La Capilla Sixtina del Alto Aragón: Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Casbas

Stepping out of Ayerbe, towards Losanglis, you will find the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Casbas. This sanctuary has been documented since 1341, and while its current building was constructed in the early 18th century, it stands on a much older structure. It received the title of Monumento Nacional in 1979 and is known as La Capilla Sixtina del Alto Aragón due to the rich decorative paintings throughout its interior.

The sanctuary complex consists of the church and its dependencias. The dependencias, which surround part of the temple, feature two floors and a gallery with arcades added in the 19th century. This building serves as the vivienda del santero, as well as rooms for pilgrims and a reception area for visitors. Notable architectural features include a grand baroque coro at a higher level and a small baroque pulpit near the main altar.

While the interior is famous for its murals depicting various saints, the sanctuary is also the site of a contemporary legal dispute. In 2021, the Justice of Aragon granted ownership of the sanctuary to the diocese of Huesca following a lawsuit with the local ayuntamiento. This led to a protest from part of the population of Ayerbe, who claimed ownership in 2022. Today, the legal case remains open.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons