Alcañiz is the capital of the Bajo Aragón, a region of olive groves, cereal fields and dry hills crossed by the Guadalope river in the south-east of Aragón. The town is crowned by a castle built for the Order of Calatrava, now a parador, and its main square, with a Gothic loggia and the town hall, is one of the finest in the region. The shelter of the Mas de Barberà lies in the hills just outside town, toward Castelserás and Calanda.
The Bajo Aragón is rich in rock art, with Levantine paintings scattered in the ravines around Alcañiz, Alcañiz el Viejo and the Val del Charco del Agua Amarga, one of the most important sites in the region, which has a famous scene of archers. These sites belong to the UNESCO-listed group and are protected; some offer guided visits arranged through the local tourist offices. The art here shows hunters and animals, as elsewhere, but also some especially dynamic compositions.
For motorcyclists, Alcañiz is best known for something else entirely: MotorLand Aragón, a modern racing circuit a few kilometres outside the town, which hosts international motorcycle races. The town also has a long history of street racing, with an old urban circuit that was used for decades. Track days at MotorLand are popular, and the town fills with riders on race weekends.
The roads around here are good for riding. The route south toward Calanda, Alcorisa and the Maestrazgo climbs gradually into wilder country, with tight bends and fewer cars. Calanda is the birthplace of the film director Luis Buñuel, and it is famous for its drums: during Holy Week, thousands of people beat drums through the night in the ritual known as the Tamborrada. The area also produces peaches with a protected designation, wrapped in paper bags on the tree to keep them perfect. Alcañiz, about six kilometres away, has all services. Local olive oil is excellent, and the town's restaurants serve hearty Aragonese fare: lamb, ham from Teruel and migas.