Added: 05/03/2006 |
In Zaragoza There's so Much to do, You won't be DisappointedZaragoza is the culminant point in the valley of Ebro, Spain's most water-bearing river, in an impressive landscape with picturesque villages and very old traditions and popular customs. It was founded some 2000 years ago, and Old-Iberians, Romans, Goths and Arabians equally left their heritage. it is to the Roman Caesar Augustus, and Islamic Sarakosta, that Zaragoza owes both its name and the still easily recognizable rectangular perimeter of its old town, bordered by the lower and upper sections of Calle Coso, Avenida de Cesar Augusto and the River Ebro.
Zaragoza sprang to fame when it received a visit from the Virgin Mary and became the everlasting site of religious pilgrimages. The scenery of the Province of Zaragoza is very varied: from the spurs of the Pyrenees to the high, snow-capped peaks of El Moncayo in the Iberian mountains, from the extensive wheat-growing plains of Las Cinco Villas and the sober Monegros to the fertile valleys of the Gallego, the Jalon and the Jiloca.
Zaragoza is considered to be relatively untouched by tourism: most travelers know it only as a train station on the way from Barcelona to Madrid. Those who take the time to get off the train and spend in Zaragoza a day or two are rarely disappointed. The old town is full of authentic Spanish restaurants, and Aragon cooking is superb. Zaragoza as well features important buildings of Spanish baroque.
Attractions in Zaragoza include the Aljaferia castle, the greatest Moorish edifice outside Andalucia, the Roman Forum and Theatre of ancient Caesaraugusta, and the Basilica del Pilar, one of the most famous sanctuaries of the Virgin Mary in the world. Other important sights are the old Cathedral, and La Seo a magnificient 14th century church with its famous Museum of Trapestries. The most important museums in Zaragoza are the Museum of Fine Arts, with paintings of early aragonite artists and of El Greco, Ribera and Goya, and the Camon Aznar Museum, with paintings ranging from Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Velazquez and Goya to Renoir, Manet and Sorolla.
Zaragoza has always benefited from a strategic location, a fact as true as ever in our time, being in the middle of a crossroads which traverses Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia.
The result is a dynamic and modern city, continuously growing, yet with still mostly walkable distances, with a legacy of splendid buildings and monuments inherited from all the cultures that have contributed to its development. For convenience, Zaragoza can be divided into three areas of interest: the historic centre, the Ensanche and boulevards, and the University-Delicias area.
No Zaragoza holidays will be complete without sampling the superb Aragon cooking. For good wholesome food in a clean and simple dining room, where you can dine well but not break your budget, Casa Pascualillo restaurant offers an extensive menu.
La Zanahoria is a young persons place to hook-up and hang out. It's a friendly restaurant, where the house specials are salads and vegetable quiches.
Iin Fantoba restaurant they have been creating their 'frutas de Aragon', chocolate-dipped candied fruits, for the past 145 years.
Spending a few days in Zaragoza is enough to be completely blown away by all that this ancient city has to offer.
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