Sos del Rey Católico - Iglesia de Santa María del Perdón

Sos del Rey Católico is a quaint, historic town with a population of just over 600. Founded as "Sos" by Sancho I of Pamplona during the Reconquista in the early 10th century, the town changed its name to Sos del Rey Católico, after Ferdinand II of Aragon (aka "el Católico") was born here in 1452. The town is built on a mountaintop. You enter it by foot through the medieval gates, as the old walls, that surround the town still exist.

It is known for the "Iglesia de San Esteban" (= Saint Steven) and the large crypt (three naves!) below, named "Iglesia de Santa María del Perdón". To reach this crypt, there is a kind of tunnel under the Iglesia de San Esteban. The walls of this tunnel are covered with crosses, carved in by pilgrims, as in medieval times Sos was on one of the many byways of the "Camino Aragonés". Church and crypt were locked for siesta.