The Ebro, the great trade and communication corridor, has been a vital artery that has enriched the territory throughout history. From the Iberian societies to the Romans, this majestic river has boosted the economy and culture of its banks, benefiting not only the leaders but also all the inhabitants.

This river has always been a gateway to the peninsula, with fertile lands that became the basis of the organization of the rearguard. Despite this, it did not manage to completely unite the territories occupied by various tribes such as the Cantabrians, Autrigons, Varduls, Berons, Basques, Ilergets, Edetans and Ilercavons, which explains the great historical, political and social differences between the areas through which it flows the Ebro, from its source in Cantabria to its mouth in the Delta.

Imagine the fearsome Vikings sailing upriver to devastate Pamplona in the 9th century, or the Muslim skiffs and sloops of the Marca Superior of al-Andalus traversing its waters. King Alfonso I El Batallador also used this river to reconquer the Baix Ebro, and the first monarchs of the Crown of Aragon traveled through its waters. The Ebro even witnessed the first river toll in Europe during the first years of the Christian reconquest, a tribute for all the merchants who transported goods along the river.

Over the years, the Ebro has been a path full of life, with river navigators, fishermen, transporters, fishermen and plasterers. In the 20th century, engineers, financiers and visionaries dreamed of turning the Ebro into the great shipping route between the Mediterranean and the Cantabrian, and many canalization and navigation projects saw the light of day, such as steam navigation from the sea to in Escatrón and Sástago (Zaragoza).

Although these great works did not have the expected success, traditional sailing continued. In the waters of the Ebro, the beautiful llaguts sailed, laden with wheat, wine, plaster or coal on their way to the sea, while the Catalan rayers went downriver. The Ebro has not only connected territories, but has also united people through music and art, as demonstrated by the Jota, which resonates from Navarre to the Ebran lands, the craftsmanship of the Llaguts, clothing or many gastronomic recipes.

The modernization of transport with the railway and the improvement of roads, together with the construction of large reservoirs such as those of Mequinensa and Riba-roja, put an end to this millennial tradition. But today, we have the obligation to remember, claim and recover this legacy for future generations, keeping alive the identity that defines us.