The province of Zaragoza is part of the Aragonese Autonomous
Community. It has borders with Huesca to the north, Teruel to the south, Catalonia
to the east and Pamplona and La Rioja to the west. It is located in the north
of Spain 200 metres above sea level. The landscape here is flat and quite arid
except for the river valleys.
Traditionally an agricultural province,
the main produce grown here are: cereals such as wheat and corn, beetroot and
fruit. There are lots of vineyards too. In fact most industry in this province
is related in some way or other to agriculture.
Zaragoza has both a
mediterranean and continental climate. It is very hot in the summer and very cold
in winter. One notable feature is the 'cierzo' wind that blows principally
in the Ebro valley.
The Iberos, the Romans, the Arabs and Christians
all occupied these territories at some point in history, influencing and shaping
this province's architectural, cultural and artistic heritage. Above all the Mudejar
culture had a great influence on this province. There are several routes to follow:
The Camino de Santiago Route: This is the part of the Camino which
goes through Aragon. It is not a well used route because of it is quite difficult
to follow. It passes through the northern part of the province from Huesca to
Navarra. It passes through: Sangüesa, Castillo de Javier, Urdués de
Lerda, SOS del Rey Católico, Uncastillo, Recuesta, Artieda, Mianos, Martés,
Puente La Reina.
The Mudéjar Route: This begins in Zaragoza, the capital of the province, (the Mudejar wall, the Alfajería Palace,
San Pablo, Santa María Magdalena, San Miguel de los Navarros and San Gil
churches all have Mudejar towers ); Muel (Muwala árabe); Longares(church tower); Paniza (Nuestra Señora
de los Angeles church tower); Daroca (Arabic castle); Calatayud ( Ayyub castle the Santa María Collegiate cloisters, San Pedro
de los Franceses, San Andrés, Nuestra Señora de la Peña,
Collegiate tomb); Magallón (church); Borja (Casa de las Conchas); Alberite de San Juan (various monuments)
and Tarazona (episcopal city, episcopal palace, the ancient Cinto
neighbourhood - the former Jewish quarter, la Magdalena church).
The Romanesque Route: This covers the whole province, you can visit castles,
monasteries, convents and churches all in a Romanesque style built in the middle
ages.
The City of Zaragoza
Zaragoza was founded by
the Romans in 24 B.C. upon the ancient city of Salduie, which used to be
an Ibero village. The Romans baptized it Caesaraugusta, in honour
of César Augusto and this is where the name Zaragoza comes from. It used
to be a fortified city under the Romans.
Later
in 714, the city was taken over by the Muslims and was converted into the capital
of the high area of Al-Andalus.
In 1018 it became the capital of the first Kingdom
of Taifas. In 1118 it was conquered by King Alfonso I of Aragon and converted
to Christianity. From that moment onwards Zaragoza became the capital of the Kingdom
of Aragon.
Today Zaragoza has a population of 660,895 inhabitants. It
is a touristic city and also a business centre with many conferences taking place
there (University, Environmental, Educative, Technological...). It also has a
very attractive cultural life which includes theatres, auditoriums and childrens'
theatre...among other things.
The city's infrastructure and facilities increase
year on year. The Official Tourism Office organizes visits to the city there is
a 'Megabus' especially for children, the Talking Tours, guided tours in English,
French and Italian, there is a nightbus tour as well as a tour which dramatizes
many important historical events. There are 7 Tourist Information Offices dotted
throughout the city. For further information call: 902 20 12 12.
Churches
in Zaragoza:
- Nuestra Señora del Pilar
Basilica : Plaza del Pilar. This imposing building is a place of pilgrimage.
It was built in the 16th century in a Baroque style. It has undergone alterations
in the 17th and 20th centuries. Things to look out for are: the altarpiece by
Damiá Forment; frescos and paintings by Goya and Bayeu; the ornate stone
pillar surrounded by flowers and silver with a statue of the virgin Mary on top
in the Santa chapel; 11 tiled domes; the San Antonio de Padua chapel. Over the
centuries various architects contributed to the design of the building: Felipe
Sanchez, Herrera del Mozo and Ventura Rodríguez.
- Salvador
(La Seo) Cathedral : Plaza de la Seo. This is a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic,
Mudejar, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassic styles. 12th century but later modified
in the 18th century. It was built upon what used to be the Roman forum and an
important ancient mosque. It was the 1st Catholic Cathedral in the city. Things
to look out for: the 15th century Gothic altarpiece by Pere Johan and Ans Piet
d'Anso.
- Santa Maria Magdalena: Plaza de la Magdalena. Tel:
976 39 97 45. 14th century Mudejar, modified in the 17th and 18th centuries. Things
to look out for: the tower and the apse; the altarpiece and works by José
Ramírez de Arellano and Damiá Forment.
- The Santa
Engracia Crypt: The entrance is on Calle Castellanos. It is located
within the Santa Engracia church. It dates back to the 4th century A.D. during
the Roman occupation of the city. The crypt and sarcophagus are early Christian.
- Santa Engracia Monastery: Plaza Santa Engracia, 15th -16th
centuries Renaissance. It was built upon a former Christian - Roman cemetery.
This is where the 2 marble sarcophagus which are now in show in the crypt were
discovered. All that remains of the cemetery is the entrance which was built by
Juan II de Aragón and his son Fernando el Católico.
- San
Pablo: c/ San Pablo, 42. Mudejar, 14th, 15th and 19th centuries. Things to
look out for: the tower from both inside the church and outside; the central nave,
the Tramontana door, the Santo Cristo in which the image of the Virgen del Santo
Populo is painted; the 1515 altarpiece by Damiá Forment.
- Santa
Isabel de Portugal or San Cayetano: Plaza de la Justicia, 1. Baroque, built
in the 17th century in memory of Isabel de Portugal. It has been declared a cultural
monument. Things to look out for: the altarpiece by Ramírez de Arellano;
the interior is decorated in a churrigueresco style, the only one in this style
in the city.
- San Gil Abad: c/ Don Jaime, 15. Mudejar Aragonese,
14th century but altered in the 18th century. Things to look out for: the Mudejar
tower, the vestry (1776) decorated with paintings and frescos by Ramón
and Manuel Bayeu.
- San Miguel de los Navarros; c/ San Miguel,
52. Romanesque with Mudejar alterations, 14th - 17th centuries. Things to look
out for the tower and apse; the Renaissance altarpiece by Damiá Forment.
Important Buildings in Zaragoza:
- Roman Walls: Avenida Cesar Augusto. 2nd -3rd centuries A.D. There
is a fortified tower followed by walls and a statue of César Augusto. These
were used a lot to defend the city during the Middle Ages.
- The
Jewish Baths: c/ Coso, 126-132. Mudejar, 13th century. They were located opposite
the 'Castillo de los Judíos' (The Jewish Castle) and the Jewish Quarter,
now only a rectangular room remains with a simple arched roof.
- The
Déan Arch: c/ del Déan, 5. This is a mixture of Gothic,
Mudejar and Renaissance styles. It is an arched passage that links the Cathedral
to the Dean's house.
- The Post Office: Paseo de la Independencia,
33. This was built in 1915 by Antonio Rubio, in a Neomudejar style.
- The
Town Hall: Plaza del Pilar, 18, Tel: 976 72 11 00. Built in 1965 in a Renaissance
style, it is decorated with sculptures by Pablo Serrano.
- The Market:
Plaza del Pilar, Tel: 976 39 72 39. It dates back to 1551 when the building, by
Juan de Sariñena, was finished. It is a mixture of Gothic and Plateresque
styles. Things to look out for: the facade with its leaded glass windows and the
interior with its Aragonese columns and arched roof. The building is a cultural
monument. Nowadays it is used as an exhibition centre by the town hall.
- The Episcopal Palace: Plaza de la Seo, 5. Neoclassic, completed
in 1807.
- The Aljafería Palace: c/ Diputados. Mudejar, Hispanomuslim
dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries (although it has undergone multiple
alterations since then). It was once used as a residence by the 'Reyes Católicos'
(the Catholic Kings and Queens) and also as a prison during the Inquisition. Things
to look out for: the walls, the San Martín patio, the Trovador fortified
tower, the Santa Isabel patio, the Oratory, the Golden Room and the 'Reyes
Católicos' palace.
- Lanuza Market: It has interesting
Art Nouveau forged steel patterns.
- The Fortea Fortified Tower:
c/ Torrenueva, 25. Mudejar with a mixture of other styles. 15th century. It now
belongs to the town hall.
- La Zuda Fortified Tower: c/ Glorieta
Pío XII, Mudejar a mixture of other styles, 10th - 20th centuries (it has
been continuously altered). It is now used as a Tourist Information Centre.
- Tarín House: Plaza de Santa Cruz, 19. Neoclassic, 18th
century. This is the former headquarters of the Imperial Aragon Canal. Today it
is used by the 'Cachirulo' Aragonese Society.
- The Auditorium
and Congress Centre: c/ Eduardo Ibarra, Tel: 976 72 13 00. This was built
in 1994 by Manuel Perez Latorre. It is a contemporary building with modern facilities.
Concerts, conferences, conventions, exhibitions and other cultural events all
take place here.
- The Central Market: Avenida César
Augusto. Built by Felix Navarro and modernized by Felix Magdalena in 1903. It
is located in the same place as the market place dating back to the 13th century.
Museums in Zaragoza:
- The
Caesaraugusta Public Baths Museum: c/ San Juan and San Pedro, 1st century
A.D. You can see pools with an arched ceilings, a hot spring and various statues...
- The Caesaraugusta Forum Museum: Plaza de la Seo, 2. 1st
century A.D. It consisted of the Augusto Market and the Tiberió Forum.
It used to be the central meeting point in the city. You can see the Basilica,
the temple, the Roman Parliament, shops, statues and triumphal arches.
- The
Caesaraugusta Theatre Museum: c/San Jorge, 12 Roman. 1st century A.D. Columns,
sculptures, paving stones and cornices have been preserved.
- Camón
Aznar Museum: c/ Espoz y Mina, 23, Tel: 976 39 73 28. It holds a collection
of drawings by Goya, as well as other works by eminent artists from different
periods.
- Zaragoza Museum: Plaza de los Sitios, 5,
Tel: 976 22 21 81. It houses paintings and archeological finds.
- Pablo
Gargallo Museum: Plaza San Felipe, 3, Tel: 976 399 20 58. It houses
paintings by this well known Galician artist.
Art Nouveau in Zaragoza - there are 4 buildings which stand out, all of which are cultural monuments.:
- Juncosa House: Paseo de Sagasta, 11. Designed and built by
José de Yarza Echenique. This house has been perfectly perserved, including
all the original furniture and interior decorations. In 1983 it became a national
monument.
- Molins House: c/ Alfonso, 2. By Fernando
Ayaza, built in 1902. Perfectly preserved.
- Retuerta House: Paseo de Sagasti 13. By Juan Francisco Gómez Pulido built in 1904. Perfectly
preserved. It also became a national monument in 1983.
- Mercantil House: c/ Coso 9. Built in 1912 by Francisco Albiña. Perfectly preserved.
In the 1st half of the 20th century it used to be a place where artists, intellectuals,
writers and journalists met up for discussions.
- The Band Stand:
This is located in the Primo de Rivera Park. Built in 1908 by the Martínez
Ubago brothers.
Travelling to Lanzarote?
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Guides provinces bordering
with Zaragoza and beautiful
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