Zaragoza
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| Zaragoza | |||||
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| Location | |||||
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| Coordinates : Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) |
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| General information | |||||
| Native name | Zaragoza (Spanish) | ||||
| Spanish name | Zaragoza | ||||
| Founded | 24 | ||||
| Postal code | 50001 - 50018 | ||||
| Website | http://www.zaragoza.es/ | ||||
| Administration | |||||
| Country | Spain | ||||
| Autonomous Community | Aragon | ||||
| Province | Zaragoza | ||||
| Comarca | Zaragoza | ||||
| Administrative Divisions | 13 | ||||
| Mayor | Juan Alberto Belloch (PSOE) | ||||
| Geography | |||||
| Land Area | 1062,64 km² | ||||
| Altitude | 199 m AMSL | ||||
| Population | |||||
| Population | 660,895 (2006) | ||||
| - rank in Spain: | 5 | ||||
| Density | 601.14 hab./km² () | ||||
Zaragoza (traditionally known as Saragossa; Latin: Caesaraugusta; Arabic: Sarakusta; Celtiberian: Salduba) is the capital city of the autonomous region and former Kingdom of Aragon in Spain, and is situated on the river Ebro and its tributaries, the Huerva and Gállego, near the centre of the region, in a great valley with a variety of landscapes, ranging from desert (Los Monegros) to thick forest, meadows and mountains.
According to 2006 data from the Zaragoza council [1], the population of the city of Zaragoza was 660.895, ranking fifth in Spain. The population of the metropolitan area was estimated in 2006 at 833.455 inhabitants. The municipality is home to more than 50% of the Aragon population. The city is 199 metres above sea level, and constitutes a crossroads between Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao, all about 300 kilometres (200 miles) from Zaragoza.
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[edit] History
The city was the Roman colonia of Caesaraugusta, founded under Augustus in Hispania Citerior. Before that time, the city existed under the Celtiberian name Salduba.
From 1018 to 1118 Zaragoza was one of the taifa kingdoms, independent Muslim states which emerged in the 11th century following the destruction of the Cordoban Caliphate. During the first three decades of this period, 1018–1038, the city was ruled by the Banu Tujibi. In 1038 they were replaced by the Banu Hud, who ruled until they were defeated by the Almoravids in May 1110. The last of the Banu Hud, Imad al-Dawl abd al-malik al Hud, the last king of Zaragoza, forced to abandon his capital, allied himself with the Christian Aragonese under Alfonso el Batallador, who in 1118 reconquered the city for the Christians and made it the capital of the Kingdom of Aragon. At his death without heirs in 1137, Zaragoza was swiftly occupied by Alphonse VII of León-Castille, who vacated it in 1137 only on condition it be held by Ramon Berenguer IV of Barcelona as a fief of Castile.
Zaragoza was the scene of two controversial martyrdoms related with the Spanish Inquisition: those of Saint Dominguito del Val, a choirboy in the basilica, and Pedro de Arbués, head official of the inquisition.
It suffered two famous sieges during the Peninsular War against napoleonic army: a first from June to August 1808; and a second from December 1808 to February 1809 (see Agustina de Aragón).
During the Spanish Civil War it was aimed to be taken by the Durruti Column, led by Buenaventura Durruti.
[edit] Economy
In addition to the advantageous geographic situation, a General Motors Opel factory was opened in 1982 in Figueruelas, a small village nearby. The progressive decline of the agrarian economy turned Opel into one of the main pillars of the regional economy, along with: Balay, which manufactures household appliances; Caf (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A.) which builds railway engines for both the national and international markets; SAICA and Torraspapel in the stationery sector; and various more local companies, such as Pikolin and Lacasa, that are gradually making their ways into the international market.
As of 2006, the city's economy is benefitting from projects like Expo 2008 (the next official World's Fair, with the theme of water and sustainable development, to be held between June 14 and September 13, 2008), [2], Plataforma Logística de Zaragoza (PLAZA), Parque Tecnológico de Reciclado (PTR), as well as being on the route of the AVE high-speed rail route since December 2003, which consolidates the city role as a communications hub.
Zaragoza is home to a Spanish Air Force base, which was (until September 1992) shared with the U.S. Air Force. In English, the base was known as Zaragoza Air Base. The Spanish Air Force maintained an F/A-18 Hornet wing at the base. No American flying wings (with the exception of a few KC-135's) were permanently based here, but it served as a training base for American fighter squadrons across Europe. It is the main headquarters for the Spanish Field Army, hosting the Academia General Militar, a number of brigades at San Gregorio, and other garrisons.
[edit] Culture
Zaragoza is linked by legend to the beginnings of Christianity in Spain. According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared miraculously to Saint James the Great in the 1st century, standing on a pillar. This legend is commemorated by a famous Catholic basilica called Nuestra Señora del Pilar ("Our Lady of the Pillar").
The event, called "Las Fiestas del Pilar", is celebrated on October 12, which is a major festival day in Zaragoza. Since it coincided in 1492 with the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus, that day is also celebrated as El Día de la Hispanidad (Columbus Day, literally Hispanic Day) by Spanish-speaking people worldwide.
"El Pilar" lasts for nine days, with all kinds of acts: from the massively attended Pregon (opening speech) to the final fireworks display over the Ebro, there are bands, dances, procession of gigantes y cabezudos (carnival figures made of papier mache), concerts, exhibitions, the famous "vaquillas" bulls) and the bull festival. Some of the most important features are the Ofrenda de Flores (Flower offering) to the virgin on the 12th, when an enormous cloak is made of the flowers
[edit] Sport
Zaragoza is strongly associated with Jaca in its bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics. It would host the Opening and Closing ceremonies (at La Romareda stadium), as well as most of the ice events venues.
Zaragoza's football team, Real Zaragoza, plays in the Primera división. One of the most remarkable events in the team's recent history is the winning of the former UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1995. The team has also won the Spanish National Cup "Copa del Rey" six times: 1965, 1966, 1986, 1994, 2001 and 2004 and a Fairs Cup (1965).
Zaragoza's handball team, CAI BM Aragón, plays in the Liga ASOBAL.
[edit] Places of interest
Near the basilica on the banks of the Ebro are located the city hall, the Lonja (old currency exchange), the La Seo Cathedral (a magnificient 14th century church with its famous Museum of Trapestries), and the ruins of the Roman city wall.
Near this area is a tapas zone called El Tubo and a nightclub district called El Casco Viejo. Other nightclub districts are La Zona and El Royo.
Some distance from the centre of the old city is an expansive Moorish castle or palace called the Aljafería, one of the northernmost important Moorish buildings in Spain and the setting for Giuseppe Verdi's opera Il Trovatore (The Troubadour). The Aragonese parliament currently sits in the building.
Other important sights are the estately houses and magnificient palaces in the city. The most important Zaragoza museums are the Museum of Fine Arts, with paintings of early aragonese artists and of El Greco, Ribera and Goya, and the Camon Aznar Museum, with paintings ranging from Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Velazquez and Goya to Renoir, Manet and Sorolla.
Zaragoza is linked by Renfe's AVE high-speed rail service to Madrid and to Tarragona (via Lérida) in Catalonia.
[edit] Demographics
Population growth, in thousands, can be seen here: 
| 1991 | 1996 | 2001 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 594 394 | 601 674 | 610 976 | 638 799 | 647 373 | 660 895 |
- Historical Series of population: National Statistics Institute of Spain (INE)
- Dates 2006 City council of Zaragoza.
[edit] Sister cities
The following cities are twinned with Zaragoza:[3]
- Pau
France - Biarritz France
- Móstoles
Spain - Bethlehem
Israel - León
Nicaragua - La Plata
Argentina - Zaragoza
Guatemala - Tijuana
Mexico - Ponce
Puerto Rico - Coimbra
Portugal
[edit] See also
[edit] Monuments
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
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- Mapping from Multimap or GlobalGuide or Google Maps
- Aerial image from TerraServer
- Satellite image from WikiMapia
