Villanova offers three clear starting points for planning a trip: landscapes, trails and architectural heritage. You can first decide whether you mainly want to explore on foot, include a mountain biking route, or focus on churches and architectural details. The location information can help you decide how to prioritize these themes during your stay.

Location and landscape as points of reference

The A-139 road runs alongside the lower part of Villanova and connects Benasque with Castejón de Sos. The village center lies below La Coma and Cerro de Santa Quiteria. Villanova is also on the right bank, by the Sierra de Chía and opposite Pico de Eresué. These provide points of reference for the road, the village center and the mountain landscape. They offer different scales for getting your bearings: one concerns the location within the village, while the other relates to prominent landscape features.

Distinguishing between hiking and cycling routes

Each hiking trail has its own connection to the area. After crossing the Ésera, the PR-HU 86 leads to Villanova, a village with Pyrenean architecture. Circular Route 4 starts in the upper part of Villanova; its starting point is accessible via the A-139. The route then passes through Sesué and returns to Villanova. The specific points of reference for this loop are therefore the starting area, access to the starting point and the route through Sesué.

For the PR-HU 51, the landscape is the main feature of the route: dense forests, traditional mountain houses and natural viewpoints alternate along the way. The hiking trail also offers an alternative descent towards Villanova. As a different type of activity, mountain biking route 31 connects Castejón de Sos, Villanova and the Sesué power station. When choosing a route, you can distinguish between hiking trails with different connections to the area and a mountain biking link, rather than treating all the routes as the same kind of outing.

Churches, houses and local traditions

The architecture can also be identified through specific features. The parish church of Santa María houses an altarpiece from the 16th century. An altarpiece is an artistically designed feature placed at the altar. Casa El Ríu has a 16th-century portal, while Casa Beltrán has an arcaded courtyard. The three details point to different aspects: church furnishings, a portal and a courtyard. There is also a virtual 360° tour of the Iglesia de San Pedro, which offers a closer look at another church in Villanova.

On Saint John’s Day in 2010, the Fallas were run in Villanova. This dated reference to a local tradition complements the churches and houses with a historical occasion associated with the village.

Tailor your stay to your interests

There are several different ways to shape your plans: hiking trails, a mountain biking route, landscape features or architectural heritage. If you are looking for a hotel in Villanova, you can first decide which of these aspects you want to shape your stay. Route 4 offers a different connection to the area from the PR-HU 86, which reaches Villanova after crossing the Ésera; the PR-HU 51 also has an alternative descent towards the village. For a stay focused more on culture, the churches, houses with their architectural features and the virtual tour offer a different emphasis.

Discover more destinations: Laspaúles, Biescas, Grañén, Fonz, Torralba De Aragón, Ceresa, Boltaña, Neril.

For the main travel overview: Huesca.