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Learning Spanish in Zaragoza. The tourist guide to study your Spanish course.
Spaniard's Day on 12th October is mainly hold in Zaragoza. Learn about Spanish barroque style era just by walking in the city centre or along Ebro riverside.
General Information. 675,000 inhabitants. 325 kilometres to the northeast of Madrid. It is the capital of the Autonomous Community of Aragón. It is situated on the banks of the rivers Ebro, Huerva and Gállego and lies in the middle of a valley. Its name derives from the Roman name Caesar Augusta and was dedicated to the Emperor Augustus Caesar. Zaragoza is the fifth biggest city in Spain in terms of population and is one of the country's important logistical centres. It has a strong and well developed industrial sector, which is supported by the Opel car factory in the nearby town of Figueruelas. Zaragoza hosted the Universal Exhibition in 2008, and has tried to take advantage of the installations from the Expo site to promote the trade and services sectors. The University of Zaragoza has over 32,000 students and offers 74 degree subjects. It has campuses in Huesca and Teruel as well as the university residence in Jaca, which organizes congresses and seminars. The Zaragoza Logistics Centre is attached to the university and works closely with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This Centre offers officially recognised postgraduate programmes, such as the Master's Course in Logistics, and acts as a reference in the world of logistics. Zaragoza is a very attractive place to study Spanish with some language schools offering a wide range of courses.
Surrounding Areas. Calatayud (90 kilometres in the direction of Madrid), a large town that boasts several examples of Mudéjar art among its many monuments. El Monasterio de Piedra (120 kilometres in the same direction), a beauty spot with many waterfalls, such as the so-called ‘Horse's Tail' (Cola del Caballo) and a 12th century building in its interior. Tarazona (90 kilometres), another town in the Mudéjar style, whose monuments reveal a great historical heritage. Los Monegros (100 kilometres),a desert area of biological interest with an ecosystem which is unique in Europe.
World Heritage Site. The Mudéjar Architecture of Aragón has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986 and includes the Mudéjar towers of the following churches in Zaragoza: Magdalena, San Pablo, San Miguel and San Gil.
Main Sights. The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar (Nuestra Señora de El Pilar) is the biggest Baroque temple in Spain. It is situated next to the River Ebro and is a point of reference in Zaragoza's old quarter. The Cathedral of San Salvador, commonly known as La Seo, which is built on the site of an Arab mosque. The Aljafería Palace, a fortified Arab building which was later used by the kings and queens of Aragón. La Lonja, an important Renaissance building. Throughout Zaragoza there are numerous examples of different architectural styles: Roman, Gothic, Mudejár, Renaissance, Baroque, neo-classical and modernist.
Culture. The main events are: FIZ, the Festival of Independent Music (October); Zaragoza's Film Festival (June); and the Zaragoza City International Festival of Hip-Hop (July). Some of the many museums include: the Museo del Foro, a museum showing what life was like during Roman times; the Roman Theatre Museum (Museo del Teatro Romano); the Thermal Baths Museum (Museo de las Termas Públicas); the Provincial Museum of Fine Arts (Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes); the Museum-Gallery La Lonja and the Pablo Gargallo Museum. The most important venues for theatre performances and concerts are the Teatro Principal and the Auditorio. The cultural offer is a major attraction for the many students who decide to study Spanish in Zaragoza.
Shopping. The most important shopping area is Zona Centro, or Nuevo Centro, a grid of streets made up of Paseo Damas, Paseo Constitución, Cesáreo Alierta and Camino de las Torres. Two other streets, Alfonso and Delicias, also deserve a mention. There are many shopping centres including Grancasa, which should be highlighted because of its size. Here you will find shops belonging to the popular retailers Hipercor and El Corte Inglés. Another important mall is Puerto Venecia. On Sunday mornings there is a flea market around the new bus station, where you can find antiques and curiosities.
Gastronomy. The old quarter is great for going out for tapas, especially the area known as El Tubo, the Left Bank and the University area. Bars such as Montesol, London and the pavement cafes of the Plaza de San Francisco and the many nearby restaurants are very popular with students thanks to their tapas and bocadillos (bread rolls with assorted fillings). In November there is usually a ‘tapas contest' with over 100 bars taking part. The food in Zaragoza is plain and hearty. There are good vegetables and fruits with designation of origin and excellent lamb and pork. In Borja, Cariñena, Valle del Jalón and Somontano, they produce high quality designation of origin wines. There are famous desserts and sweets, such as el turrón de guirlache (a type of nut brittle), el crespillo (fritters made with borage leaves), los adoquines (huge sweets) and las frutas de Aragón, sugar-frosted pieces of fruit covered in chocolate.
Sports. The football stadium, La Romareda, is the headquarters of Real Zaragoza, who play in the first division of the Spanish Football League. The city's basketball team, CAI Zaragoza, play their home games in the Príncipe Felipe Sports Hall. Zaragoza has many different sports facilities, such as sports halls, swimming pools, football grounds, athletics fields and fitness centres. Hiking, fishing, canoeing and rowing are just some of the other popular activities that you can do or learn here. There are several golf courses in the area.
Fiestas. The biggest fiesta pays homage to the Virgen del Pilar and is celebrated on the12th of October. It is famous throughout Spain and a real tourist draw thanks to the floral events and the lively atmosphere in the streets, with numerous groups organizing live events and performances at different points throughout the city. Holy Week in Zaragoza has been declared an Event of National Tourist Interest.
Transport. Zaragoza has excellent transport facilities. It is easy to get from Zaragoza to other Spanish cities. It is intersected by the Madrid-Barcelona and Valencia-Bilbao roads. The high-speed train, or AVE, means that Madrid is now an hour and forty minutes away, while it takes an hour and a half to get to Barcelona. It has a good network of urban and regional buses and there are plans to build underground and tram lines. There is a sightseeing bus with guided tours that runs in the summer months, at the weekends during the spring and autumn, and at Christmas.
Nightlife. Students who decide to study Spanish in Zaragoza will discover a very active nightlife, thanks to the city's university atmosphere. The main area for going out is Zaragoza's old quarter. Outdoor bars and restaurants can be found in all of the following city squares: Santa Marta, San Pedro Nolasco and Sas. This area is also packed with disco-bars and pubs. The most popular place for young people at the weekend is in and around Calle del Temple. There is also a lively scene in the Paseo de la Independencia and Calle Cádiz, with a wide range of dance clubs, taverns, pubs and restaurants. The Casino can also be found in this area. An alternative multicultural scene can be found in La Magdalena, with Arab tea shops, reggae bars and other establishments offering a diverse mix of cultures and music.
General Information. 675,000 inhabitants. 325 kilometres to the northeast of Madrid. It is the capital of the Autonomous Community of Aragón. It is situated on the banks of the rivers Ebro, Huerva and Gállego and lies in the middle of a valley. Its name derives from the Roman name Caesar Augusta and was dedicated to the Emperor Augustus Caesar. Zaragoza is the fifth biggest city in Spain in terms of population and is one of the country's important logistical centres. It has a strong and well developed industrial sector, which is supported by the Opel car factory in the nearby town of Figueruelas. Zaragoza hosted the Universal Exhibition in 2008, and has tried to take advantage of the installations from the Expo site to promote the trade and services sectors. The University of Zaragoza has over 32,000 students and offers 74 degree subjects. It has campuses in Huesca and Teruel as well as the university residence in Jaca, which organizes congresses and seminars. The Zaragoza Logistics Centre is attached to the university and works closely with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This Centre offers officially recognised postgraduate programmes, such as the Master's Course in Logistics, and acts as a reference in the world of logistics. Zaragoza is a very attractive place to study Spanish with some language schools offering a wide range of courses.
Surrounding Areas. Calatayud (90 kilometres in the direction of Madrid), a large town that boasts several examples of Mudéjar art among its many monuments. El Monasterio de Piedra (120 kilometres in the same direction), a beauty spot with many waterfalls, such as the so-called ‘Horse's Tail' (Cola del Caballo) and a 12th century building in its interior. Tarazona (90 kilometres), another town in the Mudéjar style, whose monuments reveal a great historical heritage. Los Monegros (100 kilometres),a desert area of biological interest with an ecosystem which is unique in Europe.
World Heritage Site. The Mudéjar Architecture of Aragón has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986 and includes the Mudéjar towers of the following churches in Zaragoza: Magdalena, San Pablo, San Miguel and San Gil.
Main Sights. The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar (Nuestra Señora de El Pilar) is the biggest Baroque temple in Spain. It is situated next to the River Ebro and is a point of reference in Zaragoza's old quarter. The Cathedral of San Salvador, commonly known as La Seo, which is built on the site of an Arab mosque. The Aljafería Palace, a fortified Arab building which was later used by the kings and queens of Aragón. La Lonja, an important Renaissance building. Throughout Zaragoza there are numerous examples of different architectural styles: Roman, Gothic, Mudejár, Renaissance, Baroque, neo-classical and modernist.
Culture. The main events are: FIZ, the Festival of Independent Music (October); Zaragoza's Film Festival (June); and the Zaragoza City International Festival of Hip-Hop (July). Some of the many museums include: the Museo del Foro, a museum showing what life was like during Roman times; the Roman Theatre Museum (Museo del Teatro Romano); the Thermal Baths Museum (Museo de las Termas Públicas); the Provincial Museum of Fine Arts (Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes); the Museum-Gallery La Lonja and the Pablo Gargallo Museum. The most important venues for theatre performances and concerts are the Teatro Principal and the Auditorio. The cultural offer is a major attraction for the many students who decide to study Spanish in Zaragoza.
Shopping. The most important shopping area is Zona Centro, or Nuevo Centro, a grid of streets made up of Paseo Damas, Paseo Constitución, Cesáreo Alierta and Camino de las Torres. Two other streets, Alfonso and Delicias, also deserve a mention. There are many shopping centres including Grancasa, which should be highlighted because of its size. Here you will find shops belonging to the popular retailers Hipercor and El Corte Inglés. Another important mall is Puerto Venecia. On Sunday mornings there is a flea market around the new bus station, where you can find antiques and curiosities.
Gastronomy. The old quarter is great for going out for tapas, especially the area known as El Tubo, the Left Bank and the University area. Bars such as Montesol, London and the pavement cafes of the Plaza de San Francisco and the many nearby restaurants are very popular with students thanks to their tapas and bocadillos (bread rolls with assorted fillings). In November there is usually a ‘tapas contest' with over 100 bars taking part. The food in Zaragoza is plain and hearty. There are good vegetables and fruits with designation of origin and excellent lamb and pork. In Borja, Cariñena, Valle del Jalón and Somontano, they produce high quality designation of origin wines. There are famous desserts and sweets, such as el turrón de guirlache (a type of nut brittle), el crespillo (fritters made with borage leaves), los adoquines (huge sweets) and las frutas de Aragón, sugar-frosted pieces of fruit covered in chocolate.
Sports. The football stadium, La Romareda, is the headquarters of Real Zaragoza, who play in the first division of the Spanish Football League. The city's basketball team, CAI Zaragoza, play their home games in the Príncipe Felipe Sports Hall. Zaragoza has many different sports facilities, such as sports halls, swimming pools, football grounds, athletics fields and fitness centres. Hiking, fishing, canoeing and rowing are just some of the other popular activities that you can do or learn here. There are several golf courses in the area.
Fiestas. The biggest fiesta pays homage to the Virgen del Pilar and is celebrated on the12th of October. It is famous throughout Spain and a real tourist draw thanks to the floral events and the lively atmosphere in the streets, with numerous groups organizing live events and performances at different points throughout the city. Holy Week in Zaragoza has been declared an Event of National Tourist Interest.
Transport. Zaragoza has excellent transport facilities. It is easy to get from Zaragoza to other Spanish cities. It is intersected by the Madrid-Barcelona and Valencia-Bilbao roads. The high-speed train, or AVE, means that Madrid is now an hour and forty minutes away, while it takes an hour and a half to get to Barcelona. It has a good network of urban and regional buses and there are plans to build underground and tram lines. There is a sightseeing bus with guided tours that runs in the summer months, at the weekends during the spring and autumn, and at Christmas.
Nightlife. Students who decide to study Spanish in Zaragoza will discover a very active nightlife, thanks to the city's university atmosphere. The main area for going out is Zaragoza's old quarter. Outdoor bars and restaurants can be found in all of the following city squares: Santa Marta, San Pedro Nolasco and Sas. This area is also packed with disco-bars and pubs. The most popular place for young people at the weekend is in and around Calle del Temple. There is also a lively scene in the Paseo de la Independencia and Calle Cádiz, with a wide range of dance clubs, taverns, pubs and restaurants. The Casino can also be found in this area. An alternative multicultural scene can be found in La Magdalena, with Arab tea shops, reggae bars and other establishments offering a diverse mix of cultures and music.
© TEXT: SPANISH IN TOUR.
VIDEO: Patronato de Turismo de Zaragoza
VIDEO: Patronato de Turismo de Zaragoza