City Guide: Zaragoza

     Zaragoza is known as ''The City of the Four Cultures''.

     It is a nickname it gained for being a melting pot for the indigenous peoples of the Iberian Peninsula and new comers who occupied the area. These include the Catalans, the Galicians, the Euskal-dun and the Gitanos of the 780,000-strong population that ranks Zaragoza the fifth most populated city in Spain.

     You can experience this cultural mix in Zaragoza with Booked.net. Be it a room in cheap hotel in Zaragoza to a room in a luxury hotel, all are available at Booked.net. You can check them out with maps, photos and secure forms at our website.

     Zaragoza became a draw-card for cultures when the 16th century Basílica del Pilar attracted thousands pilgrims to worship the Virgin. Since then Zaragoza has become a city of several faces and cultures. It is best reflected in its exquisite cathedrals and palaces from the Romans onwards.

Attractions include;

- Basilica de Nuestra Señora de Pilar, treasured for its art with paintings on the ceiling by Goya and Bayaeu

- Catedral de la Seo, done in gothic style

- Palacio de la Aljaferia, a castle with intricate ceilings of gold

- Caesaraugusta route, a guided tour on route of 4 museums

- Las Murallas, an ancient wall surrounding the city

     While culture buffs can experience Zaragoza on guided tours, backpackers can find an adventure land in the city's surroundings. Zaragoza features sharp topography with desert, forest, and mountains. These make it excellent for hiking, camping and so on, but have also resulted in weather extremes. Winter there is freezing and summer can be very dry with temperatures reaching more than 35degC.

     Regardless of weather, Zaragoza has plenty to do, for example shopping. The shopping malls stretch from Residencial Paraiso in Sagasta to the Plaza de España.  Exquisite goods can be found on Francisco de Vitoria, San Ignacio de Loyola, but the prices there are really high. However, the city features some smaller shops with craft and other souvenirs at Anticuarios de la Plaza de San Bruno or the Mercadillo La Romareda.  

     In addition, Zaragoza's strong student population makes it a city with abundance of places to dine out and relax. Thus, Ciudad Universitaria is packed with foods and Plaza del Pilar, Plaza de Paraíso, and Plaza San Francisco all offer numerous restaurants to dine out. If you are a night owl then you should experience the cheerful bars in the Magdalena district. 

     Whatever vacation you dream of, Zaragoza can make it real with Booked.net.