An esconjuradero is a simple stone structure typical in Aragon and normally located in an area close to a church. In the past, the church’s bell tower would sometimes be used for the purpose, as was the case in Castejón del Puente, Colungo and Ponzano.
In Adahuesca it is integrated into the church building above the vestry. One façade faces west, from where summer storms ricochet off the mountains, often carrying hailstones.
The purpose of these magical spaces was to fight off our “conjure away” storms and hail and so save the villager’s crops. This was done through a series of rituals including prayers to St Barbara and St Bartholomew, the use of holy water, images and crosses and the peal of bells.

Legend says that witches would hide behind dark clouds, and everyone knew the power they possessed to turn into wind and hail. Because of this, as soon as a storm began, the villager who had the forniello (a wooden cross) had to advise the parish priest before going immediately to the esconjuradero in order to commence the rituals that fought off the storm clouds.
At the same time, the locals would place knives and scissors pointing to the sky at their windows, light candles and place the holy relics of Saints Nunilo and Alodia in the square; all in an attempt to guard off the storm. 

It wasn’t always successful of course as powerful witches lived in the area, such as the infamous Juana Bardaxí. It is said that she brewed up a thousand and one spells in the covens held on the Asba mountain.