Zaragoza, Spain - January 2026

Brief History/Information

Zaragoza is located halfway between Madrid and Barcelona. It was founded by the Romans as Caesaraugusta in the 1st century BCE under Emperor Augustus and became one of the most important Roman cities in Hispania, with roads, walls, and public buildings

What we did

July 1995

Left Barcelona and drove to Zaragoza, another beautiful city. We walked around the town, passed the open market and decided to eat and went into a place called Café Van Gogh, it looked nice but they only served alcohol. They recommended Restaurante Casa Juanico established in 1929 the best meal we have gotten so far!

January 2026

We rented a car in Salamanca and drove to Zaragoza, that took about 4 hours. We arrived at our hotel Calle Don Jaime, another fabulous place with a great location… right off the Plaza del Pilar Square. We knew we had a lot to do, so we didn’t waste any time. Went to the beautiful Basílica del Pilar, a Baroque basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Also visited La Seo Cathedral (Cathedral of the Savior), a Gothic cathedral. Went to the El Ebro River for some beautiful views and pictures.

Then it was time for food and drink! When we were in Salamanca, we noticed that vermouth was a very popular drink and did not understand why, so during our drive we looked up why vermouth was so popular in Spain. It is not the vermouth that we Americans put in martinis. It is a sweet vermouth that is made in Spain. We walked a very short distance to the El Tubo district. This is a labyrinth of narrow streets that houses mostly historic tapas and drinks, it is a very lively spot! Upon arriving, we realized we were a little late for some tapas because a good amount of the places were starting to close. We stopped at Meli del Tubo first and all we could get were drinks because the kitchen and soon the restaurant would be closing. This is where we got our first taste of that sweet nectar they call vermouth (see picture below)! It is delicious and was my drink of choice for the rest of our time in Spain. After our drink, we decided that we were hungry, but of course had a hard time because things were closing. We walked in this tiny little restaurant named BAR El Limpia and had some amazing tapas. The owner, who loves America, came and talked to us for a long time. He was such a wonderful guy and host and cook and just grateful to have us there. We then went to Taberna El Triana, and then found ourselves in the Black Horse Pub. We then went again to Plaza Pilar to see it lit up beautifully in the evening. After that we went to Gran Café and finished the night off at El Refugio. It was an amazing evening and we had so much fun.

Places of Interest

• Plaza del Pilar:  The main square of Zaragoza, surrounded by notable buildings like the Basilica and La Seo Cathedral, offering a lively atmosphere. 

• Basílica del Pilar:  A magnificent Baroque basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary, considered a significant pilgrimage site and offering stunning views from its towers. go to top for view… stone bridge good view of cathedral

• La Seo Cathedral (Cathedral of the Savior):  A Gothic cathedral with a blend of architectural styles, including Mudéjar elements on its exterior. 

• El Ebro River:  Enjoy a walk or bike ride along the Ebro River, offering views of the city and its landmarks.  Cross Puente de Piedra (Stone Bridge) for the best photo spot.