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

Zaragoza (Saragossa) is the capital city of the Zaragoza province in northern Spain. It is also considered the capital of the former kingdon of Aragon, now an autonomous community in Spain. Zaragoza grew up next to river Ebro, where the Huerva and Gállego tributaries feed into it, near the center of the Zaragoza province. Lying in a valley, the city is surrounded by a varied landscape covering deserts, hills and dense forests.

Zaragoza started out as a Celtiberian village around 200BC. It was invaded by the Carthaginians, who built a fortress here and called it 'Salduba', and then by the Romans and, in the 5th Century, the Goths. In the 8th century it fell under Arab rule, who named the town 'Saraqusta', until it was captured by the Aragonese nearly 400 years later in 1118.

One story links Zaragoza with the beginnings of Christianity in Spain, when, supposedly, a vision of Mary standing on a pillar appeared to James, son of Zebedee, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus while he was in Spain. This seems unlikely as James never left Judea and was beheaded in 44AD. However, a pillar is preserved in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, which draws hundreds of pilgrims each year for the annual Las Fiestas del Pilar each October.

Zaragoza - Tourist Attractions

For the visitor, Zaragoza is full of attractions of historical interest. Some of these are displayed on this map, linked to 360 panoramas in and around the city, forming a virtual tour of Zaragoza and the surrounding area. The most popular and important attractions include:

• Plaza del Pilar - enormous public square at the center of the city, surrounded by Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Ayuntamiento (city hall), Exchange Palace and several other important sites.
• Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar (Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar) - one of the top attractions in Zaragoza, 17th century cathedral supposedly built on the spot where Mary, mother of Jesus, appeared to the Apostle John.
• La Seo Cathedral (Catedral del Salvador) - part of the World Heritage Site 'Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon', a 12th century Romanesque church with Gothic-Mudéjar additions.
• Aljaferia Palace - fortified palace from the 12th century that was home of the Banu Hud dynasty and now houses the Cortes (regional parliament) of the autonomous community of Aragon.
• Zaragoza Museum of Fine Arts - contains paintings by early Aragonese artists from the 15th century. Featured artists include El Greco, Ribera and Goya
• Camon Aznar Museum - art museum with with paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Velazquez, Goya, Renoir, Manet and Sorolla.
• Zaragoza Exchange - also on the Plaza del Pilar, a 16th century Renaissance building with a large hall with a vaulted ceiling and heraldic decorations.
• Puerta del Carmen (Gate of Mount Carmel) - 18th century gate, one of 12 gates to the city, now standing as an isolated arch in Piazza María Agustín de Zaragoza.
• Palacio Arzobispal (Archbishop's Palace) - 18th century palace containing the 'Immaculate' painting by Bayeu Francisco in 1758 and two Gothic panels of an altarpiece of La Seo.
• Iglesia de San Fernando de Torrero (Church of San Fernando de Torrero) - 18th century neo-classical church next to the Imperial Canal of Aragon, constructed in very geometric form.
• Canal Imperial de Aragón (Imperial Canal of Aragon) - the Casablanca Locks on the canal are a major 18th century engineering achievement that used to be part of the harbour complex and contained a mill driven by a water-wheel.
• Fuente de los incrédulos (Source of the Disbelievers) - 18th century monument and fountain built on completion of the Imperial Canal of Aragon as a statement against those who lacked faith in the project.
• Museum of Paleontology - contains various fossils, insects, animal parts and other artifacts of biological and historical interest. The collection was donated by Longinos Navás, a Jesuit priest.
• Museo del Foro de Caesaraugusta (Forum of Caesaraugusta Museum) - free museum showing the Roman past of Zaragoza with artefacts, remains and ruins of both the Forum and a number of other buildings from the 1st century.
• Museo de las Termas Públicas de Caesaraugusta (Caesaraugusta Roman Baths Museum) - free museum containing remains of the Roman baths with a detailed model showing the original layout.
Museo de la Torre Nueva (New Tower Museum) - free museum about the 16th century Torre Nueva tower, a major landmark of Zaragoza which was demolished in the 19th century.
• Puente de Piedra - 15th century stone bridge across the Ebro River with good views of the town.

Aside from these attractions, Zaragoza has many delightful bars, cafes and restaurants serving all kinds of local and regional delicacies. The city is very busy, and hotels most expensive, during Las Fiestas del Pilar, which is one of the most celebrated festivals in Spain.

Zaragoza Tourist Information Office
Plaza de Ntra. Sra. del Pilar, s/n.
Tel. 902 14 2008 - Fax: 976 72 12 81
e-mail: infoturismopilar@zaragoza.es

Zaragoza Tourist Information Office
Glorieta de Pio XII, s/n.
Tel. 902 14 2008 - Fax: 976 20 06 35
e-mail: infoturismozuda@zaragoza.es

Flight: Zaragoza Airport (IATA: ZAZ), 10km from the city center.
Train: Delicias Station (2km from city center) with direct, high speed trains to Madrid and Barcelona.
Bus: Delicias Station for regional and national buses run by ALSA.
Car: Zaragoza is 320km from Madrid (E90/A2), 310km from Barcelona (E90/AP2). 310km from Bilbao (E804/AP68) and 160km south of the border with France.