The first leg of the Camino Aragones is about 30 KM. Somport is a tiny town first documented in history in the 11th century, and is mentioned in the Codex Calixtinus, the first guide to the Camino, published in the 12th century and attributed to the pope who first promoted the Camino widely. Near Somport, pilgrims can see the ruins of a "hospital" for pilgrims. (Hospital in this case refers more to a lodging place for pilgrims. (The English, French, and Spanish words for both hospital and hotel descend from this word, since the medieval hospitals provided care for sick pilgrims in addition to lodging for all.
Jaca has at least two interesting places to visit. The Cathedral, pictured top, is an interesting example of high romanesque architecture. It was built in about 1603. The Monastary of the Benedictinas, pictured bottom. is an amalgam of constructions, the oldest of which is from about the 12th century. In 1555 the Benedictine sisters of Santa Cruz de los Seros, a place I want to visit later in the Camino Aragones. The Monastary contains a very well preserved Romanesque burial crypt the sisters brought with them when they moved from Santa Cruz.
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