Sigena Monastery

A Romanesque Masterpiece in the Monegros

The Royal Monastery of Sigena (Real Monasterio de Sigena) is one of the most important Romanesque monuments in Aragon, a 12th-century convent complex that rises dramatically from the arid plains of the Monegros region. Founded in 1188 by Queen Sancha of Castile, wife of King Alfonso II of Aragon, the monastery was built as a convent for the female branch of the Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem. For more than 800 years it served as a royal pantheon, a centre of learning and a spiritual retreat, until a devastating fire in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War destroyed much of its interior. Despite that tragedy, what survives is extraordinary — particularly the chapter house, whose Romanesque-Gothic mural paintings are among the finest in Europe.

The monastery's remote location, framed by the stark beauty of the Monegros steppe, adds a powerful sense of isolation and timelessness. Approaching Sigena across the flat, sun-baked plains, the square bell tower and solid stone walls appear almost mirage-like — a vision of medieval power and faith set against an endless horizon. The journey itself, weaving through quiet country roads past fields of almond trees and olive groves, is part of the experience.

The Chapter House: A Romanesque Sistine Chapel

The undisputed highlight of any visit to Sigena is the chapter house (Sala Capitular), a rectangular room covered by a pointed barrel vault and decorated with an extraordinary cycle of mural paintings dating from around 1200. These paintings, created by masters of the Italian-Lombard school, cover the walls and vault with scenes from the Old and New Testaments — the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Crucifixion, the Last Judgment and a magnificent Maiestas Domini (Christ in Majesty) surrounded by the symbols of the four Evangelists.

The style is unmistakably Romanesque: bold outlines, flat areas of intense colour (vermilion, ochre, ultramarine), and a formal, hieratic quality that conveys spiritual authority. Yet within this framework, the Sigena painters achieved remarkable expressiveness — the faces of the apostles, the grief of the Virgin at the Crucifixion, the terror of the damned at the Last Judgment — all rendered with a psychological depth that foreshadows the Gothic. The paintings survived the 1936 fire remarkably well, protected in part by the thick lime plaster, and were meticulously restored in the 1990s. They are now considered one of the most important ensembles of Romanesque mural painting in Spain.

The Monastery Buildings

Beyond the chapter house, the complex includes the austere Romanesque church with its single nave and semicircular apse, the cloister (partially reconstructed after the fire), the refectory and the royal pantheon where several members of the Aragonese royal family are buried. The church's stonework is typically Cistercian in its simplicity — massive walls, small windows, a sense of solid permanence. The cloister, though incomplete, conveys the tranquil rhythm of monastic life with its open arcade looking onto a central garden.

The bell tower is the most visible landmark for miles around. You can climb it for panoramic views across the Monegros — on a clear day you can see as far as the Pyrenees to the north and the Sierra de Alcubierre to the east. The climb is steep but short (about 60 steps) and well worth the effort.

How to Get There

Sigena Monastery is located in the village of Villanueva de Sigena, approximately 65 kilometres east of Zaragoza. By car, take the A-2 motorway towards Barcelona, exit at Bujaraloz (kilometre 350), then follow the A-129 regional road towards Sarinena for about 15 kilometres. The total journey time is about 1 hour 15 minutes. The roads are well-maintained and signposted.

Public transport is limited. There is a daily bus from Zaragoza's Delicias station to Sarinena (operated by Grupo Samar), from which you can take a taxi to the monastery (approximately 15 minutes, 15-20 euros). The bus journey takes about an hour and costs roughly 8 euros each way. A taxi from Zaragoza directly to the monastery costs approximately 70-90 euros.

Where to Stay

Sigena is best visited as a day trip from Zaragoza. The surrounding Monegros region has limited accommodation, so basing yourself in Zaragoza gives you more options for dining and evening activities.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sigena Monastery

Also discover: Moncayo Natural Park — another spectacular day trip from Zaragoza, and Graffiti and Murals of Alfamen for a very different kind of art in the Aragonese countryside.

? Back to Discover Zaragoza