Sos del Rey Católico is a beautifully preserved medieval town in the Aragonese Pyrenean foothills, and one of the most handsome small towns in Spain. Its name commemorates Ferdinand II of Aragon — the Catholic Monarch — who was born here in 1452. Ferdinand later married Isabella of Castile, effectively uniting Spain, and together they sponsored Columbus's voyage to the Americas.
The town itself is a maze of narrow stone lanes, Romanesque churches, and arcaded squares that feel almost entirely unchanged from the Middle Ages. The Iglesia de San Esteban — where Ferdinand was born — stands at the town's heart, while the Plaza de la Villa below it provides a shaded square for a glass of wine after the walking. The castle and walls are mostly intact and walkable. It's a quiet place with few tourists and excellent local food — this is serious ham country, and the restaurants take their ingredients seriously. The Parador de Sos is the obvious place to stay if you're spending a night, as you should be if you're traveling between Zaragoza and Pamplona.