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Zaragoza Zaragoza was once the capital of the powerful Empire of Aragon, it is well established as one of Spain's oldest & most prominent university cities, & is positioned at an important access point for crossing the Pyrenees mountains into France. These facts have made this city incredibly important throughout the ages, resulting in a lavish cultural, artistic, & architectural heritage. The young student population injects a vibrant atmosphere into this antiquated setting, with plenty of trendy cafes, bars, & entertainment venues peppering Zaragoza's centre. Geography & Facts Zaragoza is the capital of the autonomous community of Aragon. It is Spain's 5th largest city with a populace of around 650,000 people (in 2005). It is fed by the river Ebro & marks an important crossing point of the Pyrenees mountains into France. The city & areas surrounding it include several UNESCO world heritage sites. Sights & attractions As one of Spain's most beautiful cities Zaragoza boasts a wealth of sights & attractions. There are many religious buildings, fortifications, urban palaces, statues, parks, & gardens to explore. One important attraction is the Basilica del Pilar; one of the greatest religious constructs in Spain. It is a pilgrimage site for many Catholics as the Virgin Mary is said to have descended from heaven here in an apparition before James the Apostle. One of two Cathedrals in the city, if you only have time to visit one then you should come here. The Aljaferia Castle is another popular site, it is the largest & most prominent Moorish monument outside of Andalucia. A magnificent example of their architecture it predates the Alhambra in Granada & was built under the Beni Kasim dynasty. Getting around The best way to experience Zaragoza's most central areas is on foot, with the vast majority of the city's main sights & attractions within reach of each other. Unless traveling outside Zaragoza visitors are unlikely to need the train, though it does operate a high speed service to both Lerida (Catalonia) & Madrid. Additionally there is both a tourist bus & a tourist taxi service in operation. For more information on these services please contact the Zaragoza tourist board; details are listed at the bottom of this page. Cuisine Though there are various dishes originating from Zaragoza & Aragon, the cuisine here can roughly be translated to be traditional Spanish fare with some French influence. Of course a city of this size also offers it's visitors many international restaurants. Shopping There are a multitude of shopping opportunities in Zaragoza, with enough middle-high end retail outlets present to keep almost anyone interested. Alongside this are a multitude of typical markets & larger department stores. Climate During the summer months (June-September) the climate in Zaragoza is very warm, with daily highs easily reaching 30°C. However it's winters can be very cold, often dipping to around freezing point, especially at night. Zaragoza Tourist Office TEL +34 902 477000 FAX +34 976 280746
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