San Antonio church tower.

San Antonio church tower.

In the 1940s the Italian government built a church and a cemetery for Italian soldiers who dead in Spain.
However, because no funds, the tower was just half of heigh.
Nevertheless, it worths to have a visit.

Where is San Antonio de Padua church?

It is in Paseo de Cuellar, after Pignatelli park and near the Imperial canal.

A touristic bus stop is very close to it.
Bus lines 31, 33, 34, 39 and 42 have a stop very near that church. Some of them connects with city centre or the tramway

When can the tower be visited?.

You ought ask in the own church because it is part of the parish. They have different timetables depending the season. Anyway, even if closed, a walk around the church is quite interesting.

What can I find around the San Antonio church?

Just in front of the church there is another interesting church... but inside military territory so you can only see it from the street (I've been once for an event, I had to give my name for accepted guests and security was in every corner).

They are San Fernando barracks, maybe one of those places where you have more generals rather than soldiers (they are mainly offices and bureaus).

Here's a view.

Quite a little going to the north (walking down to the city centre) you will find the Pignatelli park. It is a very small park and it has the first statue located in Zaragoza. It is Ramon de Pignatelli who built the Imperial canal.

You can have a walk along the park and visit this statue:

And finally you can go south (away from city centre) and will find the Imperial Canal. It is nice to have a look and walking around it... but we will talk about it in the entrance "Zaragoza Green Belt".


and obviously, even if it is not a cathedral, try to enter inside San Antonio church:

New Touristic Bus season 2013

New Touristic Bus season 2013

Starting in Spring, Touristic Bus keeps on going on weekends and daily in summer.
And there are some news. Take a look:

ENLARGED JOURNEY.

In spite of a 1h15m journey we will have a 2h00 journey with the touristic bus. This means that if you want to have a fast visit in any language, it will be enough to take it... and most of main monuments will be in front of you.

It will be hold by three buses having a 40 minutes frequency. As usual, first stop is in front of the cathedral and the bus will make a tour.

WHICH ARE THE NEWNESS THIS YEAR?

First of all, the bus will cross again besides Pignatelli park, Jose Antonio Labordeta park and Gran Via. They seem to be housing areas and parks... but there are some cool houses in the journey and both parks have some corners that worth a lot. We will talk about them in other blog entrances. Just think that there are stops besides there

Secondly, the bus will make a tour inside the Expo area (2008 international exhibition area) with stops very near of Bridge Pavilion and the Aquarium. It will go across a restricted area only able to some vehicles, and be aware that it is the most useful way to go to the Aquarium, Expo area and Bridge pavilion.

HOW DOES IT WORKS?

Just read this entrance according to last season touristic bus because only the journey and frequencies have been changed.

2013 Price is 8 euro.
Tickets can be booked online (ask in this forum about official webpage), in the tourist office and on board.


Timetables are the following ones: Starting, in the morning, at 10:30, and in the afternoon at 17:00, one bus every 40 minutes. In every stop you will find the exact hour.

This is, in front of the cathedral 10:30, 11:10, 11:50, 12:30 and 13:10 (last full tour that will arrive to the cathedral at 15:10). Same for afternoon: 17:00, 17:40, 18:20, 19:00 and 19:40.

Be aware that, for instance, if in the morning you are taking the first two buses you will be able to cross the cathedral stop. This is, the 10:30 bus can be taken at some other time in some other stop and will arrive at 12:30 to the cathedral, making a second tour. No need to get off. The same ticket remains valid.

But if you take the three last ones in the morning or afternoon/evening, you will have to get off in the cathedral stop and continue in the afternoon or following day.


In April, May and June and second half of September it will run on saturdays and sundays
In July, August and first half of September it will run daily.

In October (second half only because in the first half there are major days), a long-weekend in November (1st to 3rd) and a long-weekend in December (6th to 9th) it will run again but starting at 11:00 and in the afternoon, last departure at 18:15.

Have a look to last season service where some FAQs are answered there. Any other one, just post here a question.

MAP

this is current map.

2013 STOPS

1- Plaza de La Seo (Roman Forum)
2. Plaza de España
5- Paseo Renovales
7- Paseo Pamplona 14
8- Museo Pablo Serrano
13- Palacio Congresos / Pabellón Puente
14- Zona Expo / Acuario
15- La Aljafería
16. Paseo Echegaray y Caballero /c/Jardiel (close to El Pilar)

NIGHT TOURISTIC BUS

It will have a similar but shorter journey and no stops.

Bus will depart at 21:45 on the following days:
July: Saturday
August: Friday and Saturday
1st half September: Friday and Saturday

from the Cathedral square.

Price is 11 euro and can be booked on line or bought at the tourism office or on board (we recommend to buy it in advance).

A cityscape view from El Pilar

A cityscape view from El Pilar

Do you want to have a cityscape view?. It is quite easy going to El Pilar and using the lift.

Several cityscapes in Zaragoza

There are not many cityscape views in Zaragoza, indeed. It is a large city but without many skyscrapers so you will not find the typical skyline.
Apart of some high appartment buildings I've raised three ones: El Pilar, which is about we are going to talk about; San Pablo (and no lift... just stairs), and the Business Office.

For the last two ones, ask in tourism for having a scenic view.
In the case of El Pilar, they have their own schedule.

El Pilar towers

El Pilar has been one of the most longest works in Zaragoza. There is a proverb that says "it takes longer than El Pilar works". And they are not wrong. Last tower was built in the second half of 20th century!!.
This tower, the nearest to Puente de Santiago, has a lift and you can reach it to have a scenic view

Timetables and prices

Winter: 10:00 to 13:30 and 16:00 to 17:30
Summer: 9:30 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:00

And ask about what is "summer" and what is "winter" (this is, which is the date they will change the timetable).
What it is real is that it doesn't worth to have a scenic while night (and in December at 17:45 is absolutely night).

Nevertheless I would recommend you to go in the morning because the light in order to take some photos.

Price is 3 euro per person in any case.

and... it is opened everyday. Take notice because not all monuments open daily, and you can plan your  visit

Is it the highest point in Zaragoza?

Yes... and no at the same time.

The top, top of that tower pinnacle is the highest point for any building in the city.
Despite it, the Water tower (Torre del Agua) has a heigh very close... and if you had been in the top of it, you would have stayed higher than El Pilar tower.

Anyway, surely it is the highest, highest point in the city centre.


Some pictures?

Yes, of course.

Take a look