The “Circular from the rural school” project is a cooperation project between rural development groups led by the Asociación Territorio Mudéjar.
The following have participated in the project: ADRI Calatayud-Aranda, ADRI Jiloca-Gallocanta, FEDIVALCA -Valdejalón and Campo de Cariñena-, ASOMO Tarazona and el Moncayo, CEDEMAR -Bajo Aragón Caspe and Ribera Baja del Ebro-, ADRAE -Ribera Alta del Ebro- and ADEFO Cinco Villas.
The objective is to develop educational materials around the Mudejar identity of the towns, placing rural schools and the educational community of the towns as the center of the project.
Based on the work developed, for almost three years, the students of fifteen schools have designed a walk through their town in which we can learn about the main points of interest and their connection with the Mudejar culture.
La Almunia de Doña Godina
The route has been carried out following the working model of the schools that participated in the project and adapted to the town of La Almunia de Doña Godina.
The locality belongs to the local development group FEDIVALCA – Valdejalón and Campo de Cariñena.
The tour has been carried out following the working model of the schools that participated in the project and adapted to the locality of La Almunia de Doña Godina.
The first part of its name, Almunia, which means “market garden”, comes from the period of Muslim domination, and the second part comes from Doña Godina, a rich landowner who donated the place where her market garden was located to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in the 12th century. On this site, the order built a hospital, creating a new village around which a whole hamlet developed, which is the town we know today. The Romanesque chapel of Cabañas, which preserves a magnificent collection of Gothic mural paintings, a Romanesque font and a Mudejar choir raised on an alfarje, bears witness to the ancient settlement.
This point is linked to the didactic activity 1.
In La Almunia de Doña Godina, the coexistence of the three cultures stands out. There would have been distinct quarters, but the best preserved today is the Jewish quarter, which would have been framed by the streets of Rosario, San Juan, Adobares, Cantarranas and Barrioverde. The names of the streets have been preserved, such as Calle Barriocurto and also the structure of the houses, streets and alleys.
This point is linked to the didactic activity 2
The Mudéjars were particularly skilled in the construction of buildings of unique technical characteristics and beauty. They were highly sought-after master builders by the great patrons of the time and their works were in keeping with the taste of the period. In La Almunia de Doña Godina we find the materials and construction techniques applied to medieval buildings but also to Renaissance palaces, as well as the main monument, the church of La Asunción.
This point is linked to the didactic activity 3
Mudejar art is art made by Mudejars and commissioned by Christians. The main commissioners were the monarchy (kings), the Church (in the case of Aragon we even have papal patronage, with Benedict XIII or Pope Luna), noble families and military orders. We find the example of the old hospital of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in La Almunia de Doña Godina.
This point is linked to the didactic activity 7
The building materials and techniques of Islamic tradition would be used during the following centuries, although with different artistic languages. This is the case, for example, of the Renaissance palaces that can be found all over the town and which make up the original houses of La Almunia. We can also see this continuity in the church of La Asunción, which, although it is Baroque, is made of brick.
This point is linked to the didactic activity 5.
The Mudejars built many different types of buildings, of which the towers stand out. The tower at La Almunia corresponds to the previous Mudéjar building. This type of tower is called “mixed”, combining a quadrangular lower body and an octagonal upper body, and has an advanced chronology, around 1575. It is also richly ornamented. The Mudéjars needed decoration as a fundamental part of the construction of their spaces.
This point is linked to the didactic activity 4
