Zaragoza is the only city in the Iberian Peninsula to have enjoyed the privilege of being called by the entire name of its Roman founder Caesar Augustus.
The city was established in the first century A.D. over the ruins of the old Iberian town of Salduie. From the very beginning, Caesaraugusta was a regional capital city. Its excellent strategic position, situated as it is on the banks of the mighty river Ebro, gave it a range and depth that were ideal for its position as an administrative centre.
At the end of the 5th century, in common with the rest of the Roman Empire, Zaragoza found itself in a process of change, a period that ended with the occupation of the city by Visigoth troops under the leadership of one Count Gauterico in the year 472 .D.
Traces of the Visigoth stewardship of Zaragoza are abundant and well preserved.
In 741 A.D. Zaragoza was captured by the Moors; a ruling class and system that remained in place until the 12th century. This stark cultural change marked the beginning of a period of enlightened rule that resulted in some of the most spectacular Mudéjar buildings in the Iberian Peninsula.
The wheel of history continued to revolve and the scar of war scarcely had time to heal on the face of the city before the crash of the next wave of aggression. Firstly by the rampaging armies of Alfonso I, the Warrior, in 1118, when Zaragoza was converted into the capital of the Kingdom of Aragón, and then by the destructive sieges suffered during the Napoleonic wars of the 19th century. During the Spanish Civil War many ancient buildings were damaged by the ferocious fighting.
But not all the architectural treasures of Zaragoza were lost to the vagaries of history. The Aljafería, a Moorish palace with exquisitely delicate tracery and fascinating Mudéjar arches, has recently been restored to its original splendour.
Here, not only classic Mudéjar architecture can be seen, but also the throne room of Ferdinand and Isobella where, victorious after the fall of Granada in 1492, their absolute power is reflected in breathtaking stone tracery and a magnificent ceiling.
Of course, Zaragoza would not exist without the presence of the river Ebro, the most powerful river in the Iberian Peninsula and currently the focus of a national debate on water resources.
Its vast catchment area covers some 85,000 square kilometers and it forms an indivisible link with the city that sits splendid on its banks.
Staying in Zaragoza
The range of hotels and guest houses on offer in the city and the surrounding areas is of the high quality you would expect from a leading cultural base. Quality is the keyword and is a factor that is backed up with the professionalism and experience of a country that has been based on the traveler’s crossroads for many hundreds of centuries. This is supported by a modern network of communications as well as some of the most up to date technology that the sector can offer.
All this is designed to offer all travelers the highest level of service, especially in this important phase in the development of the city. And the offer is extensive, ranging from five star hotels through to rural tourism. Zaragoza provides an excellent relationship between quality and price.
Gastronomy
Aragón takes especial pride in its restaurants and its gastronomic appeal. This is due to a long tradition of good fare and good easting that, today, is supported by the high levels of quality demanded by customers and those involved in the service trade alike.
The staple of the gastronomy are the products that come from the mountains and the valleys of Aragón. Amongst the most important are the Aragonese wines including the Denominations of Origin of Cariñena, Campo de Borja, Somontano and Calatayud; the extra virgin olive oil and the fruit. Also important are the hams (jamón) from Truel or those from Aragón itself. And, as an added compliment to this extensive range of tastes and flavours from the interior, the Cantabrian and Mediterranean seas both provide a wide range of products that have contributed to the distinctive gastronomy of the autonomous region.
Of course, no-one can leave Zaragoza without trying the huge range of ‘micro-cooking’ for which all of Spain, and in particular, Aragón, is famous. The culture of the ‘tapa’ is alive and well on the streets of Zaragoza. And the offer includes authentic whimsical fads that are notable for the quality and their variety; from simple small bite sized morsels to high-cuisine creations that help one to ‘tapear’ or eat-something-before-you-start-eating. Something to ‘take-the-edge-off’ so to speak. Going for ‘tapas’ is considered to be one of Zaragoza’s most social of activities.
Culture and Leisure
There are many things to do in Zaragoza: theatre (from the classical to the experimental), musical programmes (from jazz to pop, folk, rock and classical) and dance. Apart from this offer there is a long tradition of association with proponents of the seventh art (Zaragoza was the city in which cinema made its first appearance in the Iberian Peninsula and Aragón was the birthplace of some of the pioneers of cinema such as Segundo de Chomón and Luis Buñuel).
Zaragoza is the only city in the Iberian Peninsula to have enjoyed the privilege of being called by the entire name of its Roman founder Caesar Augustus. 
Staying in Zaragoza
