Zaragoza: top attractions & road trip guide
Zaragoza is the capital of Aragon, straddling the Ebro River roughly midway between Madrid and Barcelona. It is known for the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar on the riverbank, the Moorish Aljafería Palace, and a well-preserved old town layered with Roman, Islamic, and Christian history.
As a road trip stop, Zaragoza sits at a natural crossroads on the AP-2 and A-2 motorways, making it a convenient midpoint break on the drive between Spain's two largest cities. The riverside setting along the Ebro gives the old town a clear edge to orient walks from, with most sights within easy reach on foot.
Top attractions
Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
A vast Baroque basilica on the Ebro's bank, topped by domes and towers, built around a pillar said to mark a Marian apparition.
Aljafería Palace
An 11th-century Moorish palace with horseshoe arches and carved stucco, later expanded as a residence for Christian monarchs.
La Seo Cathedral
Zaragoza's other great cathedral, built over centuries on the site of a Roman forum and a mosque, mixing Gothic, Mudéjar, and Baroque work.
Roman Theatre
The excavated remains of a 1st-century theatre that once seated up to 6,000 spectators, with an on-site museum explaining the ruins.
Stone Bridge (Puente de Piedra)
A stone-arched bridge dating to the 15th century that carries traffic across the Ebro directly toward the Basilica del Pilar.
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