Nestled in the province of Huesca, in the Somontano region, the picturesque village of Alquézar attracts with its imposing Collegiate Church and its old town of cobbled streets. However, for those seeking a more intimate and surprising experience, the true treasure is revealed in the surroundings, following a circular route that descends into the Vero River canyon via vertiginous walkways and discovers hermitages hidden in the rock. This route offers a very high visual impact, allowing one to enjoy the grandeur of the landscape from unique perspectives and, if the right time is chosen, a quieter tourism away from the urban core.
The heart of this alternative experience lies in the descent to the Vero River canyon via a system of walkways anchored to the vertical walls. This audacious engineering allows one to enter a world of rock sculpted by water for millennia. The path winds through narrow gorges, natural caves, and ephemeral waterfalls, offering spectacular views of the river flowing encased below. The sensation of walking suspended over the void, with the Vero River murmuring at our feet and the imposing rock walls rising on both sides, is breathtaking.
The circular route is not limited to the lower walkways. A well-marked trail leads to the Hermitage of San Gregorio, an architectural jewel semi-hidden in a natural cavity of the rock. Its access, via a path that meanders through the forest and offers panoramic views of the canyon, adds an element of discovery and connection with local history. This hermitage, of medieval origin, although with later reforms, evokes a time of contemplation and isolation, integrating perfectly into the natural environment. Its strategic location makes it a privileged observation point of the surrounding landscape.
The visual impact of this route is, without a doubt, one of its greatest attractions. The combination of the erosive force of the Vero River, which has shaped capricious forms in the limestone rock, with the human intervention of the walkways, which allow an unusual perspective of the canyon, creates a natural spectacle of great beauty. The colors of the rock, which vary according to the sunlight, the vegetation clinging to the walls, and the greenish-blue of the river, compose an impressive natural palette.
To enjoy a quieter tourism and avoid the crowds of the Alquézar nucleus, it is advisable to take this circular route in the low season (spring or autumn) or during the early morning or late afternoon hours in the high season. In this way, one can appreciate the tranquility of the environment and the majesty of the landscape with greater serenity. The experience then focuses on immersion in nature, the sound of water, and the discovery of hidden corners, in contrast to the bustle of the town center at peak times.
This circular route through the walkways and the hermitage of Alquézar represents an alternative and deeply rewarding way to experience the natural and historical beauty of the Somontano region. Moving away from the main focus, the traveler enters a world of sculpted canyons, centuries-old hermitages, and landscapes of unparalleled visual impact, discovering a secret Alquézar that lingers in the memory long after the walk.
