After breakfast in the hotel we set out to do Zaragoza. A visit to the Tourist Office first to get details on booking and then off we set. The fist stop was the spectacular Basilica del Pilar, which of course was huge inside. We were not allowed to take pictures inside so some are from are from the net.
On our way to the Basilica del Pilar, taken just outside our hotel
Then a quick stop into another tourist office to ask about 2 things
1) Why was the adjacent tower leaning? Answer the bricks weren’t fully set when it was built and the sun dried them out hence a leaning tower
The camera doesn’t really show it too clearly but it does lean quite a bit!
2) More about the Roman Walls of the city. Answer? Nothing more except these are the Old Roman Walls
But by the way did we want to climb the tower in the building? It’s free so yes! And off we went!
View to the Market
View to Basilica del Pilar
The tower we climbed
View to the River Ebro
Then a look at the Market. A very impressive building with some great stalls, very busy with the locals. We had a coffee inside enjoying the atmosphere.
The market as it was in 1903
Fully renovated it still looks stunning
One of the fish stalls - swordfish, spoots, clams etc. There were bigger and better stalls but I thought the swordfish head was worth a photo
A meat counter. Many many bits of animal were on sale. Nothing quite as dramatic as Arequipa but the sheeps head cut in half with the eye still in place was pretty dramatic!
How it was when it was first built.
We had booked a 12.30 slot for the Palacio de la Aljaferia so we walked the 20 minutes there, through quite ordinary streets. Outside the historic centre it’s not such an attractive city. However the Palace is quite dramatic! We hired audio guides and explored this huge complex of buildings. It was built by the Moors and was called the Palace of Joy (a great name) but was then taken by the Christians and it became a Royal Palace and now it is the seat of Aragons parliament. Because of this modern use of the building there has been a huge amount of work done to restore it to its firmer glory.
As we left we were able to enter the modern parliament, quite a contrast to the stunning older parts
After a walk back to the centre along the river bank (not developed at all we think because it will be flood plain) and a nice drink in a square we set off to find the remaining bits we’d like to explore. On the way we came across a part we had seen last night full of life and very busy - Bar Street I think it needs to be called - a plan to return tonight!
Then we came across the Roman Theatre
But sadly the Cathedral was closed. So back to the hotel for a very late lunch sandwich and a promise to return when everything wakes up again! Back to the Cathedral de la Seo just before it closed again at 8pm. A quick run up to see the Museum of Tapestries (all 15th century Belgian and huge) and then a quick turn around the cathedral. Both this cathedral and the Basilica are seen as the joint cathedrals of Zaragoza, and I can see why. The Basilica is huge but La Sol is big and more ornate.
After the Cathedral we headed into town to find the Bar street we had located earlier. The plan was to find somewhere nice to eat and drink something and that worked pretty well! 3 bars, 2 sets of tapas and a whole lot of buzz! The area is called El Tubo, officially called Carrer de Libertad. Great fun and a nice way to finish our time in Zaragoza. It’s been fun, and all the better for being unexpected.
