Its impressive waterfalls, one of the claims of the Monasterio de Piedra
HOW TO GET
The stone monastery It is a private property located in the outskirts of the town of Nuevalos , an hour and a half from Zaragoza capital and two and a half hours from Madrid, if we go by car. The alternative would be to go to Calatayud by train or bus and take another bus there.
WHERE TO SLEEP
The Monastery itself has a large part of its facilities dedicated **to its monumental hotel**. In addition to the fact that we would not have to complicate our lives with more transfers, it has a spa with a thermal circuit of more than 500 square meters and relaxation treatments that would round off a getaway to the body of kings.
Nuevalos, a good starting point for your visit
Another option is to book accommodation in Nuévalos or any of the towns in the area. Our choice led us to the ** Hospedería El Pilar de Calatayud **, a cozy and charming place in the center of the town from where it takes half an hour by car to reach the monastery.
THE VISIT
We arrived to Calatayud Friday afternoon with time to take a short walk to discover the facades and towers of its numerous churches of Mudejar origin (Saint Mary, Saint Peter, Saint John, Saint Andrew...) .
The most recommended area for dinner or a drink is the Walk Courts of Aragon , a street near the Jalón river plagued with bars and terraces . The bars of their establishments are full of spikes that enter only through the eyes: croquettes, omelettes, pickles, mushrooms… In the Goya bar, without going any further, we will be treated wonderfully.
After a good morning breakfast, we face our visit to the Monasterio de Piedra. We must be clear that It is not an excursion to the wild nature, but to a park largely made by the hand of man.
The amazing fall of the water in the Cola de Caballo waterfall
We decided to start in the park, where we discovered its trees, its paddocks and, above all, its impressive waterfalls. And it is that, in reality, the water of the river Piedra, channeled, stagnant and rushed in the most imaginative and original ways She is the real protagonist. If you visit during the rainy season, the flow of the currents increases and, with it, their spectacular nature.
Maybe the high point of the route , which is signposted at all times with signs and arrows, either the Cola de Caballo waterfall. Peeking out from above casts a priceless views , descending it through the grotto carved into the stone is exciting, but entering the cave below and seeing the capricious shapes of the rock while the water drips on our face it is purifying.
The tour is completed with a visit to the fish farm and its got mirror lake before taking the short cut back. The visit can last between two and three hours depending on what we entertain ourselves on each site and, above all, on the number of photos we take (it will be non-stop).
Before going out, and if we are in season, we should go to the birds of prey corral, where we find various specimens of owls, barn owls, hawks, eagles and vultures . The falconry staff gladly answer any of our questions, and, if the weather allows it, they do outdoor demonstrations.
Mirror Lake
Lunchtime catches us enjoying the sun on the terrace of the ** Piedra Vieja Restaurant **, where we can have reeds, pinchos and sandwiches. If we want to account for their combined dishes, their menu of the day or their à la carte dishes (with options for celiacs) we will have to go up to the lounge on the first floor.
In the hotel area, the Kings of Aragon Restaurant also offers traditional Aragonese, international and avant-garde cuisine. Both establishments are within the enclosure.
With a satisfied stomach, we entered the Santa María de Piedra Cistercian Monastery. Their Guided visits they last 45 minutes and there is approximately one per hour until 5:00 p.m.
We will go through the main cloister and entering the various dependencies that are in its surroundings, such as the chapter house, the baroque altar, The abbey (a church with multiple architectural styles that lost its roof during the plunder suffered by the Monastery in the Disentailment of Mendizábal) or the curious heater.
After the guided tour we can stay inside browsing more calmly for as long as we want. Similarly, we can access Wine Museum what is in the cilla, where we will discover a bit of its history and its elaboration process through photos, tools and life-size representations.
The abbey
Back in Calatayud, we went to visit its Jewish quarter, surrounded on top of its hills by the castles of Doña Martina, Torremocha and the Peña Sanctuary, in whose streets we also find a restored synagogue.
Sunday morning starts with breakfast at the ** Bombón Cafeteria **, a pleasant place located on one of the corners of the Spain Square , which is worth peeking just to see its curious balcony.
We went up to say goodbye to the city until the Ayub Castle, located on top of the dominant mountain that is in the outskirts. Among its ruins we will find panoramic views of the town and the necessary forces to undertake the return in a zen state.
PRACTICAL DATA
Before going to the Monasterio de Piedra, we must know that we have two input options. The first and most demanded is the one that gives park access (undoubtedly the most interesting part of the visit), to the cistercian monastery (with a guide, unless high demand prevents it), and at the exhibition of birds of prey in the hot months (from March to October, both included) .
The second option would be the one that only gives access to the monastery. Both can be bought there at the ticket office, although **if we buy them online** we will save 10% and avoid possible waiting.
For the visit to the park it is recommended wear comfortable clothes, sports or mountain shoes, bottle of water and the camera with the battery charged.
Accessibility is limited and the various stairs and the narrowness and slope of the caves will prevent the passage of wheelchairs and pushchairs.
You can enter the Monasterio de Piedra with a dog -always on a leash and except for the display of birds of prey-. In case of entering the monastery, the dog must go in the arms or carrier.
Grotto Iris