The Cinco Villas are one of Aragon's gems that, although not undiscovered, still do not receive as much attention as other places in the autonomous community, a mystery.
At the western end of the region lies the town of Sádaba. A new mystery, often overlooked. Perhaps overshadowed by the strong allure of other place names like Sos del Rey Católico or Uncastillo.
The tomb would have housed the remains of up to three generations of the Atilios, an aristocratic family from the area
Sadaba is a town filled with diverse monuments. One of the most exceptional is the popularly known Altar of the Moors. At a certain time, when something sounded exotic, it was immediately labeled with that term, which surely was related to the fear that had been felt towards the Arab troops that occupied a large part of the Iberian Peninsula for seven centuries.
But the square-looking wall, with five well-visible arches, actually dates back to the 2nd or 3rd centuries A.D., and it is indeed a Roman funerary altar. The official name is the Mausoleum of the Atilii. Just reading the inscriptions is enough to understand it: they mention Gaius Atilius, Lucius Atilius, and Lucia Atilia. The latter could be the daughter of one of the former.
Aerial view of the town of Sádaba, in the province of Zaragoza
The Atilios were a rural aristocratic family that thrived at the foot of the road that connected Cesaragusta (Zaragoza) with Pompaelo (Pamplona). The fertile agricultural plains of the territory at that time would provide enough wealth to the Atilia family to build a funerary monument that has survived for two thousand years and is now located on the outskirts of the town.
The tomb would have housed the remains of up to three generations of the family. In 1931, it was declared a historical-artistic monument, with the anecdote that it was awarded to Navarra instead of Aragón. Although the Autonomous Community is very close, it was undoubtedly a mistake in reading the maps, as they were well defined even then. The Altar of the Moors can be easily located thanks to the signs that guide from a bend in the A-1202 road, just over two kilometers from the town center.
Castle of Sádaba, a marvel from the 13th century
The town, by the way, is inexcusable. Not only because of the 16th-century Gothic church of Santa María. Above all, because of its castle. The fortress of Sádaba is imposing, with the peculiarity that it looks like a succession of square towers connected by small sections of wall. It is very well restored. You can easily walk around its perimeter and from there contemplate the western part of the Cinco Villas, in a panoramic view that also overlooks the Navarrese and Riojan lands. If you wish to visit the interior, you must contact the local tourism office in advance and schedule a guided tour (except in July and August, when there are regular tour hours).
Upon crossing the main door, you enter a courtyard where the highlight is the cistern to supply water to its inhabitants. Right there is the chapel, with a rib vault supported by columns attached to the main wall.
How to get there
Sadaba is 22 kilometers away from Ejea de los Caballeros, the regional capital. You can quickly reach it via the long straight stretch of the A-127 road. Zaragoza is just over an hour's drive away.