Just outside the medieval village of Ainsa there is a shrine commemorating the battle won by the Christians against the Muslims. Legend has it that during the battle a blazing cross appeared in an oak tree, spurring on the flagging Sobrarbe soldiers.

Today Aínsa still celebrates the victory of christian troops over the Muslims at the city gates in the year 724 in the La Morisma festival

According to legend the christian forces were by far outnumbered by their Muslim adversaries. They overcame their enemies thanks to the valour of their leader, Garcí Jiménez, and to the appearance of a blazing red cross in an oak tree which was seen as a good omen and a sign that God was fighting on their side against the infidel.

As testimony to this legendary occurrence the oak tree and the red cross appear on both the Sobrarbe and the Aragonese coat of arms .

© Prames