The Islamic tradition, the result of so many centuries of cultural coexistence, is reflected in the importance of the town’s pottery workshops, important examples of which have survived.

After the expulsion of the Moors from Aragon in 1610, the town was practically depopulated. However, this work was perpetuated among the new settlers during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, turning Muel into a leading craft and export centre.

Although it was one of the most reputable centres, this work was interrupted in 1920 due to the introduction of new materials. It was not until 1965 that pottery work was resumed again with new professionals.

The vestiges of the medieval past in the town of Muel can be seen in different key points. One of them, the tower of the church of San Cristóbal, is the only Mudejar architectural element in the church. The current building corresponds to a work from the Baroque period.

Walking through its streets we can quickly appreciate the urban framework of Islamic tradition, with narrow, dead-end streets. In addition, the Puerta de la Villa or Mudejar Arch in the Calle Mayor still stands.

It is worth stopping along the way at the Parque de la Fuente, where, surrounded by an impressive natural setting, stands the Roman dam, which serves as the foundations of the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Fuente, an 18th century construction that houses wall paintings attributed to Fracisco de Goya.

The link with wine in Cariñena can be traced back to the founding of the town in Roman times. The real importance of the cultivation and exploitation of vines can be found from the 18th century onwards, a time that corresponds to a demographic increase in the town. In the 19th century, everything related to wine grew strongly in Spain due to the phylloxera crisis in France.

The importance of wine in Cariñena was consolidated in 1932 with the creation of the DO, as well as with the strengthening of the cooperatives in the mid-20th century and the celebration of the Cariñena Protected Designation of Origin Harvest Festival (Festival of Tourist Interest in Aragon) since 1960. This festival has been updated over time, with the 75th anniversary celebration being the moment of creation of the guest of honour, who is in charge of lighting the Fuente de la Mora, from which wine flows.

Already in the Christian period, we find in the documentation that refers to Calatorao a high number of Mudejar population in the town. Specifically, in 1350, the Mudejar population was twice as large as the Christian population: 100 Moors and 45 Christians. As a result, the 14th-15th century Mudejar aljama mosque is still preserved today. This building was located by Professor Bernabé Cabañero Subiza in 2002 in the building formerly known as the Hospital de los Peregrinos.

Other interesting elements that can be found on a stroll through the town are the parish church of San Bartolomé, a neoclassical construction from the 18th century, the group of Aragonese palatial houses from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries or the Casino building built in 1910 and still in use.

The remains of the castle of Ariza stand on a mountain ridge overlooking the town. They have a triangular ground plan, at the foot of which the town grew, forming the current urban centre. Its situation from the defensive point of view is unbeatable, which is why it was later used in different conflicts.

Walking through Ariza we can locate the old quarters that divided the town in the Middle Ages: the Jewish quarter and the Moorish quarter, located inside and outside the limits of the wall, of which we still have vestiges today, such as the Arco de la Villa or Arco de Castilla.

The church of St. Mary, the main monument of the town, is a perfect example of the building typology of hallenkircheor hall plant, widely used in our territory during the 16th century.

Other outstanding monuments include the old hospital, the old church of San Pedro, already documented since the 13th century, the Palacio del Marqués, a building owned by the municipality that is still in use today, and the convent of San Francisco, located on the edge of the town, a Baroque construction from the 18th century.

Another interesting element is the cellar quarter, which today has about 80 cellars still standing, although it once had more than 150. Due to the large number of them in Ariza, the “cuberos” or craftsmen who made the vats and vats in the winery itself and who were used as containers to store the wine became indispensable.