Unciti

The landscape of our valley is defined by the transition between the basin’s plain and the limestone of the mountain range, under the constant watch of the rock face of Izagaondoa. In this part of the pre-Pyrenean basins, the appearance of the stone-built villages and farmland bears witness to a heritage linked to pastoralism and to the ivy which, according to the etymology of our name, once thrived in these places. The atmosphere of Unciti is evident in the silence of its oak groves and in the solidity of an architecture that integrates the mystique of the peaks into a scene where matter and time maintain their own rhythm.

Unciti general information

Our municipality, situated in the district of Sangüesa, 19 kilometres from Pamplona, comprises a community spread across five parishes and three inhabited settlements. Unciti’s identity is rooted in a territory of 37.34 km² that received its current name in the 12th century, having originally been known as Val de Erraondo. Living in this valley means observing the coexistence between the everyday life of villages such as Cemboráin, Zabalceta and Najurieta and a heritage with Romanesque roots that preserves the memory of the ancient lineages of the Navarran mountains.

What to see in Unciti?

Unciti is a hidden gem of Romanesque art and outdoor life.

• Church of San Martín de Artáiz: This building is recognised as a fine example of Romanesque architecture in Navarre. Its sculptural decoration on capitals and corbels depicts scenes from medieval life with a technical detail that demonstrates the mastery of the local stonemasons.
• The town of Unciti: The administrative centre still boasts emblazoned stone-built houses that bear witness to the importance of the valley’s historic estates. Its parish church dominates a street layout where the carved stone reflects the evolution of local civil architecture.
• Architecture of Zabalceta and Najurieta: These villages retain the character of sturdy farmsteads that settle organically into the landscape. The use of local materials in their construction demonstrates how rural life has adapted to the climatic conditions of the Pre-Pyrenees.
• The surroundings of Zoroquiáin and Cemboráin: Life in these places, some with barely a single registered inhabitant, allows one to observe the traces of rural memory and the persistence of medieval churches in an atmosphere of absolute respect for the silence of the forest.