Aragon is a region of diverse
landscape with the snow-capped mountains of the Pyrenees north
of Huesca, through to the dry plains around Zaragoza and the
forested hills of the Teruel province. There are many small,
picturesque preserved towns in the region, and the cities of
Zaragoza and Teruel have some of the most striking Mudejar monuments
in Spain. Aragon stretches almost half the length of Spain and
is bissected by the Ebro, one of the country's longest rivers.
Zaragoza is in the centre of the region and is linked by motorway
to the Basque Country, Navarra, Madrid and Barcelona. The principal
railway lines run from Zaragoza to Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia,
it also has a small international airport.
Zaragoza is located at a crossroads
between Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao, all about 200
miles from Zaragoza.
|
|
Zaragoza is situated on the fertile
banks of the river Ebro and its tributaries the Huerva and Gallego,
near the centre of the region. It is in a huge valley with a
variety of landscapes, ranging from desert to thick forest, meadows
and mountains. It is Spain's largest city and the capital of
Aragon. It is a dynamic and modern town with a legacy of splendid
buildings and monuments inherited from all the cultures that
have contributed to its development. The old centre has a number
of interesting buildings, most are grouped around the vast Plaza
del Pilar. The Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Pilar is a huge
church with 11 brightly tiled cupolas while the cathedral, La
Seo, is a great mix of styles with a Mudejar brick and ceramic
faced exterior. The Aljaferia is an enormous Moorish palace built
in the 11th century. A courtyard of lacy arches surrounds a sunken
garden and a small mosque. |