Murillo el Fruto - Navarra Media

Bordering the Navarrese Badlands

The charter town of Murillo el Fruto lies on the southern escarpment of the Sierra de Ujué mountains on the bank of the River Aragón, and bordering the Navarrese Badlands.

Its location meant it was destined to become a livestock and agricultural centre, as, since time immemorial, thousands of flocks and herds have been driven past the charter town along the Royal Drovers’ Road that ran between the Pyrenean grazing land of the Salazar Valley with the Ribera region of Navarre along the Ebro River. This drovers’ road is an interesting path of great landscape and ecological value.

The town’s rich soil is suitable for growing vines and cereal, and tomatoes, peppers and corn on the riverbanks.

Reasons to visit Murillo el Fruto

Its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages when a castle was raised there, according to the Moorish chronicles and authors, although only the memory of it remains today. Its town centre is home to the magnificent Church of Santa María built in 1528, along with the altarpiece that contains a work of Pedro de Acéiz from 1588.

This charter town was the birthplace of Raimundo Lanas, ‘The Navarrese Nightingale’, one of the most famous Navarrese singers of jota folk songs, and who was a shepherd and farrier when young. Lanas crafted and stamped today’s Navarrese jota. He worked in large performing troupes and enjoyed success in Cuba, Mexico and New York (1935). His ‘well-toned and strong’ voice was said to serve the ‘lyrical popular song’ ‘without pointless Baroque excess or polish’.

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