Ayerbe
Ayerbe is a small town in the Aragon region of Spain, in Huesca province. It is about 28 kilometers from Huesca city, along the A-132 road toward Pamplona, and sits beside the Gállego river. The town lies on a dry, rocky plain at about 582 meters above sea level and covers 63.29 square kilometers. The Riglos cliffs and the Santo Domingo hills are to the north, Loarre and Loscorrales to the east, Lupiñén-Ortilla to the south, and Biscarrues and Murillo de Gállego to the west.
The land around Ayerbe has pines, olives, almonds and vineyards, with some cereals to the east and south. There are oaks, shrubs and herbs as well. Wildlife includes rabbits, hares, partridges and many birds of prey, making the area popular with birdwatchers.
In the town center, two main squares sit beside the 16th‑century Palace of the Marquesses of Urriez, a historic monument. Ayerbe is known for having housed the Nobel Prize winner Santiago Ramón y Cajal for ten years. The town has a museum and visitor center about him, and the library holds many Cajal works.
Ayerbe offers a public library, a casino, bars, a municipal swimming pool, and many paths for walkers and cyclists. There are restaurants, a hotel and bed-and-breakfasts, and a seasonal tourist information center. Local sights include Fontaneta Park and the La Fuente de los Tres Caños fountain. Behind the town is a hill with a renovated chapel and the ruins of a Moorish castle, which you can reach on foot or by ATV and that offers great views of the countryside and the Pyrenees.
The town is famous for Tortas de Ayerbe, sweet flat pastries flavored with anise. Local products include wine, olive oil and honey. The Santa Leticia festival takes place around September 9 and lasts several days, featuring a procession with a statue of St. Leticia, giants and cabezudos, and nightly bull-themed fireworks. In 2005, Aragon’s Giants festival brought many participants to Ayerbe. There is also an annual mushroom week in October.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 14:20 (CET).