Contamina

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Contamina is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain to the west of the Sierra de Padros, in the upper valley of the river Jalón, a tributary of the Ebro. At the 2008 census (Instituto Nacional de Estadística) the municipality had a population of 42 inhabitants. In 1930 the population was 252. The 16th-century parish church is dedicated to St Bartholomew and is constructed in the baroque style. It has a notable 16th-century altar depicting the life of Saint Bartholomew in eight panels. The novel Secuestro y fonda de Cela en Contamina by José de Cora, is set in the Contamina; it is a fictional history of the kidnapping of 1989 Nobel Prize winner Camilo José Cela by three local inhabitants. Two kilometres to the east lies the spa town of Alhama de Aragón. The main highway between Zaragoza and Madrid skirts the northern edge of the settlement. This is a rural community with arable and fruit farms. There is a restaurant and a casa rural (self catering accommodation). A few kilometres to the south-east lies the Tranquera reservoir and the ancient Monasterio de Piedra with its famous water gardens.

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Origins

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History

The origin of the name Contamina is believed to be from the Latin CONDOMIN(I)A (joint domain). Contamina used to lie on the Camino Real, the royal highway to Madrid, and in the Middle Ages was the location of stables for royal post horses. In 1361 king Pedro IV gave the manor of Contamina to Pedro Carrillo. In 1646 Contamina was granted by king Felipe IV to Sr. Juan Fernandez de Heredia of Cetina, who became Conde de Contamina. In the diaries of Elizabeth, Lady Holland, the Conde de Contamina was mentioned favourably as a supporter of the English cause against Napoleon during the Peninsular War.

During the Spanish Civil War Contamina remained in the Nationalist Zone following occupation of most of the province of Zaragoza by Franco's Nationalist forces in the summer of 1936. Five residents of the village were murdered by nationalist forces in 1936.

Monuments

•Castillo de Alhama de Aragón

•Ermita

What to visit

Patrimonio:

El conjunto urbano está formado por una agrupación de viviendas en las que pueden verse muchas de las tipologías típicas de la arquitectura popular de la comarca. Se estructuran en torno a una calle principal que en tiempos fue Camino Real.

En la localidad existe un único monumento que esté integrado dentro del Catálogo del Patrimonio Cultural Aragonés por la Dirección General de Patrimonio de la Diputación General de Aragón. Se trata del peirón de San Isidro, clasificado como bien de interés cultural, con la categoría de monumento.

En Contamina se encuentra la iglesia de San Bartolomé, que muestra un claro carácter barroco, levantada en el siglo XVI, compuesta por una sola nave cubierta con bóveda de lunetos donde se conserva un retablo realizado por la Escuela Aragonesa del siglo XVI, en él se narra la historia del santo en ocho tablillas. Al exterior se yergue una pequeña torre-campanario de planta cuadrada.

Fiestas:

Fiesta en honor a San Bartolomé (23, 24 y 25 de agosto)

Virgen del Rosario (Primer domingo de octubre)

Romería de San Juan Niño (Fin de semana más próximo a San Juan)

Romería Nocturna (11 de agosto, San Lorenzo)

Gallery

Festivals

September 2026

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Festivals this month

No festivals recorded this month.

Rest of the year

October: Fiesta patronal: Virgen Del Rosario (7)

What's on

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Street market

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Street market on the map Search for the street market online

Gastronomy

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Trails and hiking

•Camino del Cid (Senderista) (GR 160)

•Mirador del Calvario de Cetina (SL-Z 13)

Routes passing through Contamina

Tierras de Frontera Recorrido señalizado de 480 km, de Atienza a Calatayud, por 37 pueblos. 37 villages · 481 km · Red nacional

Services

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Famous people

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Town hall

Alcaldía: José María Morente Arcos

Web oficial: http://www.ayto-contamina.com/

Town hall of Contamina

Alcaldía: José María Morente Arcos Web oficial: http://www.ayto-contamina.com/

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