Aragon

Aragon is an autonomous community and historic region in northeastern Spain. It covers about 47,720 square kilometers and has a population of around 1.3 million. The capital is Zaragoza, and the region comprises three provinces: Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. It borders Catalonia to the east, Castile and León to the west, Valencia to the southeast, and France and the Pyrenees to the north. The terrain ranges from the Pyrenean mountains in the north to the Ebro valley and semi-arid areas in the southeast.

Historically, Aragon emerged as the Kingdom of Aragon in the Middle Ages and later formed the Crown of Aragon, which expanded Mediterranean influence to territories such as Sicily, Sardinia, and Naples. The union of the kingdoms under Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile in 1469 laid the groundwork for a unified Spanish monarchy. After centralizing reforms in the early 18th century, regional autonomy diminished until the modern autonomous community was created by the Statute of Autonomy in 1982.

Economy and culture: Aragon has a diversified economy with agriculture (grain, vineyards, fruits), industry centered in Zaragoza (notably automotive assembly at Figueruelas), and logistics due to its strategic location. Notable cultural and natural sites include the Aljafería Palace in Zaragoza and the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park. The majority language is Spanish; Aragonese survives in small northern valleys and is recognized as part of the region’s cultural heritage. The region also has a tradition of festivals, cuisine, and crafts influenced by its border position.