Artieda is built on the summit of a small hill on the left bank of the Aragón river. From a distance it is an unmistakeable and attractive sight. Its surroundings include the Yesa reservoir, inaugurated in 1959, which dominates the westward view from the village. Despite belonging to the province of Zaragoza, Artieda has historically formed a part of the Jacetania area.

On arrival at the village, the first thing that stands out is the carefully restored centre with beautiful cobbled streets and buildings of architectural interest. Of particular note are some examples of Renaissance and Neoclassical styles, such as the doorway of the “Casa de los Pagos o Diezmos” (Tithe House) and the “Casa del Hospital” (Hospital House). The church of St Martin is medieval in origin (12th to 16th centuries) but it was greatly modified in the 16th century to become the church we see now. The chapel of St Peter, on the outskirts of the village, is another interesting example of religious architecture.

In 1267, between the Roman and medieval periods, Artieda became a small town and went on to become a county subdivision of Jaca in 1387. There are a number of sites with Roman remains, including the site of St Peter’s chapel and some cobbled sections of the Roman road. It is known that in the Middle Ages it passed from royal to noble hands, belonging to the Leyre monastery from at least 919 AD, as is clear from the record of tithes to the Navarran monastery. The medieval origins of the village can be appreciated in the design of some of its houses.

Artieda is a key point on the Santiago Pilgrimage Route through Aragón. This historical route gave rise to the construction of monasteries, churches and bridges in a characteristic Romanesque style - the Romanesque of the high Pyrenees. San Juan de la Peña and the monastery of Leyre, neither of them far from the village, are prime examples of this architectural style.

Birdlife
The surroundings of Artieda are rich in birdlife due to the variety of ecosystems. The aquatic ecosystem of the Yesa reservoir, the high Pyrenean valleys, the Mediterranean groves of gall and holm oaks and the cereal plains of the Canal de Berdun give rise to this biodiversity. Lammergeiers, hawks, kestrels, eagle owls, red kites or griffon vultures are all permanent residents while others, such as cranes, migrate through this area twice a year on their way to and from central Europe in spring and autumn.

Roman remains
A Roman road used to traverse the Canal de Berdún area and vestiges of this road were found in the municipality of Artieda in the 1960s. Mosaics, rooms, fortifications, walls, moats, doorways, columns, Corinthian capitals and ceramics were found next to the outline of the road. The most important remains were found in the areas known as “Campo del Royo”, “Forau de la Tuta”, “Viñas del Sastre” and “Corrales de Villasues”. At present they are in store in the Provincial Museum of Zaragoza.

Text taken from the Jacetania Area Signposting Plan. 2001-2006