Basilica of "El Pilar", Point of view from the stone bridge over the Ebro River

El Pilar near the Stone Bridge - Zaragoza visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'El Pilar near the Stone Bridge' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Aragon.

'El Pilar' is the colloquial name for Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar), one of the top tourist attractions of Zaragoza in Spain. This church is built around a legend that links Spain with the Apostle James.

The legend states that in 40AD James was standing on the banks of the Ebro River at Caesaraugusta (the Roman name for Zaragoza) when an apparition of Mary standing on top of a pillar appeared to him, sending him back to Jerusalem. It is said that at that time she gave him a small wooden statue of herself and requested a chapel be built in her honour. This story is improbable for several reasons (James was beheaded in Judea around 44AD, no other evidence exists supporting James travelling to Spain, and James unlikely to have encouraged veneration of anyone but Jesus). However, the legend persisted and Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar) has played a central role in the life of Zaragoza for many centuries.

Nuestra Señora del Pilar is today housed within the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, and is the center of attention of the annual 'El Pilar' that takes place during the week of the 12th October, accompanied by concerts, performances, street animations and bull fights.

This panorama was taken from Puente de Piedra, a 15th century stone bridge crossing the Ebro River in Zaragoza. Today a pedestrian bridge, it shows that the influence of the pillar motif extends well beyond the church. Numerous pillars, topped with lights, adorn the bridge. Puente de Piedra offers a good view of the city and river.

Walk: Puenta de Piedra links Paseo de Echegarary y Cabellero, next to El Pilar on the south bank, with Av. Cataluna on the north bank.