What to do in Zaragoza

Zaragoza is Aragon's largest province and organises three radically different landscapes within a 150 km radius: Moncayo to the northwest (2,316 m, beech forests and seasonal snow), the Ebro valley in the centre with its network of historic canals, and the Maestrazgo to the southeast with villages perched on rock escarpments. Moncayo, the highest peak of the Iberian System, concentrates Atlantic mountain flora on its northern slopes and a trail network that runs from the Moncayo sanctuary to the Morca refuge and the summit itself, with a moderate ascent profile of around 5 hours return. In spring beeches burst into deep green on the shaded face; in November snow usually covers elevations above 1,800 m. The Via Verde de la Tarazonica follows the route of the old Tudela-Tarazona railway through cereal fields and olive groves on the edge of the Cinco Villas, with 23 km of flat, traffic-free terrain suitable for family cycling. The Ebro canal system—the Imperial, Tauste and Lodosa canals—allows bike routes linking historic towns in the valley. Calatayud and its surroundings have via ferratas and limestone walls above the Jalón river with routes of several grades, frequented by climbers from Madrid and Valencia seeking quality limestone without long drives. Monasterio de Piedra, set in a canyon of the Piedra river, has a 3 km on-foot route between waterfalls and natural pools that takes around 2 hours. The Camino del Cid and Iberian paths that cross the province connect archaeological sites in a multi-day cultural hiking axis.