Castle of Mesones de Isuela, Castle in Mesones de Isuela, Spain

The Castle of Mesones de Isuela stands on a rocky knoll above the village of Mesones de Isuela, in the Aranda region, and is one of the largest castles in Aragon. It is built of limestone on a rectangular plan with six towers, one at each corner and two at the middle of the long sides, round outside and polygonal inside. Inside, two open courtyards divide the defensive rooms from the palatial residence, whose Sala Mayor opens onto the courtyard through a pointed arch with Gothic tracery and the shield of Lope.

The first record is the 1175 donation by Sancha de Abiego to the Knights Templar, who held the castle until their order ended. In the 14th century it belonged to the Fernández de Luna; Archbishop of Zaragoza Lope Fernández de Luna built the present building and left it, with Tierga, Jarque de Moncayo, Sestrica, Nigüella and Lucena de Jalón, to his sister Toda. After his death in 1382 it was nearly abandoned, passing to the Ximénez de Urrea when Toda died.

The castle chapel occupies the upper floor of the northeast tower, Tower 2, with the lower floor serving as its crypt. It is covered by a Mudejar-style wooden roof and decorated with Italian-Gothic tempera paintings. In 1680 the chapel was enlarged with a small nave.

The castle stands on a rocky hill above Mesones de Isuela, in the Aranda region, not in Zaragoza city. Access is on foot up the slope, so sturdy shoes help. Inside, the two courtyards and the west wing with the Sala Mayor orient the visit; the northeast tower holds the chapel above and the crypt below.

The castle's plan departs from the regional model: the hilltop was levelled to achieve symmetry, and the interior is organised around two open courtyards. Its regularity and monumental proportions link it to Italian-influenced Gothic models such as Valderrobres and Mora de Rubielos.