Cueva de la Fuente del Trucho is the only known archaeological site in Aragón with Paleolithic rock paintings. The depictions at Mallata, the church building and distinctive landforms offer different themes to help you plan your trip.

Rock art from different periods

The rock shelters at Mallata offer a different perspective on time. They contain schematic paintings associated with Neolithic and Metal Age farming and herding societies between 5000 and 1500 BC. Comparing them with the Paleolithic paintings at Cueva de la Fuente del Trucho makes the different periods and schematic style of the images a subject in their own right.

The Centro de Interpretación de Colungo presents prehistoric rock art from the Río Vero area and the Sierra de Guara. This rock art has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This makes it possible to connect the study of individual sites with a broader regional context: the sites and images represent different aspects of prehistoric rock art.

Church architecture and landscape

The Church of Nuestra Señora del Pilar adds a different historical dimension. This late Gothic Aragonese place of worship dates from the 16th century and was built in 1575 by master mason Joan Torón and architect Joan Tellet. Alongside the distant periods represented by the rock art, the church brings a more precise construction date and the names of its two builders into focus.

The landscape also offers different points of interest. From Tozal de Mallata, you can look out over the gorges of the Río Vero and the Choca. Portal de la Cunarda, by contrast, is a large limestone arch shaped by wind and water erosion. The view of the gorges and the distinctive rock formation offer two different perspectives on the landscape.

On the return leg, the route to Portal de la Cunarda follows an old livestock track back to Colungo; some sections are still paved. If you plan to take this route, check trail conditions before setting out, as they can change.

The Olivera de Nadal is another specific landmark in the landscape. The olive tree is estimated to be a thousand years old, has a trunk circumference of 13.65 metres at the base and is 8 metres tall. A signposted access point on the A-2205 road, about 500 metres before Colungo, leads to a path through an almond grove. The tree stands on private land; please take this into account when planning your visit.

Regional perspectives and local tradition

The Alquézar–Buera–Colungo cycling route lists the medieval town of Alquézar, the Villacantal Bridge, Buera, the Santuario de Dulcis, Colungo and the Centro del Arte Rupestre as points of interest. The list offers another perspective for trip planning: alongside individual buildings and archaeological sites, several named places are connected by a cycling route.

The local tradition also includes the historic production of aguardiente and anise-flavoured spirits. For a cultural and historical itinerary, the different periods represented in the rock art and the Church of Nuestra Señora del Pilar provide clear themes. If you would rather focus on landforms, you can choose between views of the gorges, the limestone arch and the exceptionally large olive tree.

Discover more destinations: Caneto, Adahuesca, Sariñena, Denúy, Santa Cilia, Morillo De Liena, Ibieca, Perarrúa.

For the broader travel overview: Huesca.