Puerta Cinegia shopping centre

Puerta Cinegia shopping centre

Yes, it is absolutely possible to join culture, heritage and shopping in the whole heart of the city.
You have just to go to Puerta Cinegia shopping centre.

What is Puerta Cinegia?

The name comes from Latin (well... Puerta is a Spanish word that means "Gate").
As a Roman founded city, Zaragoza had a Cardum and Decumanum, and four gates, one in each corner of the "castrum".
Cinegia was the southern Gate of the Roman city. And when a shopping centre was built there, they kept that name for it.

Here you have some pictures about the buildings "before" that shopping centre and "after" it.

What can I find at Puerta Cinegia?

As a shopping centre it is not big at all. You will find just some corridors (it is possible to enter from three streets) and several levels. But, in fact, just some restaurants, bars and some shops of all kind of goods. Nothing different than in another shopping street and of course, much smaller than in other shopping centre.

But... there is a great deal or heritage there!.

What heritage will I find there?

There are several things... but two main ones are:

- ORIGINAL ROMAN WALL. In the underground there is part of original Roman Wall but... entering by Plaza España, just in the left side, those rocks you will see are part of the original Wall and have more than 2000 years of history.

- RENAISSANCE COURTYARD. When works started, a Renaissance courtyard was discovered. It was decided to be kept as it was... so in the middle (better said... in a corner) of the shopping centre you will find a nice surprise.

How and when can I visit it?

Arriving is veeeeeeery easy. It is in Plaza España. Walking from any street, stopping with any bus in the nearby or with the tramway in Plaza España stop, you will find it face to face.

Both, Roman Walls and Renaissance Courtyard, can be visited while shopping is open. This means usually 9:00 - 10:00 in the morning until late night (because restaurants will keep open). Weekends may have a restricted timetable but it could be one the "inside monument" with longest timetable

And... free!.