Expo Zaragoza 2008 - Ultramar Express Event management is Official Agency

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Home > Zaragoza, past and present

Past and Present

The cultural legacy of the Iberians, Romans, Muslims, Jews and Christians peoples enhances this historic city, which is scattered with archeological remains and monuments declared as items of Cultural Heritage. The forum, the theatre, the thermal baths and river port dating back to Roman times are outstanding, as is the La Seo cathedral, which was initially a Roman temple, then a Visigoth church and a Muslim mosque, and finally a Christian cathedral; Basilica Pilar, a reference point for the cult of the Virgin Mary and the city centre, the Muslim Aljafería palace, the Lonja (formed fish auction house), the Renaissance and Baroque Palaces, the Stone Bridge, and many
other monuments.

Today’s Zaragoza is a city of 650,000 inhabitants and the capital of the Autonomous Region of
Aragón. It is a peaceful, modern city that offers its citizens quality of life. A city being renovated
before it welcomes the International Exposition with confidence.

Communications

Zaragoza has excellent connectivity rates thanks to its privileged geographical position in Spain. It is a nub in the national road system meaning that the various high-speed roads link Zaragoza with the European city network.

It has a high-speed train (AVE) with lines to Madrid, and Barcelona (expected to come into service in 2007) and a renovated international airport just seven kilometres from the city centre.

Zaragoza and Water

A bird’s eyes view contrasts the green of its riverbanks and agricultural fields with a semi-arid environment. In fact, the city is located at the confluence of the river Ebro with its Huerva and Gállego influents.

The Ebro rived is the fastest flowing river on the Iberian Peninsula. With its source near the Atlantic Ocean, it flows into the Mediterranean Sea after meandering 910 kilometres to the south of the Pyrenees. The Romans sailed on this river; the Muslims developed an extraordinary irrigation system for agriculture. More recently, in the 18th century, the Aragón Imperial Canal, built to be sailed on, led to an increase in the amount of irrigated land to the south of the city.

Zaragoza is currently making a noticeable effort to recover its more than 30 kilometres of riverbanks, aiming to revitalise wastelands and turning it into green corridors, full of activity and giving the city the appearance of being in harmony with its rivers.