We can trace the historical past of Cariñena back to Roman times, when the place was called Cariniana. Since then, the town has been populated throughout history. As in the rest of the territory, the period of Islamic rule stands out, without which the Mudejar culture would never have been born.

During the Middle Ages, Cariñena was the scene of the War between the two Peters. Peter IV the Ceremonious, King of Aragon, ordered the old wall to be reinforced, although it did not serve to stop the troops of Peter I, King of Castile. The Torreón de las Monjas (Tower of the Nuns) stands out from the wall, a space that served as the Archive of the Community of Aldeas de Daroca until 1870.

The wall was completed by the towers of Las Santas, Calle Santiago and Las Sisas, which were demolished, as well as the tower of La Fuente, which was auctioned off.

As a testimony to its medieval past, Cariñena has a coat of arms, granted by the Aragonese king due to the resistance and loyalty of the inhabitants during that conflict.

During the modern period, Cariñena was home to a number of prominent figures who were connected with the monarchy, specifically with the House of Austria. Specifically, the visits of Philip II and Philip III to the town in the 16th century stand out.