Territorio Mudéjar announces a new edition of its research stays and artistic residencies to study, raise awareness and develop projects through rural heritage.

Territorio Mudéjar is holding the sixth edition of its Gonzalo M. Borrás Gualis research stays and projects to develop innovative and sustainable proposals on cultural and natural heritage that have a direct impact on the 49 member towns and promote their visibility and awareness. Those interested can apply for three research stays for projects and one artistic residency and must submit their proposals by 31 October. This year, as a new feature, the grants are being offered in partnership with other entities, such as the parish of La Seo de Zaragoza and the Centro Integral de Desarrollo del Alabastro (Alabaster Development Centre), and with international projects, such as the European ReliHE project, linked to religious heritage in rural areas. This will enrich the study of the management and conservation of Mudejar heritage resources and amplify their impact on the territory.

Specifically, Territorio Mudéjar will award three research grants for projects, each worth a maximum of €7,500. As highlighted by Charo Lázaro, the Provincial Council of Zaragoza’s representative for Culture, these grants are awarded for projects and artistic residencies aimed at “studying, raising awareness and carrying out real projects through the heritage of our rural environment”. The aim, explained Lázaro, is to develop “innovative and sustainable proposals on cultural and natural heritage that have a direct impact on the 49 member villages of Territorio Mudéjar and promote their visibility and awareness”.

Proposals must include a physical stay in one or more partner locations, demonstrate a direct impact on at least three of them, and provide evidence of the influence of this impact on the rest of the territory. “They seek to attract networks of professionals who work directly from the locations, drawing on their life experience in the villages of Territorio Mudéjar, rather than remaining at a theoretical level,” emphasised Victoria Trasobares, director of the Territorio Mudéjar association.

The modalities that can be applied for are:

1. The uses of heritage: Study, diagnosis and pilot cases in the villages of Territorio Mudéjar. This stay is being carried out in collaboration with the European project Religious Heritage in Rural Areas (ReliHE) led by the Polytechnic University of Turin, in which Territorio Mudéjar is a stakeholder through the Provincial Council of Zaragoza as a partner in the project. The scholarship is intended to study, diagnose and propose pilot cases on the historical uses of religious heritage in Territorio Mudéjar and its current state, as well as to explore the strategic role of this heritage in rural environments. Among other things, the research will result in a methodological guide for the possible and sustainable long-term uses of these assets.

“This initiative capitalises on the exchange of experiences and best practices among the international partners participating in REliHE and opens up new avenues of work to address the urgent challenge of rethinking our rural religious heritage,” explains Irene Ruiz, coordinator of the REliHE project.

2. Models for managing monuments and their surroundings from the perspective of authenticity and preventive conservation: Study, diagnosis and case studies. In partnership with the Parish Church of La Seo, Cathedral of El Salvador in Zaragoza the scholarship will be used to develop a series of proposals for the area known as Parroquieta de La Seo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and at least two other buildings in the villages of Territorio Mudéjar, proposing preventive conservation measures for the selected properties and their protected surroundings, proposing actions to improve their preventive conservation, and developing pilot actions to enhance the uses of the spaces and their territorial integration. The methodology obtained from this stay should be applicable to other properties in Territorio Mudéjar. The Archbishopric of Zaragoza, to whose diocese more than half of the parishes in the villages of the Mudejar Territory belong, has been an honorary member of the association since its foundation on 13 September 2018.

“The Archbishopric of Zaragoza has a close relationship with Territorio Mudéjar, having been an honorary member since 2018. But we are also united by our work to promote heritage, especially with La Parroquieta. This stay strengthens those ties in an innovative way and will allow us to transfer the results to other monuments in the partner towns of Territorio Mudéjar,” said Daniel Granada, chapter secretary of La Seo, Cathedral of El Salvador.

3. Study of alabaster gypsum and its impact on the territory in collaboration with the Comprehensive Alabaster Development Centre (CIDA). Plaster, as a fundamental material for understanding Mudejar architecture, has been the focus of previous Territorio Mudéjar exhibitions, and now, further study is being sought through a collaboration with CIDA, based in Albalate del Arzobispo. This alliance is essential due to the location of historical and current alabaster deposits in towns within the Territorio Mudéjar area and the links with companies that extract and process the product, located in or very close to the partner towns. Among other things, this grant aims to promote a study of the possibilities of this plaster and the actual implementation of traditional kilns.

Furthermore, as Santiago Martínez, coordinator of CIDA (Comprehensive Centre for Alabaster Development), points out, this initiative “opens up new avenues of research into one of the main by-products of alabaster, alabaster gypsum, and will enable the implementation of previously unexplored research programmes on alabaster gypsum at the Comprehensive Centre for Alabaster Development”.

On the other hand, Territorio Mudéjar continues to strive to become a creative laboratory and is organising an artistic residency linked to the territory and cultural landscape. Specifically, it will address the wine landscape, taking advantage of Cariñena’s selection as European City of Wine in 2025 and the fact that the villages of Territorio Mudéjar belong to three designations of origin. The residency is endowed with €4,500 and proposals may be submitted until 31 October 2025.

In this regard, the mayor of Cariñena, Sergio Ortiz, emphasises that “the interaction between man and nature throughout history to create a wine industry has shaped a unique landscape that deserves to be cared for and promoted. This residence is a great opportunity for leading artists to get to know and work in our region and join forces with our bid to become a European city of wine, but above all, to promote our rich heritage”.

Applications must be sent to the Asociación Territorio Mudéjar in digital format to the email address convocatoria@territoriomudejar.es. The terms and conditions of the call for applications and further information can be found at https://www.territoriomudejar.es/estancias-de-investigacion/.

Activities and events promoting the call for applications

Schedule to be confirmed: Visits to heritage sites in the villages of the Mudéjar Territory for assessment as case studies.

17 September [10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.]: Tarazona. Convent of San Joaquín Project meeting REliHE. Religious Heritage in Rural Areas . Participation alongside entities related to the project. Organised and coordinated by the Provincial Council of Zaragoza and the Tarazona Monumental Foundation.

19 September [5pm – 7pm]: Cariñena. Casa de Cultura. Closing of the exhibition Proyectos Territorio Mudéjar (Mudejar Territory Projects) and introductory watercolour workshop based on observing the landscape with artist and researcher Pilar García Verón.

25 September. [12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.]. La Almunia de Doña Godina. San Juan Palace. Opening and presentation of the exhibition “Territorio Mudéjar La Guía” (Mudejar Territory La Guía). This project is the result of the 2021 residency programme coordinated by Myriam Monterde and illustrated by artist David Guirao.

30 September [10:00–11:00]. Albalate del Arzobispo Castle. Alabaster Development Centre. Presentation: Key points for applying for the call for proposals. Webinar broadcast live from a heritage site. Open to the public in person

14 October [10:00–11:00]. Location to be determined. Presentation: Key points for applying for the call for proposals. Webinar broadcast live from a heritage site. Open to the public in person

21 October [10:00–11:00]. Location to be determined. Presentation: Key points for applying for the call for proposals. Webinar broadcast live from a heritage site. Open to the public in person.

The exhibition “Light in Mudejar Art. The Wall as Skin” will be open to visitors in Cariñena until 19 September.

Territorio Mudéjar continues to support its partner towns in organising the most cultural and heritage-related aspects of their festivals. To kick off the year, the town council of Cariñena has included the temporary exhibition ‘Projects and Researchers: Pilar García Verón’ in its programme of festivities for Santo Cristo 2025. The exhibition analyses the research carried out since 2023 and showcases the most artistic results.

“The wall as skin: Light in Mudejar architecture” is an artistic research project that uses workbooks, materials, watercolours, collages and many other techniques to visually explain how light is used in Mudejar buildings to create space and sensations.

The exhibition features two display tables with artistic objects, canvases, materials and posters detailing various projects by the researcher. The display tables offer a preview of part of the new catalogue of project exhibitions that the Territorio Mudéjar network will be taking to its various partner locations over the coming months.

The exhibition has been set up in the exhibition hall of the Casa de Cultura in Cariñena and can be visited from Friday 12 September to Friday 19 September, every day from 7pm to 8.30pm.

The exhibition will close on Friday, 19 September, with a workshop on rapid watercolour painting, landscape and earth, given by artist and researcher Pilar García Verón.

We invite you to try watercolour painting. Attendance is free of charge, includes materials and is subject to space availability. It is designed for anyone who wants to experiment with their gaze, paint, brushes and materials. Just come along on Friday 19 September at 5pm and we will show you how we study Mudejar heritage through artistic observation.

Special end-of-summer guided tour of the old village of Rodén

Territorio Mudéjar offers a guided tour of Rodén with part of its team, taking advantage of a final practical visit. This tour is part of the collaboration agreement between the Fuentes de Ebro Town Council and the Territorio Mudéjar Association. Throughout the tour, visitors can discover first-hand the most relevant episodes in the history of Rodén. They can also discover the significance of its most unique corners. The tour takes in the main monuments and the urban layout of the town, with special attention paid to the building materials used, the organisation of the streets and some of the most representative elements that are still preserved.

It should be noted that this visit is inspired by the “Circular en la escuela rural” (Circular in the rural school) project, which takes visitors on a tour of the old town of Rodén with strategic stops and an educational focus. This allows visitors to learn about the Mudejar identity of this town through observation and study of traditional and heritage elements.

The exhibition “Mudéjar, the guide” continues to tour our region: Villarreal de Huerva, Terrer and Villafeliche.

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Summer is a time for visiting villages and a great opportunity to learn about their heritage and the work we do at Territorio Mudéjar. That is why the exhibition “Mudéjar, the guide” has continued touring our region over the past few weeks, stopping off at Villarreal de Huerva, Terrer and Villafeliche.

In Villarreal de Huerva, our internship team also visited the church of San Miguel Arcángel, located within an old fortified enclosure and which preserves a 15th-century Mudejar tower, the remains of an earlier construction. They also saw the remains of the castle that surrounds it and the chapel of the Virgen del Rosario. In Terrer, our interns welcomed visitors and answered their questions over the weekend. And in Villafeliche, they gave a presentation to the public in the parish church, where the exhibition was installed.

Students at the Gallicum High School in Zuera are launching a pilot learning experience with our teaching materials.

Education is a passport to the future, and it’s crucial for us that students in our partner communities understand the heritage they grew up with and learn to love, value, and protect it so they never lose the identity of their territory.

Along these lines, today we implemented a pilot test of teaching materials with second-year ESO students and teachers at the IES Gallicum in Zuera.

Thanks to the educational materials developed in the various educational projects of Territorio Mudéjar (Circular from the Rural School, Didactic Mudéjar, the guide, Mudéjar Pedagogy), we have toured the town explaining different elements that play a fundamental role in understanding Mudéjar culture: historical context, construction materials, and the importance of water and landscape.

This Thursday we will repeat the activity with another second-year ESO group.

Our objective:
– To evaluate our materials and methodology, which have been developed through various projects and research stays.

– Awaken curiosity about the origin of places to reinforce identity from an early age, fostering roots and feeling emotional about one’s own place.

We concluded our specialized Mudejar courses with a master class by Professor Sarasa.

We have completed our specialized Mudejar courses, and we have done so with two activities that have reinforced our interest in and understanding of the Mudejar heritage of our region:

On March 4, Victoria Trasobares introduced Professor Esteban Sarasa at the “Emeritus Tuesdays” event. Sarasa holds a PhD in Philosophy and Letters (History), is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Zaragoza, and a member of the Scientific Committee of Territorio Mudéjar. In the Tuesday session, he gave a master class on Mudejars and Moriscos, reviewing the most important theses of his research work over the past 50 years and honoring Professor Borras Gualis as an expert on Mudejar art. Following the lecture, an interesting debate took place based on questions raised by the more than 150 attendees.

On the other hand, 3rd and 4th grade students from the University of Experience in Zaragoza held the final sessions of their course at the Church of San Pablo, using heritage as a learning environment.

The Fuentes de Ebro City Council and the Mudéjar Territory renew their special collaboration agreement for 2025.

Reunión de trabajo entre el equipo de Territorio Mudéjar y representantes del Ayuntamiento de Fuentes de Ebro para renovar el convenio de colaboración 2025.

The Fuentes de Ebro City Council and Territorio Mudéjar have renewed their special collaboration agreement in 2025, through which they will develop tourism and heritage action strategies.

This agreement will last 10 months and will be developed with a team of art historians and cultural heritage managers.

The new agreement began with research and bibliographical compilation from the municipal library and municipal and parish archives on the heritage of Fuentes de Ebro and Rodén. Technical visits were conducted and the project participated in activities such as the presentation of the results of the employment and training workshop. Working with local stakeholders was key, and the project participated in the preparation of deeply rooted local traditions, such as the bonfire of San Antón, for example.

The first few weeks of the recently renewed agreement have served to document and lay the foundation for the content needed to prepare interpretation materials and guides to shops and heritage attractions in Fuentes de Ebro, as well as to design and implement a tourist visit management calendar, with the aim of promoting local tourism.

The first of these activities is scheduled for March 23 at 11:00 a.m. in Rodén, where a guided tour will follow the interpretation milestones the team is working on: history, heritage, materials, and landscape will allow us to learn about this interesting historical-artistic complex, declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 2017.

On the other hand, these days we are also holding technical meetings between the two entities to improve management tools.

San Mateo de Gállego Town Council and Territorio Mudéjar create a technical team to develop a strategic tourism and heritage plan.

San Mateo de Gállego Town Council and Territorio Mudéjar have signed a special agreement called “Local heritage and sustainable tourism” to design and develop, in pilot mode, a management plan for guided heritage visits, the study of a content model that could be the germ of a future exhibition space dedicated to the history of the town, as well as advice on strategic projects, among other actions.

The agreement will have an initial duration of nine months. To develop it, the Territorio Mudéjar Association will create a team of young professionals who have been trained in the organisation thanks to various internship programmes and who have made it possible to create a pool of emerging professionals with skills for the needs specified by the San Mateo Town Council. It should be remembered that in recent months, the Town Council and Territorio Mudéjar have held working groups to identify these needs.

The team will be supervised by the project management area of Territorio Mudéjar, which will define the strategic lines and integrate the local actions with the different innovation projects that Territorio Mudéjar develops in its Research and Project Stays.

The aim of this agreement is, firstly, to study, diagnose, design and create a management plan for guided tours, buildings and itineraries. It will also be used to set up a calendar of activities with the residents of the municipality based on various itineraries that include the historical, artistic, cultural and natural heritage resources of San Mateo de Gállego.

On the other hand, a calendar of guided tours, itineraries or guided walks will be designed during the nine months of the agreement. In addition, the work team will prepare a model of historical-artistic and heritage contents of the tourist services and companies that have some interesting activity for the traveller. With this, it will be possible to create future graphic materials for promotion and signposting.

The agreement also includes research, data collection and preparation of content for the future project of an exhibition space on the history of San Mateo de Gállego. Likewise, this team will advise the Town Council on strategic projects for the management of heritage resources.

San Mateo de Gállego Town Council has already developed framework activities with Territorio Mudéjar as a partner town, such as the projects Circular desde la escuela rural – didactic materials to include Mudejar heritage in educational curricula – or Mudetrad – tours of vernacular and traditional architecture.

Charo Lázaro, the deputy delegate for Culture, highlighted this new line of collaboration between Territorio Mudéjar, with a well-established line of work, and the town council of San Mateo de Gállego “to respond to its needs and take advantage of its Mudejar heritage both to generate employment and to boost this resource among its residents and the rest of the potential public”.

The mayor of San Mateo de Gállego, José Manuel González Arruga, explained that this agreement aims to take advantage of the potential that San Mateo de Gállego has in Mudejar art and cited several examples such as the Mudejar temple. He also referred to all the surroundings linked to the Mudejar temple, the historical use of water and the river terrace of the Gállego. “The agreement will be based on these values, together with the workshop-museum of the local ceramist Fernando Malo and the different professionals and creatives of the town”, he added.

The director of Territorio Mudéjar, Victoria Trasobares, stressed the importance of creating these advisory committees, which provide municipal teams with a strategic vision of their usual work of managing local resources. “It is a model that also allows the incorporation of new emerging professionals who can be linked to the locality in the medium or long term. And, above all, it allows the introduction of a working model that seeks to reinforce the quality and sustainability of local resources,” he pointed out.

The calendar of activities will be finalised in the near future, although the first two dates are already known:

– 6th November. At 18.00 h. Presentation of the agreement to local residents and all interested parties at the town hall of San Mateo de Gállego.

– 29th November. At 18.00 h. Guided walk around the town starting from the town hall of San Mateo de Gállego. San Mateo de Gállego.

Territorio Mudéjar is currently developing two other special collaboration agreements: one with Fuentes de Ebro -which has just been renewed and will allow the continuation of a calendar of visits- and with Ricla -which will also be renewed and will include a plan of openings and visits to the local heritage-.

Students from the University of Experience learn about Mudejar architecture at the Parroquieta de La Seo.

Grupo de estudiantes de la Universidad de la Experiencia frente al ábside mudéjar de la Parroquieta de La Seo en Zaragoza durante una visita guiada.

Students of the “Mudéjar, Emblem of Aragon” course at the University of Experience enjoyed on-site classes this past week at the Parroquieta de La Seo with the director of Territorio Mudéjar, Victoria Trasobares.

These on-site sessions complement the theoretical lessons and allow the heritage space to be used as a place of knowledge and learning.

La Parroquieta has thus become a textbook, just as the Church of San Pablo, where students will have their next practical class, will become one in early March. The buildings bear the UNESCO World Heritage status of Mudéjar of Aragon, and both are parishes of the Archdiocese of Zaragoza, like so many parishes in our partner towns.

The dioceses of Zaragoza and Tarazona are also part of our network as honorary members.

The Territorio Mudéjar routes return with 49 destinations and new itinerary options.

Tres mujeres presentan el nuevo folleto de las Rutas Territorio Mudéjar 2025 en un acto institucional con proyección de fondo.

The Territorio Mudéjar network, in a strategic alliance with the Zaragoza Provincial Council, is launching the 2025 edition of its routes with 49 destinations, 19 itineraries, and 36 dates to discover the heritage, culture, traditions, and gastronomy of the municipalities that form part of this entity.

This year, as a new feature, the routes incorporate new options—project or signed routes and a special Mudéjar World Heritage route starting in Zaragoza—and add another destination—Torres de Berrellén, which has just joined Territorio Mudéjar as a partner.

The Deputy Delegate for Tourism of the Zaragoza Provincial Council, Cristina Palacín, and the Director of Territorio Mudéjar, Victoria Trasobares, presented the project this morning.

Reservations are now open and can be made at www.territoriomudejar.es/rutas/. The first itinerary will begin on February 15th, and routes will continue throughout the year.

The organization offers various options for reserving a spot, such as arranging transportation from Zaragoza or dining with the organization’s group at one of the establishments in Territorio Mudéjar’s partner towns. In all cases, reservations are essential.

Admission and guided tours to each destination are free for users who make a reservation, thanks to the discount applied by the Territorio Mudéjar association through funding from the Zaragoza Provincial Council for the organization’s projects.

ROUTE MODALITIES 2025

???? Routes around five themes

The first “Mudejar Territory Villages” package continues the essence of previous editions with 15 itineraries through the province of Zaragoza, guided by heritage specialists and organized into five themes:

1. Mestizo and border: Mudejar villages

2. Keys to a style: the origins

3. Bird’s eye view: the towers

4. The construction of space: light and matter

5. Military orders and territory (new 2025).

Visitors will discover not only magnificent architecture and the finest arts, but also places full of life and activity, enjoy cuisine based on local produce, and learn about centuries-old crafts thanks to collaboration with local businesses.

The UNESCO World Heritage routes will begin in Zaragoza.

The UNESCO World Heritage Route, which covers Calatayud, Cervera de la Cañada, and Tobed, along with its monuments that epitomize the origin and development of Mudejar art, has a new addition for the public this year. The itinerary will begin in Zaragoza, visiting some of the Aragonese capital’s UNESCO-listed monuments, which will be included in the explanations: the Tower of San Pablo (on the April route) and the Parroquieta of the Seo or the Cathedral (on the June and December routes).

Project Routes: Following Professor Gonzalo Borrás

These tours are the result of research projects conducted by the Territorio Mudéjar professional network and will involve, on the one hand, a transfer of knowledge and the application of research results in practical explanations about the territory. Three of these routes will be offered in this 2025 edition. This option will also feature guest speakers from leading experts in the field, such as Professor Esteban Sarasa, a member of the organization’s scientific committee.