Casa dels Delmes or Old Hospital

The history of the Casa dels Delmes (diezmos) in Mazaleón is fascinating and shows how this building evolved over time and served many different purposes. Originally, it formed part of the estate belonging to the archbishopric of Zaragoza, which was the feudal lord of the town by virtue of a royal donation in 1175. The building stood in the area of the town castle, which was eventually demolished in the 18th century as it was no longer in use. In its place, the Casa dels Delmes was built to enclose the old olive presses (trujales) that had been left exposed to the elements.

The tithe tribute, which this building originally represented, was abolished in the mid-19th century. Subsequently, part of the building was used to produce wine.

At the end of the 19th century, part of the house was adapted to accommodate municipal officials and the trujales were removed. In the 20th century, it became the Municipal Hospital, which provided shelter for travellers. More recently, the building was restored in the early 21st century and transformed into the Interpretation centre for Local Historical Heritage.

The story behind the name of the street where this building stands is equally interesting. It was popularly known as the street of the witches due to its dark and sinister appearance in the past. However, during the Francoist dictatorship, the official name of the street changed to Calle del Hospital, in reference to the building that served as the municipal hospital.