Hermitage and Iberian settlement of San Cristóbal, Mazaleón

The hermitage of San Cristóbal is a building of considerable proportions constructed in the late 18th century. It has a Latin cross plan and is covered by a barrel vault with lunettes. Built in solid ashlar masonry, it features a dome and a centred bell gable.

Inside, the paintings decorating the central dome stand out, especially those on the pendentives, which depict the Fathers of the Church. The round arch doorway and the octagonal lantern above the crossing dome are notable architectural features. Next to it stands the hermit's house, a three-storey construction with eight openings in the facade, including a balcony.

Next to the hermitage of San Cristóbal lies the Iberian settlement of San Cristóbal, an archaeological site of great importance located on the right bank of the Matarraña River. This settlement, which dates from the Early Iron Age, is fundamental to understanding the Iberianisation of the Ebro Valley.

The archaeological finds include remains of walls with irregular masonry covered by painted plasterwork, as well as a rich variety of ceramics (some pieces with cords and zig-zags) and metallic objects such as bronze bracelets. A crucial discovery was that of fragments of a Phoenician ceramic vessel, testimony to the cultural interactions of the period.

The hermitage also houses the Visitor Centre of Mazaleón, an ideal starting point for exploring this fascinating historical and archaeological heritage of the Matarraña.