin, nº3. Tel. 685 122 677. Opening hours: Book in advance. Price: Free

Museum Day Special: Museo de la Colegiata (Museum of the Collegiate Church). Asociación Torre Albarrana (Torre Albarrana Association). May 17, 8:30 pm.

Enclaustrados (Cloistered). Conference. “La belleza olvidada. Patrimonio perdido de Calatayud” (Forgotten beauty. Lost heritage of Calatayud). José Luis Cortés and Silvia Molina.

Cosuenda

Centro de Interpretación Plantaria (Plant Interpretation Center)

Plaza de España, 1. Tel. 976 627 081. Opening hours: Weekdays: Monday to Thursday, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Saturday, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Sunday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Price: €1.75, minimum groups of 6 pax. www.plantaria.es

Museum Day Special: May 18, free admission  www.rutadelvinocampodecarinena.com

Daroca

Museo de la Historia y las Artes de Daroca (Museum of the History and Art of Daroca)

Plaza de Santo Domingo, nº 3. Tel. 976 800 129. Opening hours: Contact the tourist office. Price: On request

Museo de los Corporales (Museum of the Corporals altar cloths)

Plaza de la Colegiata de Daroca. Tel. 976 800 129
Opening hours: from 11 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm (except during services). Price: € 2.00

Museo de la Naturaleza (Museum of Nature)

Antigua iglesia de Escolapios, calle Rabino Josef Albó. Tel. 690 739108. Opening hours: Advance booking. Price: On request.

Museo de la pastelería Manuel Segura (Manuel Segura Bakery Museum)

Calle Santa Lucía 28. Tel: 976 800 129
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 6:30 pm (from July 1 to September 15); 4:30 pm (from September 15 to June 30). Price: € 3 /person. Open house, Friday 11:00 am to 8:00 pm. To visit the gardens, please write to  angelaballesta@icloud.com.

Illueca

Castillo –Palacio del Papa Luna. Centro de Interpretación (Papa Luna Castle and Palace. Interpretation Center)

Plaza de Peñíscola s/n. Tel: 626 345 202 – 976 820270. Opening hours: Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Check with tourist office. Price: On request

La Almunia de Doña Godina

Museo del Juego y el Deporte Tradicional. El Fuerte (Museum of Traditional Games and Sports. The Fort).

Tel: 976 600 923. Price: € 2.00 Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 9:00 am-2:00 pm; Friday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm / 4:00 pm-7:00 pm; Saturday, 10:00 am-7:00 pm; Sunday, 10:00 am-3:00 pm.

Museum Day Special: May 18, free admission. www.elfuerte.eu

Maluenda

Centro de Interpretación de pintura gótica: Espacio Domingo Ram (Gothic Painting Interpretation Center: Domingo Ram Space). Church of Santa Justa. Tel. 976 893 007 / 652 492 315. Opening hours: Book in advance. Price: On request.

Mesones de Isuela

Castillo de los Luna (Luna family castle)

Tel: 626 345 202 – 976 820270. Saturday and Sunday: 10:30 am-2:30 pm.

Quinto

Museo de las Momias (Mummy Museum)

Cerro de la Corona, S/N · 50.770 Quinto (Zaragoza). Tel. 976 177 011 – 976 176 111- 680 860 495. Friday, Saturday and special holidays, 10:00 am-11:30 am/4:00 pm-5:30 pm (open till 7:30 pm in summer); Sunday, 10:00 am-11:30 am. Price: General rate, € 7.00; Reduced rate, € 5.00  www.momiasdequinto.es

Museum Day Special: May 18, 11:30 am, Opening of the Exhibition “Luz en Hipocratia”. Emma Cano.

San Mateo de Gállego

Taller-Museo Fernando Malo (Fernando Malo Museum-Workshop)

Fernando Malo. Tel. 976 684 406. Calle Antonio Machado, 69. Tours must be booked in advance. info@fernandomalo.com http://ceramicactiva.blogspot.com.

Tobed

Museo Mudéjar. Espacio Mahoma Calahorri (Mudejar Museum. Mahoma Calahorri Space)

Plaza de San Pedro, s/n. Tel. 976 619 101 / 686 994 408. Opening hours: Open every day, advance booking required. Summer: August 1-October 31. Sundays, 11:30 am-2:00 pm. Winter: Open by special arrangement and advance booking. Book or check social media. Price: € 5.00 / free admission for children. Combined ticket with the Mudejar Church, Parish Museum, Prior’s Palace and permanent ceramics exhibition.

La despensa del palacio (Palace pantry)

Permanent exhibition. Pza. de San Pedro, s/n. Tel. 976 619 101 / 686 994 408. Opening hours: Open every day, advance booking required. Summer: August 1-October 31. Sundays, 11:30 am-2:00 pm. Winter: Open by special arrangement and advance booking. Book or check social media. Price: € 5.00 / free admission for children. Combined ticket with the Mudejar Church, Parish Museum, Mudejar Museum and Prior’s Palace.

Museo parroquial Iglesia Mudéjar de la Virgen (Mudejar church of the Virgin parish museum)

Pza. de la Virgen, s/n. Tel. 976 619 101 / 686 994 408. Opening hours: Open every day, advance booking required. Summer: August 1-October 31. Sundays, 11:30 am-2:00 pm. Winter: Open by special arrangement and advance booking. Book or check social media. Price: € 5.00 / free admission for children. Combined ticket with the Mudejar Church, Mudejar Museum, Prior’s Palace and permanent exhibition.

Museum Day Special Opening: Saturday, May 18, 11:30 am.

On Saturday, March 23 the first local Territorio Mudéjar presentation took place at the church of San Félix in Torralba de Ribota. The event was well attended and consisted in a tour and conference presented by Alfonso Puertas Cantería, the town’s mayor, and led by Victoria E. Trasobares Ruiz, director of the entity.

This activity is part of a series of presentations to be made periodically throughout the year, whose main goal is to raise awareness about Territorio Mudéjar and to create a space for exchanging ideas. Attended by a large local audience, at the event, ideas for the present and future were proposed and the people who live in Mudejar places every day were heard.

We intend to include all the proposals in our activity program so as to design actions deemed important for the inhabitants upholding this rural setting.

We’ll keep you up to date about coming presentations in our towns.