And that heat does not deter those who want to discover every corner of the city. But what is it about Zaragoza that wins over first-time visitors? We took to the streets to ask tourists what brought them here, what they liked most and what image of the city they will take home with them.
A CITY KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD
Zaragoza has unique monuments and hidden corners that surprise those discovering it for the first time. “We went to the Monasterio de Piedra yesterday and now we’re visiting El Pilar,” two women who had arrived from Chile told this outlet. “We’re really enjoying it; it’s very underrated,” they admitted. They also highlighted the city’s cleanliness as one of the aspects that had caught their attention most.
There are also tourists for whom Zaragoza is a stop along the way. That is the case of two Mexican brothers who, with Pamplona as their destination, decided to pause in the Aragonese capital. The visit ended up surprising them. “We thought it was going to be smaller, but it isn’t; it’s very big and the square is impressive,” they said. They enjoyed the experience so much that they even admitted they would love to live in the city for a while.
But it is not only people from abroad who visit. Spanish tourists also want to get to know our city. “We’re from Murcia and we love it; the city seems to transport you to another era.” Others come from places that are not quite as far away, such as the group of Catalan girls who stopped on their way to the Basque Country or some visitors from Alicante who came to see a friend. “I come every year, but this time I brought my girlfriend so she could get to know the city.”
SPANISH TOURISTS IN ZARAGOZA
But visitors do not only arrive from beyond Spain’s borders. Spanish tourists also take advantage of the summer to discover Zaragoza. “We’re from Murcia and we love it. The city seems to transport you to another era,” some visitors said as they explored the city center.
Others come from somewhat closer locations. That is the case of a group of Catalan girls who stopped in Zaragoza during their journey to the Basque Country, or of some visitors from Alicante who had come to visit a friend. “I come every year, but this time I brought my girlfriend so she could get to know the city,” one of them explained.
THE BASILICA AND THE VIRGIN OF EL PILAR
La Aljafería, La Seo and El Tubo are among the places visitors mention most often, but if there is one that stands out above the rest, it is the Basilica of El Pilar. “We’ve heard about the Virgin’s miracles, and we’ve also come to see the bombs,” the two Chilean tourists said, referring to the well-known episode during the Spanish Civil War when several bombs fell on the church without exploding.
“We think the basilica and the Virgin are impressive,” the visitors from Murcia also said. It is an opinion echoed by those exploring the city these days, both by people who have crossed the Atlantic and by those arriving from different parts of Spain.
Whether it is a chosen destination or simply a stop along the way, Zaragoza manages to surprise those discovering it for the first time. Its heritage, streets, people and, above all, the imposing presence of El Pilar leave a lasting impression on visitors. Whether they come from nearby or thousands of miles away, they all seem to agree on one thing: Zaragoza leaves no one indifferent.
