Abiego offers different perspectives on a stay: the Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor represents architectural history, the Monumento al Siglo XX brings art into the landscape, and La Fondota is known for its palaeontological finds. There are also routes, riverside scenery and distinctive details on houses and public buildings. If you choose a focus for your trip, you can weigh up local architecture, exploring the landscape, and natural or geological history.

Art and Architectural History

About one kilometre from the town centre stands the Monumento al Siglo XX. Ulrich Rükriem created the work from 20 granite stelae. Its artistic connection to the landscape encompasses the surrounding mountains, native woodland, cultivated land and the settlement. The work can therefore be appreciated not only through the individual stelae, but also through the landscape features incorporated into its concept.

The traditional houses of Somontano in Abiego also display a range of building features. Their walls are made of brick, clay and rammed earth, and rest on sturdy stone plinths. Some façades feature well-preserved coats of arms and epigraphic inscriptions. Those interested in architecture will find not only varied construction materials but also historic symbols on the fronts of the houses.

The Colegiata de Santa María la Mayor stands at Abiego’s highest point. The church dates from the 16th century and belongs to the late Aragonese rural Gothic style. One distinctive feature of its floor plan is its Latin-cross shape: it is the only church of its time in Somontano with this layout. The site’s history goes back further. During the Reconquista, it developed from an Arab mosque and castle into a Christian fortress.

Another historic building is the 18th-century Convento de San Joaquín. Built in the Baroque style, it stands on the hill known as Tozal de las Forcas. A different architectural detail catches the eye at the Fuente pública de Abiego: mask-like figures decorate the water outlets.

Routes, Rivers and Things to See

The circular Ruta Vuelta a Abiego passes through holm oaks and fields of olive and almond trees. Along the way, there are panoramic views of Guara and the valleys of the Isuala and Alcanadre rivers. The Ruta de la Cabañera comes with different practical details: it can be travelled on foot or by mountain bike, except for the ascent to Sevil. The two routes therefore differ in the landscape features described and the modes of travel mentioned.

Another route is called Abiego–Puente de Famiñosa–Ajuntadero del Formiga. It leads to the medieval bridge of Famiñosa and the confluence of the Formiga and Alcanadre rivers. There is also a fishing area with plenty of brown trout along a stretch of the Río Alcanadre near Abiego. Its surroundings include pools and bozos. The area around Abiego is considered attractive for birdwatching. These features cater to different interests: the river and fishing area, birdwatching, or the landscape and architectural sights along the routes.

Fossil Traces and Possible Roman Origins

More than 1,000 fossilised mammal footprints have been found at La Fondota. They date from 35 to 40 million years ago. At that time, Abiego had a muddy area and a lake where animals came to drink. The footprints thus take visitors far back into the area’s geological past and add another time period to the more recent architectural history of the town.

Historic structures with explicitly uncertain origins can also be found at the municipal boundary: two bridge abutments may be Roman. Downstream are a weir and another bridge, which may also have Roman origins. The Colegiata, the buildings on Tozal de las Forcas and these structures represent different traces of the past, while the Monumento al Siglo XX and La Fondota bring art and geological history into focus.

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