# Molina de Aragón

Molina de Aragón is a municipality located in the province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2009 census (INE), the municipality had a population of 3,671 inhabitants. It held the record (−28.2 °C) for the lowest temperature measured by a meteorological station in Spain, and now it is in third place.
It was the seat of the taifa of Molina, a Moorish independent state, before it was reconquered by the Christians of Alfonso I of Aragon in 1129. On 21 April 1154 Manrique Pérez de Lara issued a sweeping fuero to the town of Molina, which he was building into a semi-independent fief. He and his descendants claimed to rule Molina Dei gratia ("by the grace of God"). Molina is also the type location of the carbonate mineral aragonite.

## Main sights

* Medieval alcazar (10th–11th centuries), the largest in the province
* Roman bridge (Puente Viejo)
* Convent of St. Francis
* Giraldo (St. Francis Church Bell Tower)
* Church of Santa Clara
* Church of Santa María de San Gil
* Molina-Alto Tajo Geopark, Molina de Aragon is within this Geopark.

## List of settlements in the municipality

* Anchuela del Pedregal
* Cubillejo de la Sierra
* Cubillejo del Sitio
* Novella
* Tordelpalo

## Climate

Molina de Aragón has a warm-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csb) with some semi-arid influences. Precipitation is irregular throughout the year, with most rainfall occurring during spring and autumn. Winters are cold for Spanish standards, with temperatures often below 0 °C (32 °F) due to its altitude and its inland location. Summers are warm with mean maximum around 30 °C (86 °F) while the nights remain relatively cool.
Climate data for Molina de Aragón 1062m (1991–2020), extremes (1949-present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 21.4 (70.5) | 26.8 (80.2) | 26.8 (80.2) | 29.6 (85.3) | 33.2 (91.8) | 37.8 (100.0) | 38.0 (100.4) | 38.0 (100.4) | 36.4 (97.5) | 30.0 (86.0) | 23.6 (74.5) | 19.2 (66.6) | 38.0 (100.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.8 (47.8) | 10.8 (51.4) | 14.4 (57.9) | 16.5 (61.7) | 20.9 (69.6) | 26.1 (79.0) | 30.0 (86.0) | 29.7 (85.5) | 24.3 (75.7) | 18.4 (65.1) | 12.0 (53.6) | 9.2 (48.6) | 18.4 (65.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.8 (37.0) | 3.9 (39.0) | 6.8 (44.2) | 9.1 (48.4) | 13.1 (55.6) | 17.5 (63.5) | 20.4 (68.7) | 20.3 (68.5) | 15.9 (60.6) | 11.2 (52.2) | 6.0 (42.8) | 3.3 (37.9) | 10.9 (51.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −3.3 (26.1) | −3.0 (26.6) | −0.8 (30.6) | 1.7 (35.1) | 5.2 (41.4) | 8.8 (47.8) | 10.9 (51.6) | 10.9 (51.6) | 7.4 (45.3) | 4.1 (39.4) | 0.0 (32.0) | −2.6 (27.3) | 3.3 (37.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −28.2 (−18.8) | −20.2 (−4.4) | −15.6 (3.9) | −8.6 (16.5) | −5.2 (22.6) | −1.8 (28.8) | 1.0 (33.8) | 0.0 (32.0) | −3.6 (25.5) | −6.4 (20.5) | −15.6 (3.9) | −28.0 (−18.4) | −28.2 (−18.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 27.5 (1.08) | 24.2 (0.95) | 36.6 (1.44) | 49.7 (1.96) | 59.7 (2.35) | 44.9 (1.77) | 18.0 (0.71) | 23.8 (0.94) | 42.6 (1.68) | 46.1 (1.81) | 39.1 (1.54) | 30.9 (1.22) | 443.1 (17.45) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 5.7 | 5.2 | 6.9 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 6.1 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 4.7 | 7.5 | 6.9 | 5.9 | 72.2 |
| Average snowy days | 5.2 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 19.3 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 74 | 67 | 63 | 62 | 58 | 53 | 47 | 48 | 57 | 67 | 73 | 76 | 62 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 133 | 155 | 202 | 207 | 239 | 282 | 335 | 307 | 237 | 177 | 120 | 115 | 2,509 |
| Source: Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia ||||||||||||||

## Notable persons

* Claro Abánades López (1879-1973), Carlist politician and publisher
* Romualdo de Toledo y Robles (1895-1974), Carlist politician and longtime high official of Ministry of Education
* José María Araúz de Robles Estremera (1898-1977), Carlist politician and bull-breeder

## Gallery

* A typical inn (built 1826) at Molina de Aragón, Spain.
* Old bridge over the Gallo river, 13th century, in the background the Medieval alcazar of Molina de Aragón, Spain.
* Giraldo on top of St. Francis Church bell Tower.
* Posada de los Comuneros.
* Tower of Aragon.