Destination Zaragoza
The city of Zaragoza, Spain, capital of Aragon, went through the hands of the majority of the people who inhabited the Iberian Peninsula. With 2000 years of history behind it, Zaragoza is today a crucible of cultural remains that make it an open-air museum.
Reflecting this is the Cathedral of Salvador, better known as simply the Cathedral. Built on the ruins of a mosque built during the period of Muslim rule when the city was named Saraqusta, its structure is a mixture of the Romanesque, Mudejar, Gothic and Baroque architectural styles. All of this is built on the ruins of an ancient Roman temple which reminds you of the glories of Caesaraugusta, the ancient Roman city that eventually gave rise to Zaragoza.
You can see the history of the city in the construction of the Cathedral. The architectural ensemble of the apse, the Moorish dome and the Baroque tower has caused the Cathedral to be declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
You must visit the interior of the Cathedral to understand why the words “museum of art” have been used to describe this building. The impressive main altar retablo with its superb Gothic styling, the choir loft and organ, the exquisite Baroque and Renaissance chapels and the treasures of the Museum of Tapestries are some of the wonders that are in the Cathedral’s custody.
A religious site at which you can see a wonderful example of the Moorish influence on Zaragoza is the Palacio de la Aljaferia, dating from the 11th century. It is a huge Moorish palace surrounded by a moat and has beautiful Moorish features such as a high ceiling and a beautiful patio surrounded by ornate arches. It is well worth a visit.
BiziZaragoza, a Nice Way to See Zaragoza
When autumn is coming and the temperatures are perfect, a pleasant way to explore Zaragoza is on board a bike, so those who wish to do so can contact BiziZaragoza, an excellent system of bicycle rentals. The bike can be rented for three consecutive days and you can enjoy a guided tour with a representative of Zaragoza Tourism who will help you learn all about the natural and manmade heritage in this city along the banks of the River Ebro. These two-hour tours depart every Sunday at 10:30 am from the Plaza del Pilar. The price is 10 euros (5 euros for bike rental and 5 euros for the tour).
On the municipal website “Zaragoza Bike”, you can find all the necessary information in the tab “Office of the Bicycle”, which provides information to cyclists on a network of bicycle lanes, bicycle parking, schedules, helpful tips and new traffic regulations.