{{Infobox settlement | name = Alhama de Aragón | native_name = | settlement_type = [[Municipalities of Spain|Municipality]] <!-- images, nickname, motto --> | image_skyline = Alhama de Aragón 2.jpg | imagesize = 265px | image_caption = View of Alhama de Aragón | image_flag = Bandera de Alhama de Aragón.svg | image_shield = Escudo de Alhama de Aragón.svg <!-- maps and coordinates --> | pushpin_map = Spain | pushpin_mapsize = 265px | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_relief = yes | coordinates = {{coord|41|17|47.9|N|1|53|38.5|W}} <!-- location --> | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{ESP}} | subdivision_type1 = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|A. community]] | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Aragon|name=Aragón}} | subdivision_type2 = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]] | subdivision_name2 = {{flagcountry|Province of Zaragoza}} <!-- government type, leaders --> | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = María Pilar Marco <!-- area --> | area_total_km2 = 31.14 <!-- population --> | population_total = 996 | population_as_of = January 1, 2021 | population_density_km2 = 31.98 <!-- time zone(s) --> | timezone = | utc_offset = +01:00 <!-- postal codes, area code --> | postal_code_type = [[Postal code]] | postal_code = 50230 <!-- blank fields (section 1) --> | blank_name_sec2 = [[Community Identification Number|MCN]] | blank_info_sec2 = 50020 <!-- website, footnotes --> | website = {{Official|1=https://alhamadearagon.es/}} }}
[[Image:Thermal lake Alhama de Aragon.jpg|thumb|250px|left|A thermal lake in the grounds of Termas Pallarés in Alhama de Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain.]]'''Alhama de Aragón''' is a spa town located in the [[Zaragoza (province)|province of Zaragoza]], [[Aragon]], Spain, situated on the river [[Jalón (river)|Jalón]], a tributary of the [[Ebro]]. According to the 2004 [[census]] ([[Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain)|INE]]), the municipality has a population of 1,150 inhabitants.
Principal industries are the ''balnearios'' (spa hotels) and a lighting factory. There are extensive fruit farms and some wine-making in the area.
The town is served by railway services to [[Arcos de Jalón]] and [[Calatayud]], where there is a connection to the high speed [[AVE]] trains between [[Madrid]] and [[Barcelona]].
The 1957 film ''[[Los jueves, milagro]]'' (Every Thursday a Miracle), by [[Luis García Berlanga]], starring [[Richard Basehart]] was filmed in the pueblo. Set in the fictional village of Fuentecilla, the story concerns a plot by local business men to revive the business of the spas by staging a miraculous appearance by San Dimas every Thursday evening.<ref> {{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050574/plotsummary |title=Jueves, milagro, Los (1957) - Plot summary |publisher=www.imdb.com |access-date=2009-01-28 }} </ref>
==History== The town has been known for over two thousand years, primarily because of the hot springs of the area. The [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] poet [[Martial]] refers to its pre-Roman name as ''Congedus''.<blockquote> O you, whose name must not be left untold by Celtiberian nations, you the honour of our common country, Spain, you, Licinianus, will behold the lofty Bilbilis, renowned for horses and arms, and Catus venerable with his locks of snow, and eased Vadavero with ita broken cliffs, and the sweet grove of delicious Botrodus, which the happy Pomona loves. You will breast the gently-flowing water of the warm Congedus and the calm lakes of the Nymphs.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/martial_epigrams_book01.htm |title=Martial, Epigrams. Book 1. Bohn's Classical Library (1897) |publisher=www.tertullian.org |access-date=2009-01-28 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090310160058/http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/martial_epigrams_book01.htm| archive-date= 10 March 2009 | url-status= live}} </ref> </blockquote> In the Roman era, it became known as ''Aquae Bilbilitanorum'', a reference to the waters of [[Augusta Bilbilis]], the Latin name for Calatayud. The modern name derives from the [[Arabic]] ''Al-Hammam'', meaning "the baths". An Arab fortress was captured by [[El Cid]] in 1070, but it then reverted to [[Moors|Moorish]] control until re-captured by king [[Alfonso the Battler|Alfonso I]] of Aragón in 1122.<ref name="muniweb">{{cite web|url=https://translate.google.com/translate?langpair=auto%7Cen&u=http://www.alhamadearagon.es/|title=Translated version of www.alhamadearagon.es|publisher=translate.google.com|access-date=2009-01-28}} </ref>
In the ensuing three centuries the town was disputed by the rulers of [[Kingdom of Castile|Castille]] and Aragon, finally becoming part of the latter in 1457. In the nineteenth century, the hot springs were exploited and several ''balnearios'' were built, four remaining in operation and popular with visitors today.<ref name=muniweb /> During the [[Spanish Civil War]], Alhama was quickly occupied by [[Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)|the Nationalists]].<ref name="beevor">{{cite book|last=Beevor|first=Antony|title=The Spanish Civil War|publisher=Penguin|year=2001|pages=125–129|isbn=0-14-100148-8}}</ref> During [[World War II]], some escaped [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] prisoners or war were interned in the town, along with airmen who crashed in or near Spain.<ref name=WWIIE&E1>{{cite web|title=MI9 Report numbers|url=http://www.conscript-heroes.com/MI9-03.html|work=WWII Escape and Evasion Information Exchange|access-date=12 April 2013}}</ref><ref name=WWIIE&E2>{{cite web|title=Escapers from Germany|url=http://www.conscript-heroes.com/escapelines/EEIE-Articles/Art-16-Escapers-from-Germany.htm|work=WWII Escape and Evasion Information Exchange|access-date=12 April 2013}}</ref>
==Attractions== A unique thermal lake of nearly two hectares is open throughout the year in the grounds of Balneario Termas Pallarés.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.termaspallares.com/es/ |title=Balneario Termas Pallarés - Alhama de Aragón, Zaragoza |publisher=www.termaspallares.com |access-date=2009-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202170348/http://termaspallares.com/es/ |archive-date=2 February 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} </ref> The water is a constant temperature of 34 °C. The famous [[Cistercian]] abbey of [[Monasterio de Piedra]] with its water gardens lies approximately 25 kilometres to the south-west. The city of [[Calatayud]] which has famous ''[[mudéjar]]'' church towers is about 35 kilometres to the north east. Other examples of ''mudéjar'' art can be found in neighbouring villages.
==Fiestas== * La Virgen de las Candelas and [[Saint Blaise|San Blas]], February 2–3 * Pilgrimage (romerio) to the hermitage of San Gregorio, 2nd Sunday in May * Pilgrimage (romerio) to the hermitage of Santa Quiteria, May 22 * San Roque, August 14–17
==Notable people== * [[Pablo Luna|Pablo Luna Carné]], (1879-1942), famous composer of ''[[zarzuela]]s''. * [[Ángel Vicioso]], (1977-), [[racing cyclist]]
==Nearby== *[[Ariza, Zaragoza|Ariza]] *[[Ateca]] *[[Cetina, Aragon|Cetina]] *[[Contamina]] *[[Daroca]] *[[Godojos]] ==See also== * [[List of municipalities in Zaragoza]]
==Notes== {{reflist}}
{{Municipalities in Zaragoza}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alhama De Aragon}} [[Category:Municipalities in the Province of Zaragoza]]