Zaragoza Things to Do

All the pictures of the temple are connected with the life of Maiden Maria. One of Goya's early works "The queen of martyrs " was kept on the northern dome. The artist created this fresco in 1780-1781. One more Goya's painting was kept in a chapel which is opposite to the Sacred chapel. Goya painted a plafond on a plot " Worship of angels of the name Jesus ".

The building of Basilica amazes with the sizes inside. Three altars, the statue of Maiden Maria is kept in one of which, the dome and the arches differ unusual riches of a decor - statues, a marble, bronze, a jasper.
The dome is decorated by a fresco written per 1773. The appearence of the Sacred Maiden is represented on it.

New elements were added in a decor of the main facade in 1969. The rectangular basil is completely executed from a brick. Four towers rise on the sides, there are some tiled domes between them. The main big dome dominates over them. The viewing platform is on a northwest tower of the temple.

Maiden Maria Pilar is considered the patroness of Spain. There is a legend, that on January, 2nd 40 Maiden Maria appeared before Apostle Iakov when he stayed for a night at a place where Zaragosa is situated now. The maiden was standing on a marble column (in Spanish "pilar"). When the vision disappeared, the column nevertheless remained. Soon it became a place of worship of the first Spanish Christians. They built a small chapel around of the column. A church was built in the VIII-th century. The main relic of the basils - the marble column. It can be seen in Capilla Santa in the east part of the basils. The column is crowned with magnificently dressed statue of Maiden Pilar. Priests change its precious clothes every day.

The main temple Zaragosa is Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Pilar. It has 11 domes. It is the second center of pilgrimage in Spain after the Cathedral in Santiago-de-Campostela.
The Cathedral was built in the XII century after exile of moors from Zaragosa.
In 1681 there has been begun construction of a new baroque temple under the project of architect Sanchez-i-Errera. The basil got the modern shape in the XVIII century according to the project of the architect Rodriguez. The towers decorated by a multi-colored tile appeared in the beginning of the XX century.

It is considered, that Romans founded colony Cesar August on a place of Celtic settlement Sadduba in the I-st century B.C. Moors grasped Zaragosa in 710 and it became the capital of the small frontier Arabian state. Alfonso I released Zaragosa from the Arabian sovereignty in 1118 and proclaimed it as the capital of Aragon.
After the wedding of Ferdinand the king of Aragon and Isabella the queen of Castile in 1480 it was formed the united Aragon-Castile state.

Alfonso Street is one if the main strolling, shopping area in the city. It goes from Plaza de Pilar to Plaza de Espana.
There are all kinds of shops and antiques but the most common here are the jewellery shops and galleries.

This church is dedicatted to the Holy Virgin of Pilar and is one of the most popular destinations for catholics in Spain. It lies next to the river Ebro. The church was built in 1681and has four towers. In the cupola the works of interest are by Goya and Bayeau.Watch out for the sneaky gypsies in the area. They offer you a plant that looks like pine saying it is free then they read your fortune when you accept. They then say the plant is free but the fortune is 20E. They and their gangs follow you around if you don't give it to them!