Zaragoza can be explored through several clearly distinct cultural themes: Roman traces, the architectural history of La Seo, Islamic palace architecture and art offerings. When planning a stay, you can decide whether to focus on historic buildings, collections, or green spaces and wildlife.
Roman Layers and La Seo
The Ruta de Caesaraugusta leads through the Roman city walls, theatre, baths, river port and forum. It brings different aspects of Roman urban life into view. The Museo del Foro de Caesaraugusta preserves remains of a Roman market, water pipes, a sewer and a shop wall. They date from the time of Emperor Augustus, when Zaragoza was founded.
The Museo del Teatro de Caesaraugusta also focuses on a Roman structure: it presents a theatre with space for more than 6,000 people. The route and the theatre museum have different emphases—the route takes you through several named sites, while the museum places the theatre at its centre.
La Seo tells the story of a later, layered architectural history. The church was built over the remains of the Roman forum of Caesaraugusta, a Visigothic church and the former main mosque of Saraqusta. It also houses a tapestry museum with one of the world’s most important collections of Flemish tapestries from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries.
The Parroquieta de San Miguel Arcángel adjoins La Seo. Its exterior wall is considered an outstanding work of Aragonese Mudéjar architecture. Together with the dome, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. The building thus brings together the site’s long history and a striking example of Mudéjar art.
Palace Architecture and Other Museums
The Palacio de La Aljafería is the northernmost Islamic palace in Europe. Its mihrab, built in the 11th century, served as a mosque or private oratory for the Muslim king and his court. Those interested in Islamic architecture will find a different perspective here from the Roman sites or La Seo’s architectural history.
Other attractions offer their own distinct experiences: the Museo Emoz Origami hosts exhibitions, activities and courses. The IAACC Pablo Serrano promotes engagement with contemporary artistic practice through sculpture. The permanent exhibition of the Museo del Rosario de Cristal is housed in the former church of the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús and includes more than 300 lanterns. Check current access arrangements for this exhibition before visiting.
Green Spaces, Aquarium and Practical Planning
The Parque Metropolitano del Agua Luis Buñuel offers another side of the city: it lies in the Ranillas meander of the Ebro and covers approximately 120 hectares. The Acuario de Zaragoza is Europe’s largest freshwater river aquarium. It displays freshwater animals from the Ebro, Nile, Mekong, Amazon and Murray–Darling rivers. The aquarium offers educational workshops and school tours; it is also possible to spend the night among the fish or celebrate a birthday there.
For finding your way around the city, there are guided tours and a tourist bus that goes to the main attractions and large green spaces. If you plan to take advantage of these options, check the current service arrangements in advance. This lets you choose between buildings, museums and green spaces according to your own interests, without trying to fit every theme into one visit.
The Chocopass may also be a good option for chocolate lovers: the voucher lets you sample five chocolate specialities from the offerings of participating businesses in Zaragoza. As participating businesses may change, check which offerings are included before using it.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Zaragoza, Utebo, Uncastillo, Tauste, Sos Del Rey Católico, Sástago, Santa Eulalia De Gállego, Puebla De Alfindén, Paracuellos De Jiloca, La Muela, Jaraba, Illueca, Ejea De Los Caballeros, Cariñena, Calatorao, Calatayud, Alhama De Aragón, Sobradiel, Pedrola, Cabañas De Ebro, La Almunia De Doña Godina, Tarazona, Orés, Nuévalos, Gallocanta, San Mateo De Gállego, Murillo De Gállego, Bardallur, Osera De Ebro, Caspe, Daroca, Pina De Ebro, Mesones De Isuela, Castejón De Las Armas, Alfajarín, Fuentes De Ebro, Ateca, Alagón, Zuera, Torres De Berrellén, Villanueva De Gállego, Novallas, Munébrega, Mequinenza, Berrueco, Vera De Moncayo, Carenas, Bardena Del Caudillo, Almonacid De La Cuba, Bordalba, Cadrete, Leciñena, Villalengua, Bujaraloz, Borja, Las Cuerlas, Gallur, Añón De Moncayo, Alborge, Juslibol, Los Fayos, La Almolda, Malón, Bijuesca, Villafeliche, Biel, Ainzón, Pinseque, Zaragoza, Longares, Encinacorba, Purujosa, Herrera De Los Navarros, Cosuenda, Tobed, Luna, Luesia, Fuendetodos, Fayón, Valareña, Undués-Pintano, Aranda De Moncayo, Épila, Pintano, San Juan De Mozarrifar, Santa Engracia, Aniñón, Grisel, Quinto, Embid De La Ribera, Lituénigo, Gotor, Villafranca De Ebro, Alera, Sádaba, Brea De Aragón, Cuarte De Huerva, Castejón De Valdejasa, Cerveruela, Belchite, Nuez de Ebro, Fuencalderas, Villalba de Perejil, Morata de Jiloca, Lagata, Bureta, Sediles, Albeta, Cetina, Calcena, Sabiñán, Codo, Casas de Esper, Almonacid de la Sierra, Talamantes, Boquiñeni, Ibdes, Lécera, Pozuelo de Aragón, Granja de San Pedro, Torrijo de la Cañada, Luceni, Alforque, Villarroya de la Sierra, Lumpiaque, Farasdués, Terrer, Lobera de Onsella
For the overview of the wider region: Aragon.
