Parish church of the Assumption of Our Lady

The parish church of the Assumption of Our Lady in Calaceite is an outstanding work of Matarraña Baroque. Its construction began in the 18th century on the foundations of the old Gothic church of Santa María del Pla, which dated from the early 14th century and was of smaller dimensions. Master builder Francisco de Ibargüens directed the project, and the church was consecrated in 1710.

The church is of considerable size, built in rubble masonry and ashlar masonry. It has three naves of equal height, flanked by side chapels between the buttresses. A crossing aligned in plan stands out, larger than the naves, with a polygonal apse. The east end is organised into several spaces: the main chapel with a polygonal plan and a lunette vault, two square chapels with domes on either side, and an irregular sacristy spanning the full width of the naves. The imposing bell tower stands at the west end, composed of three sections with characteristic Baroque decoration, although the last section, which would have housed the bells, remained unfinished.

The main façade of the church, with three doorways, is presented in the manner of an altarpiece, enhancing the majesty of the whole. Ornamental features characteristic of the Baroque stand out, such as the already mentioned Solomonic columns and the estípites, complemented by impressive wrought-iron studs decorating the door. It is important to note that this building, of great heritage value, suffered serious damage from a fire during the Spanish Civil War, leaving it in a precarious state until its subsequent reconstruction.

Throughout its history, the parish was under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Tortosa for centuries. However, in 1957, a significant change took place in its ecclesiastical administration, when it became part of the Diocese of Zaragoza, integrating it into a new diocesan structure.