Tudela

The history of Tudela begins on the Santa Bárbara hill, where relics of what is believed to have been a Celtiberian settlement have been found. On this hill, vestiges of a Roman city have also been discovered, which might have been called ‘Tutela’ in honour of the Roman goddess who protected cities and homes.

One of the most notable sites in Tudela is the Ebro bridge, a stone construction consisting of seventeen different arches. It dates back to the 12th-13th centuries, although there are documents mentioning an earlier Muslim bridge. Another example of non-religious architecture in Tudela is the Torre Monreal, a watchtower rebuilt in the 19th century and thought to have already existed in the 10th century, since it is located on top of a hill from where the city could be perfectly overlooked.

The Cathedral of Santa María of Tudela was built on the ruins of an old mosque after the city was conquered by Alfonso I the Battler. Thus, the Cathedral of Tudela is late Romanesque and Cistercian, specifically with characteristics of the Hispanic-Languedocian school. However, the elevation can be considered Gothic in style. The Chapel of Santa Ana is attached to the Cathedral of Santa María. It belongs to the Baroque style and is richly decorated. It houses the statue of Santa Ana, after whom the chapel is named and patroness of the city of Tudela.

Other churches in Tudela include the Magdalene, Romanesque in style and from the 12th century; and the Church of San Nicolás de Bari, Baroque after being rebuilt in the 18th century, but originally Romanesque.

On the other hand, the life of Tudela's inhabitants revolves around the Plaza of the Fueros. Located here is the Clock House, a 17th-century building where many of the city's cultural events take place. From the Plaza of the Fueros, you can access both the old quarter of Tudela and the new part of the city.

Near Tudela lies the Bardenas Reales, a semi-desert natural park resulting from erosion, whose flora and fauna, although scarce, are quite different from those present in the northern part of the peninsula.