Zaragoza, also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza province and of the autonomous community of Aragón, in Spain. It is situated on the river Ebro near the centre of the region, in a valley with a variety of landscapes, ranging from desert (Los Monegros) to thick forest, meadows and mountains.

The population of the city of Zaragoza in 2008 was 682,283, ranking fifth in Spain. The city lies at an altitude of 199 meters above sea level, and constitutes a crossroads between Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao and Toulouse (France) all of which are located about 300 kilometers (200 miles) from Zaragoza.

Zaragoza hosted the Expo Zaragoza 2008 in the summer of 2008, a World's Fair on water and sustainable development. Romans, Moslems, Jews and Christians have all left their marks by way of a living heritage and they have shaped the singular personality of this town and the open character of its people. The wealthy historical heritage of the city of Zaragoza is the result of this mixture of cultures.

Visitors can enjoy, within just a few metres, the fascinating Roman legacy, which left its mark on impressive archaeological remains now enhanced as museums; the magnificence and charm of Mudejar art, classified as Heritage of Mankind; the Christian formality and Jewish tradition; the force and intelligence of Goya's work; the Baroque grandiosity of the Pilar and the flavours of our land.


Roman wall. It was built in the s. III d. C. as a result of the barbarian invasions of Northern Europe. The wall surrounding the Roman city had 120 towers. 36 fragments are preserved today in the wall, the most important one is placed in the Cesaraugusto Avenue. Along this stretch is the statue of Emperor Augustus, bronze copy of the famous Augustus of Prima Porta, the Italian government's gift to the city in 40 years.

Caesaraugusta's Forum Museum. It houses the remains of the administrative, social and economic life centre of the Roman city.

Caesaraugusta's Theatre Museum. It houses the remains of the roman theatre built in the first century AD. Nowadays part of the bleachers and the orchestra remain in the outer of the museum, and inside the museum there are various decorations as well as remains of buildings from later times.

Stone Bridge. It is the oldest bridge preserved on the river Ebro. It is a Gothic building from the fifteenth century. It has been renovated several times due to the Ebro flooding. During the last remodelling four bronze lions, designed by sculptor Francisco Rallo were placed at both sides of the bridge.

Dean Arch. It was built in the thirteenth century, when it was planned to construct a building to provide a corridor between the Cathedral with the new dean's home.

Catedral de San Salvador (La Seo). It was built on the former main mosque of the city after the arrival of the troops of Alfonso I the Battler to the city in 1118. The first phase of construction was undertaken in Romanesque style with stone, which was soon replaced by brick and Mudejar style. This phase emphasizes the Parroquieta's wall. Inside the church there is an altarpiece made in the s. XV and the Tapestry Museum which houses an extensive collection of tapestries from the XV, XVI and XVII.

Aljafería Palace. It is one of the most important monuments of the Hispano-Moorish architecture of the eleventh century. It has undergone numerous expansions and restorations due to its many uses. The most important reform was carried out by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492. Since 1485 the palace was the seat of the Inquisition Court, including prisons and barracks of troops from 1706 onwards.

Saint Paul'church. It was built at the end of thirteenth century. Its most characteristic part is the octagonal Mudéjar tower which is one of the best examples of Mudéjar tower of the city. Its interior houses two concentric bodies between which there is a staircase, which allows a panoramic view of Zaragoza.

Pilar's Basilica. The present building dates from s. XVII. Inside the basilica is one of the most important symbols of tradition and devotion to the Virgin. It is a column that according to tradition was carried by the Virgin to Zaragoza for the Apostle Santiago, who was in town with the first converts to Christianity, to built the first temple dedicated to the Virgin. Highlights in the interior an altarpiece made in alabaster during the Renaissance by Damian Forment and the ceiling paintings by Francisco de Goya.

Carmen's Gate. It was built in the year 1789. It was one of the twelve gates of the wall surrounding the city. During the Independence war (1808-1809) it served as the gateway to the resistance stronghold of Aragon. Traces of the bullets are still visible in its structure.

Patio de la Infanta. It is a renaissance courtyard of the palace belonging to a merchant banker and built in the mid-sixteenth century. After years of neglect a French antique recovered it and in 1980 returned to Zaragoza in the hands of IberCaja which now houses it in its interior.

Saint Philip Square. In this square there is the Baroque church of Saint Philip, the Armijo palace, which houses the museum of the sculptor Pablo Gargallo The Mudejar tower named Fortea, and a curious statue of a young man sitting on the ground turning his gaze upward to the place where the most impressive Mudejar tower of the city was: the Torre Nueva. This tower was raised during the s. XVI and demolished in 1892.