Day 9 - Zaragazo

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Our Lady of Pilar

We arrived in Zaragoza on October 11th. The next day is the Feast of Our Lady of Pilar, Spain's patron saint. The significance of this is that Zaragoza is the location of the Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar, situated on the location where Our Lady appeared atop the pillar to St. James in 40 AD! So naturally this is the cause for a major festival, the preparations for which were going at full force.

Zaragoza's population is about 600,000. It has a rich history, dating back to its founding by the Romans (as Caesaraugusta) in 25 BC. The city was captured by the Muslims in 711 AD, and restored to Christian control in 1118 AD, with Muslims and Christians living peacefully side by side until the Muslims were either expelled or required to convert to Christianity over a period ending in 1609.

Few monuments remain to reveal the city's past grandeur since time, neglect and two terrible sieges during the Napoloenic Wars (1808 - 1809) destroyed a great deal.

Hanging from the awning across the square from the Basilica.

The clock tower in the square of the Basilica. I believe there's some connection here with the Muslim period.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar, which has 11 domes! The current building, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, is the third on this site.

The Basilica from across the Rio Ebro.

Apartment blocks across the river from the Basilica.

/icons/left.gif Madrid to Zaragoza
/icons/right.gif Inside The Basilica