Just out of curiosity - why does this city seem to be off-the-radar? Maybe it's that there are too many different spellings for it. It has a population of over 700,000 (bigger than Boston), yet I can find virtually no tourist information about it. It's as though Steve has never been there! :) We plan to journey between Barcelona and Madrid, and this looks like a good stop logistically, yet there is a paucity of information about the area. I'd love to hear from someone that has been there, about both what to see and why it's not even in the index in Steve's Guide to Spain. Thanks!
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
Zaragoza is a sprawling industrial city, dominated by the Opel car factory. There are older sights to see, including a World Heritage Site. I have only used its airport as access to the Pyrenees and didn't spend any time there. I stayed in the excellent Hotel Mirabel in Alquezar, which is remote and probably too far north for your route.
Maybe a European guidebook rather than an American one may give you more detail?
Posted by
Barcelona (Catalonia)
3071 posts
Her problem is that until recently, it was "in the middle of nowhere" (no offense intended for any Aragonese), let me re-phrase... unless you intended to visit Aragon, Saragossa (in Catalan or in English, Zaragoza in Spanish) was not near any other major city/area. Note that 'near' in most of Europe means less than 150 miles (except in say Ukraine or Russia where distances are enormous), therefore Saragossa has undeservedly been little more than a 'stop in the way to...' for many years. But with the high speed railway, now you can pop down to Saragossa for lunch and be back in the evening very easily (ie. just 1h30 by AVE train, 2h by ALVIA train from Barcelona) so lots of 'neighbours' do visit.
Finding good tourist info on Saragossa in English is indeed not so easy, some websites around but many are quite crappy. But you've got these:
http://www.zaragoza.es/turismo/?idioma=en
http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres/ciudades-pueblos/grandes-ciudades/zaragoza.html
http://www.turismodezaragoza.es/ -which is not in English, so you might want to googletranslate
and of course: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaragoza
If you intend to travel from BCN to MAD, while still in Catalonia I also advise to stop in Lleida (http://bit.ly/1JPRm0j) and since you'll be passing by the DO Costers de Segre, if you like a good wine, stop and visit one of its many top class small cellars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lleida
http://www.lleidatur.com/tourism/home.aspx
http://www.infocatalonia.eu/w/category/lleida/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187500-Activities-Lleida_Province_of_Lleida_Catalonia.html
http://wineatcatalonia.blogspot.com.es/2011/01/do-costers-del-segre-continental-wines.html
and for some maps:
http://www.act.cat/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/CataloniaMap.pdf
http://www.act.cat/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Mapa_guia-vins-ENG_GER_DEF.pdf
http://www.act.cat/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/1-MapaTurisme-Cultural-2013_Angles.pdf
http://www.act.cat/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Mapa_gastronomia_eng_fr.pdf
Posted by
OP
San Diego, CA
28 posts
Great info, thanks so much! So it sounds like the reason I can't find a lot of information is that historically it just hasn't been much of a tourist destination. That just screams that I should visit it, as it's probably unspoiled by the masses. Of course that may also mean it just doesn't have as much to see or do, but maybe stopping for the day could be interesting. Thanks again!
Posted by
Barcelona (Catalonia)
3071 posts
That's also partially true, there are a handful of very interesting things to see and experience but perhaps not that many to warrant spending there many days. But again, we all have different interests and are moved by different things so what for some might seem a dull or uninteresting site, for another can be a trove of little treasures. I personally like Saragossa and I wouldn't mind going back again -last time I was there was several years ago, and for a work project!
Note though that Spain has considerable interior tourism, especially in marked dates, meaning that you might perhaps find few "foreign" tourists, but you're certainly bound to find local tourists so to speak.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12313 posts
I don't think Rick likes Spain.
We spent a night in Zaragosa on Holy Thursday and had one of the greatest experiences of our lives.
If it's not Easter Week, however, you could plan a short stop off the train between Barcelona and Madrid (catching another train later). The main things to see are around the central plaza and, within walking distance, some Roman sights. They have some modern sights they're proud of - but those don't really interest me.
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
Zaragoza is definitely worth a stop over, Lots of history, interesting architecture and good food.
We stayed at Hotel Sauce in 2011 and found it very comfortable, well located and good value.
Pay a visit to the wonderful bar Los Victorinos.
Sights not to be missed - Basilica del Pilar, La Seo Cathedral, the Aljaferia and La Lonja.
Posted by
Port St Joe Florida
513 posts
Hello -
I have been to Zaragoza twice and thoroughly enjoyed my stay both times. I spent two days/nights there last October on my way between Pamplona and Barcelona, and if my reservations had allowed it, I would have liked to have stayed for another day. Zaragoza has consistently been rated as one of Spain's top "Most Livable" cities.
There are some great sights there, from El Pilar and the cathedral to all of the Roman ruins and other cites. The Tubes, Zaragoza's eating and bar district (think of a greatly expanded Plaza Santa Ana) has some of the best tapas bars/restaurants I have found anywhere in Spain. There are plenty of excellent, and affordable hotels in and around the city center
I don't know the answer to your question about Rick and Zaragoza - but perhaps he has never been there. If that is so, and you stop there, then you will be one Back Door ahead of him!