9 best things to do in Zaragoza, Spain

9 best things to do in Zaragoza, Spain

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Zaragoza is the fifth-largest city in Spain and has some of the most intriguing mixes of cultures in the whole of Spain. The city is the capital of the Aragon region and is home to a lot of Moorish architecture, it is also the city with many Francisco de Goya works! With an over 2, 000-year history, there are very many things to do and experience in the city, and here are nine to look out for when you visit!

1. Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar

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The Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared to St John the Apostle also known as Santiago, on top of a pillar, on 20th January 40 CE, at the very same spot, that the Basilica stands now. And as a sign of her presence, she is believed to have left behind the pillar. After that, a small chapel was built around the altar, and buildings were added and after some time, the Basilica came to fruition. Felipe Sánchez y Herrera, in the late 17th Century, designed the Basilica, which was modified by Ventura Rodríguez, in the 18th Century, and he added a few buildings to it now, you can take a lift and some other 109 stairs to the top of the Basilica, where you will have a spectacular view of the city!

2. IAACC Pablo Serrano

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Pablo Serrano, an artist started this Museum as a foundation before he died. The building housing the museum, which was opened in 1994, and is a revamped old office of the Hogar Pignatelli, is an art in itself! The museum displays contemporary art and is now owned and managed by the Autonomous Community of Aragon, and now holds over 5,000 items on display. If you visit the museum, and you should, you will see photographs, videos, sculptures, and paintings among other things from many artistes from all over the world! There is also a space within the building which is used to shoot videos and advertisements.

3. Caesaraugusta Theater Museum

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Take a tour of the former Caesaraugusta theatre which was used a lot during the reign of the Roman Empire. It had a capacity of about 6,000 and was discovered in 1972. As you take a tour of the place, you will get to learn about the art and performance life during the Roman Empire during their occupation of the place, and what happened to that culture after the end of that era. It now has a roof covering and protecting the place.

4. Zaragoza Museum

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The museum named after the town has such beautiful things to see. It was opened in 1908 and is located at the Plaza de Los Sitos. You will discover that it is divided into two sections- Archeology and Fine Art. It also has diversity in terms of having items from different periods in time. There are bronze plaques with Latin history, as well as Gothic paintings from the 12th Century, and even items from the Moorish times.

5. Goya museum

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The Goya Museum is named after Spanish painter Francisco Goya. The painter is very famous for his works, ‘The Disasters of War’ which he did from 1810-1820, and ‘Black Paintings’ done from 1819-1823. Most of the works found at the museum were done in the 20th century, and Goya’s son, Pierre Briguibol, gave three of his father’s works to the museum in 1894, therefore getting the name Goya Museum. The museum has other works by other people, like ‘Serie Gaudi’ by Joan Miro, which the Museum acquired in 1949, there are also works done by Picasso, Pacheco, Cano, Uranga, and many more. The museum itself is located in a 17th-century building done my Mansart and apart from paintings, it has carvings, sculptures, tools, and weapons as well as coins that date as far back as the 3rd Century BC.

6. Catedral del Salvador de Zaragoza

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This Roman Catholic Cathedral, located in Zaragoza is a World Heritage Site and is located in the Plaza de la Seo. It was the first Catholic Cathedral to be built in the town dedicated to San Salvador, built to incorporate the European Gothic style. The site also housed the Roman Temple of the Forum, the Higher Moslem Mosque as well as Visigoth Church. Even though several adjustments and renovations have been done on the church, it still retains its Romanesque and gothic touch, and you can visit it all year round. It is spectacular!

7. Museo de las Termas Públicas De Caesaraugusta

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At this museum, you will get an opportunity to see some of the oldest public baths in the world, built between 1BC and 4BC. They are located between the forum space and theatre and they served a place of leisure where people met and read books, played sports, listened to music or poetry, or simply took strolls, they therefore served more than just places where people cleaned their bodies. There were latrines, baths, gymnasiums, locker rooms, hot and cold, and even a large arcade pool, some of which were destroyed but some still stand. There are displays of some of the bath items used at that time by the people! Take a tour today!

8. School Origami Museum of Zaragoza

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You might at some point in your life made an origami, or even taught someone how to do it, but did you know that somewhere in Spain, there is a museum dedicated to the paper designed objects- origamis? Yes, in Zaragoza, there is an Origami Museum, located on the top floor of the Centro de Historias. Paper folding is an important part of Zaragoza’s history, dating back to about 1944. Zaragoza Group of Paper folding was regrouped in 1978, as the activity had gained a lot of popularity. There are six galleries of intricately done origamis at this museum, and you know what? You can also make an origami class for just about 6 Euros! Fascinating.

9. Palacio de la Aljafería

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This palace was built in the 11th Century in the Taifa in Zaragoza, the present Zaragoza. During the era of Abu Jaffar Al-Muqtadir, the Banu Hud dynasty stayed at the palace. At the moment, the regional parliament of the community of Aragon, known as the Cortes, is housed at the palace. It is one of the buildings in the city, which reflects the Muslim culture in the area because of the architectural details. Some of the most beautiful things to see inside include the Patio de Santa Isabel, Salón de Oro, Palacio Cristiano Medieval, Palacio de Los Católicos among others. The palace has guided tours in English and Spanish and is open most days a week except Fridays and Thursdays when there are parliamentary proceedings.