Zaragoza province in the north-east corner of Spain has a population of over 1.189.909 inhabitants and it is growing fast. The province is multifaceted, both in its natural and its human aspects.
In Zaragoza one goes from the green and spectacular northern regions to the sub-desert plains of the Ebro Valley just a few metres above sea level, or the gentle uplands of the Iberian System in the west and south.
In terms of its demography the province has evolved an urban and cosmopolitan culture side by side with a rural and folk culture where there is a dynamism and atmosphere of energy that is almost palpable and where three distinct languages coexist in a celebration of diversity.
Zaragoza’s multifaceted nature is further reflected by the rest of the provinces that make up the Autonomous Region of Aragón. Situated in the West and centre, stretching from the westernmost part of the Aragonese Pyrenees to the westernmost part of the Iberian Sierra, it is crossed from west to east by the Ebro Valley, in the centre of which is the dynamic city of Zaragoza , home of the World Expo for 2008.
Communications
Zaragoza is the capital of Aragón and is a medium-sized city in the European urban network with which it is well connected either by road or by high speed train.
A Motorway to Bilbao and Barcelona extends along the Ebro Valley; the Aragón Highway. This major arterial network links Zaragoza to Madrid crossing the Iberian Sierra.
In the future this link (the Somport-Sagunto Highway of which some sections are already open) will link Zaragoza capital to Valencia. This road will also cross the Iberian Sierra and will be connected to the French road network via the Aragonese Pyrenees.
Apart from the road and rail network, Zaragoza has a recently extended airport situated 9 kms from the centre of the city, which connects it with various cities in Spain and Europe.
The integrated network makes Zaragoza a hub of communication and the city is rapidly being converted into a meeting place, or node, of the fist order.
History
Zaragoza’s history is long and complex. Early inhabitants made settlements along the banks of the Ebro and there are several examples of Iberian tribal remains. These people were soon displaced by the, at first, tentative then open colonization by the powerful merchants and mercenaries of the Phoenicians and Carthaginians who, in their turn were displaced by the Romans.
During the long association with Rome, Zaragoza’s principal city was the only one 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. Unlike most of the Iberian Peninsula, 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 around the province were irreparably damaged by the ferocious fighting.
But not all the architectural treasures of Zaragoza were lost to the vagaries of history. The province retains some of the most classic of examples of romanic and mudejar architecture in the Peninsula.
For example, the Aljafería in Zaragoza city, a Moorish palace with impossibly delicate tracery and exquisite 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.
Gastronomy
The range of restaurants and gastronomy is one of Aragón's strong points. This is backed up by a long culinary tradition which is jealously maintained today and which uses products which have traditionally originated in the highlands and valleys of Aragón.
Together with local products, the proximity of the Cantabrian and Mediterranean Seas has meant that products link to the sea have been successfully incorporated into traditional Aragonese cuisine.
The basis of traditional Aragonese cuisine is bread in its various forms: decorated in ‘Codos’, with candied fruit in ‘Tosos’ or ‘Albarracín’, and it is also the basis of some typical local dishes such as ‘migas a la turolense’, ‘roya’ soup, ‘bodela’ from the Tena valley or ‘escaldada’ from Huesca.
By using the many ingredients provided by the sea and by the rich local agriculture, generations of housewives and culinary masters have concocted a broad harmony of flavours that reflect the cosmopolitan nature of a region that boasts a highly competitive and professional range of restaurants.
Culture and leisure
There are a great many cultural and leisure activities on offer: theatre, music of all varieties, ballet and dance.
But the cultural offer doesn't stop there, since the region is steeped in the art of cinema as Aragón was the birthplace of cine pioneers such as Segundo de Chomón and Luis Buñuel.
Zaragoza province in the north-east corner of Spain has a population of over 1.189.909 inhabitants and it is growing fast. The province is multifaceted, both in its natural and its human aspects. 
Zaragoza is the capital of Aragón and is a medium-sized city in the European urban network with which it is well connected either by road or by high speed train. 
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. Unlike most of the Iberian Peninsula, traces of the Visigoth stewardship of Zaragoza are abundant and well preserved. 
But not all the architectural treasures of Zaragoza were lost to the vagaries of history. The province retains some of the most classic of examples of romanic and mudejar architecture in the Peninsula. 
By using the many ingredients provided by the sea and by the rich local agriculture, generations of housewives and culinary masters have concocted a broad harmony of flavours that reflect the cosmopolitan nature of a region that boasts a highly competitive and professional range of restaurants. 
