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.
Velilla de Ebro
The route has been carried out following the working model of the schools that participated in the project and adapted to the town of Velilla de Ebro.
The town of Velilla de Ebro has a clear Roman foundation, around the year 44 AD, Lépida Celsa. It became one of the most important colonies at this time, mainly due to its privileged location at a strategic point on the banks of the river Ebro, around which the main communication and trade routes were centred. The magnificent remains of the Roman city can still be seen today. This fact also led to the Muslims settling the same territory in the 8th century, leaving a deep imprint that we still inherit today, mainly palpable in Velilla de Ebro through the preservation of elements related to irrigation.
The town of Velilla de Ebro is located on the left bank of the river Ebro. Its origins date back to Roman times, around the year 44 B.C. Its founder was Marcus Emilius Lepidus and it was known under the name of “Victiux Iulia Lepida”. It became one of the most important colonies, even minting its own coinage. The Roman city was renamed Celsa, leaving its remains for posterity.
This point is linked to the didactic activity 1.
After the Christian conquest of the Muslims around the 12th century, the Mudejar period began. The Mudejars developed their own architecture at the service of the Christian lords. The church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in Velilla de Ebro is a perfect example of late Mudejar architecture. It was built in brick on a base of ashlar stone and masonry, with a gallery of arches on the outside and a tower.
This point is linked to the didactic activity 5.
The elements and materials, as well as construction techniques of Islamic tradition continue to be used throughout time, despite the fact that in the 17th century the style came to an end due to the expulsion of the Moors (Mudejars converted to Christianity). These characteristics are adapted to other architectural languages such as, for example, in some Renaissance palaces in Aragon. This is the case of the Casa de los Zapata.
This point is linked to the didactic activity 4
Velilla conserves an interesting hydraulic complex comprising a wash house, a flour mill and a double-wheeled waterwheel, possibly of Arab origin. These purely utilitarian architectures speak to us of the ancient relationship of its inhabitants with the river, the raison d’être of this territory. They are characterised by their location and construction in a natural area in front of the town centre, on a branch of the river that surrounds a fertile meadow.
This point is linked to the didactic activity 6
The introduction of irrigation techniques by the Muslims, such as irrigation ditches, waterwheels and weirs, favoured many new and indigenous crops.
In response, the agricultural landscape was modified, creating the landscape we know today. In Velilla de Ebro we find a landscape of contrasts, marked by the difference between the area of the meanders produced by the river Ebro, very fertile and green, and, on the other hand, the unirrigated landscape, brown and reddish in colour.
Next to the hermitage of San Nicolás de Bari there are incredible views of the landscape surrounding the town. The church is Baroque, built on the site of a Romanesque church, of which the apse and crypt are still preserved.
This point is linked to the didactic activity 7
