Goya in Zaragoza I - Camon Aznar museum

Goya in Zaragoza I - Camon Aznar museum

Francisco de Goya (wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Goya) was born in Fuendetodos, a little village near Zaragoza.
Part of his live was in Zaragoza, where he stayed while he was teenager, young man. He was married here and stayed some time while his life.

Camon Aznar museum

It is a museum property of ibercaja bank.

It was an old 16th century palace refurbished for a museum (from my point of view, it is as intereting paintings than the whole building). There are too many paintings there from 15th century to 20th century but Goya's are the main ones.

As a curiosity, Goya not only did paintings but also etchings. This means that there can be several "original etchings" taken from the original piece. He made a lot of ones in Spain and someones more in France (Bordeaux).
Camon Aznar museum is the only one that has a copy of all etchings made in Spain. They show almost all of them but in their warehouses they have the full collection.

How can I get there?

Go to the main Tourist office located in front of the town hall (middle way Cathedral and El Pilar). Go back ahead between the buildings and... just 100 metres. It is one of those buildings that you will see from the square but the main entrance is in the opposite side. But... just 100 m ahead.

Touristic bus has a stop in Cathedral square, close to museum
Tramway near stop is in Plaza de España
Behind touristic office you have a station to take your bike if you had rented a three days pass
And, anyway, it is very near to any point from the old city. If you are there, you will reach it easily walking.

Which are timetables and prices?

Entrance is free.

If you have taken a guided tour around the city centre, you will pass in front of it, and guide will make an explanation about the building and about what you will find inside.

It is open Tuesday to Saturday 10 to 14 and 17 to 21 and Sunday 10 to 14

Think in it for a late visit in Zaragoza while the week

More information (in Spanish) at: http://obrasocial.ibercaja.es/v2_ficha_centro.php?centro=36


REMEMBER: At Patio de la Infanta, in ibercaja headquarter, you will have more Goya original paintings.

Roman Forum

Roman Forum

Zaragoza is named after Caesar Augusta and in fact that was the original name.
It is expected to have some ruins in the middle of the city. Let's talk about one of them: Roman Forum.

Where is the Roman Forum?

It is in front of current Cathedral.
This structure located in front of the tower is the entrance to the Forum. It is located under the square.
https://maps.google.es/?ll=41.655221,-0.876498&spn=0.001088,0.002642&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=41.65533,-0.876666&panoid=APbHbmZDqYft0RllPArqRQ&cbp=12,123.89,,0,-0.82

But it is not a normal situation for a Forum. Almost all Roman Forums where in the middle of a city. That point where the Cardum and Decumanum streets joined.

As you can see here (current old city centre map but with Roman ruins pointed) the forum is suggested to be in the cross between streets with number one and number two.

But it is in the number three of the map

Why?. The Ebro river makes an important role here. The Forum was created in the middle between the River Harbour and the Roman city centre. There are not too many important Roman cities where the Forum is not in the middle.

When does the Forum open?

Tuesday to saturday 10 to 14 and 17 to 21. Quite nice if you want a late monument visit.

Sunday 10 to 14

Price is about three euro and there is a pack for all Roman museums (also Theatre, Baths and Harbour)

They are included in the Zaragoza Card.

There are three days in the year when it is free.

What can I find inside the forum?

More or less absolutely the old Roman square, and you will notice where the forum limits were and where the first Roman houses besides the Forum started.

And a great deal of Roman ruins inside.

All under that square is former Roman heritage. 

Just have a look to these pictures

How can I arrive there?

It is just in the middle way between Central Touristic office and the Cathedral

Touristic bus has the main stop in front of it.

Nearest tramway stop is Plaza del Pilar-Murallas

or by bike if you have one or you have rented a three days pass

Almost all tours will cross in front of it.

No possibilities to get lost.

Patio de la Infanta

Patio de la Infanta

Can you imagine a modern age coutyard inside of a bank?
Keep reading

A bit of history

In the modern age, it was very usual in Zaragoza to have snob medium palaces with a typical coutyard in the middle.

One of them, before the building was demolished, was sold to a French Antique dealer who kept it for a lot of years in Paris.

In the middle 20th century it was bought by a bank. Ibercaja. In fact, it is the mainest bank with headquarter in Zaragoza. The main building is in the absolutely city centre.

When they desgined the building they got in contact with that antique dealer and... bought the coutyard. It wasn't still re-built, just kept in a warehouse... and they bring back to Zaragoza by smuggling (it was heritage and should have to pass custom control... but they took stone by stone. Nobody knew that all stones had an unique number and were part of an old coutyard).

And today you can see it inside the bank and with several original paintings inside. Some of them are by Francisco de Goya.



This is the bank, looking from outside:

and... entering in that bank, you will find a lot of bureaus and offices but also this corner:

There are too many pictures in the internet. Just google "patio de la infanta zaragoza" and have a look... but do not forget to visit it in your next visit to Zaragoza.

Where can I find it?

Quite, quite easye. In Plaza Paraiso. I think it would be impossible to stay in Zaragoza and not having a look to this building.

Looking from outside it is just another bank headquarter more.
Looking inside... they have a stunning corner!!!

When can I visit it?

Look at here for more information
http://obrasocial.ibercaja.es/v2_ficha_centro.php?centro=4

but currently:

Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 13:30 and 18:00 to 21:00
Saturday, 11:00 to 14:00 and 18:00 to 21:00
Sunday, 11:00 to 14:00

Be aware that they have two entrances. One of them from outside and the other one from the own building.
If you are going to visit it monday to friday in the morning, you will have to enter inside the bank and ask for it.
If you are going to visit it in the evenings or weekends, you will have to enter from outside the bank (San Ignacio de Loyola street).

Are you in Zaragoza because business and no time for visits?. No problem, it closes at 21:00 monday to saturday!!!

Visit is free. Nevertheless, there are guided visits with the cost that appears in that page.


Get noticed that they open on mondays. There are not many monuments that open on mondays and you can use this day for this monument.

How can I get there?

By tramway (Pza. Aragon stop), Touristic bus (P. Pamplona 14 is the nearest) and almost any other bus lines.

Or just walking...

UPDATED

This was the old courtyard in the original location:

and ruins after demolishing

YES, you can visit this courtyard inside a central office of a bank!!!!


The same bank has a beautiful museum located in an old courtyard and with a lot of Goya paintings. It is in the city centre and free: Camon Aznar museum

Contemporany Cultural and Art Aragonese Institute (IAACC Pablo Serrano)

Contemporany Cultural and Art Aragonese Institute (IAACC Pablo Serrano)

Until the middle of the 2000s there was a single museum dedicated to the sculptor Pablo Serrano, Aragonese born in a little village in the south of the region.
In was enlarged... and its works are just part of a huge museum.

What is IAACC?

It is an enlarged museum with several floors. Two of them keep the permanent exhibition of Pablo Serrano sculptures (wikipedia entrance). But there are some more with temporary exhibitions. They can be paintings, photographs, etc...

It is one of those museums that worths a lot and sometimes it doesn't appear in any guide.

Where is IAACC Pablo Serrano museum?

It is in the Maria Agustin Boulevard.
Touristic bus stop very close to it.
Furthermore, some buses (nowadays number 20, 21 and 51 stop in the main gate). Nearest tramway stop is Plaza Aragón.

Which are its timetable and price?

Price is FREE

Look at the web for timetables. Some changes can be made, but currently it closes sunday afternoon and all the Monday, as well as the rest of the days opens until 21:00

Are you in Zaragoza for business or quite busy and want to have a look?.
No problem... it is free and closes at 21:00 tuesday to saturday!

Surf here for more information

Is there anything special more?

Yes... the terrace. You can reach (even by stairs or by lift) to the terrace and have a STUNNING cityscape view from the middle of it.

In another entry I will talk about the terrace and some pictures (all points that can be seen) but I will just say that I've seen Pyrenees and Moncayo from there (and obviously all the city).

Here's one picture I found in the web. I will post more taken by myself

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).

2013 Touristic Bus

2013 Touristic Bus

Entreprise that manages bus transport in Zaragoza has posted in his web that 2013 touristic bus will have the same journey, similar dates and SAME FARES than in 2012.

It is pending only to have a look to new schedules only.


More information in this post

Zaragoza: The four cathedrals city

Zaragoza: The four cathedrals city

How many cathedrals does Zaragoza have?. The answer is four.
Yes, it is true. Why so many?. Let's tell the whole story.

Let us count. One, two, three and four

Yes... first Cathedral: Seo de San Salvador (in this blog, every time we will talk about the "Cathedral" we will talk about that one. Otherwise we will indicate the name of it)
Second Cathedral: Basilica del Pilar
Third Cathedral: Basilica de Santa Engracia
Fourth Cathedral: Iglesia de San Pablo

Why so many cathedrals?

It is common for some dioceses to have a main cathedral and a Second-cathedral. And always a church has been considerated and consecrated as cathedral it will keep the range for ever.
After the Middle Age in Zaragoza there were two different dioceses. One at El Salvador (current cathedral) and second one at El Pilar. The diocese of El Pilar had, indeed, two cathedrals: main cathedral at El Pilar, second-cathedral at San Pablo.
And, Huesca diocese had the Santa Engracia church (it was consacrated as basilica just some decades ago) as his second-cathedral. Even if it was 72 km away and between two other diocese, this church was really a cathedral of Huesca. In fact, it was the church that gave more incoming to the Huesca diocese.
Zaragoza dioceses were unified only in one: El Salvador, and obviously with one arch-bishop and one religious structure only. So then El Salvador got the consideration as "Main cathedral" of the city but El Pilar and San Pablo kept their consideration of "second-cathedral".
In the middle SXX, the Second Vatican Council asked every diocese in the world to keep their limits as many near to administrative limits. Obviously you can always think if some village should change of bishop or shouldn't but it was very clear that they were asking to Huesca diocese not to have a second cathedral in a city where another archbishop was ruling all the religious administration.
Santa Engracia changed from Huesca diocese to Zaragoza diocese being another "second-cathedral".
And... you can find one "Main Cathedral" in Zaragoza and three "second-cathedrals". One plus three equal to four.
Four cathedrals in the same city (and really not far away)

What are their real names?

Let's start saying that Cathedral is translated into Spanish as "catedral" (without the "H") but into Aragonese as "Seo". Aragonese is a very little spoken language in the northern Aragon but there are some words that will be very used in Zaragoza. It will be very often to hear about the "Seo" instead of the "Catedral". Whayt it will be considered as a mistake is to talk about "Catedral de la Seo" because it should be translated something as "cathedral of the cathedral" or something like that. Just because "catedral" and "seo" mean the same in different languages. In spite this case... a great deal of guides will remain using that WRONG name.
Main Cathedral, San Salvador, will be used with the same name in English. You can translate it as "St. Saver" for instance... but remember that the city with the same name is not translated (the capital of the country El Salvador).
Second-cathedral, El Pilar, is usually called by the same name and it is one of the city's icon. A correct translation will be "The Pillar" (the Virgin appeared over a pillar, therefore its name) but I have never red that translation
Second-cathedral, San Pablo, could be easily translated as St. Paul (it is the name of the neighbourhood, by the way)
Second-cathedral, Santa Engracia, has no translation into English.

Were can I find more information and how can I visit them?

Obviously in the Tourism office were they will say the timetables for any cathedral.
El Pilar and San Salvador are included in the guided walks. Entrance to El Pilar is free. Entrance to San Salvador it is not, but not expensive and it worths a lot!!.
Santa Engracia has a very interesting crypt with its timetable. Ask in Tourism office for more detailed information.
San Pablo is not far away from city centre but in a slum neighbourhood that it is changing quickly and being refurbished. It has not a concrete timetable for visits but in the webpage they say that in the mornings they are opened 9:00 to 12:30, they have a morning mass at 9:30 and they ask everyone who wants to visit it to go when the mass has finished, monday to saturday. So you will have 10:00 to 12:30 monday to saturday to visit it.
Take notice that El Pilar and San Pablo are that little list of places that can be visited on mondays, if you are in the city that day.

In further posts we will talk about these cathedrals, one per one.

How can I reach them?

Walking, by public transport or by touristic bus.
San Salvador: Touristic bus in cathedral stop. Tramway in Plaza de España
El Pilar: Touristic bus in El Pilar (Echegaray y Caballero). Tramway in Plaza del Pilar-Murallas
Santa Engracia: Touristic bus in P.Independencia. Tramway in Plaza Aragon
San Pablo: Touristic bus in Conde Aranda. Tramway in Cesar Augusto

And some pictures

Seo de San Salvador (Main Cathedral)

Basilica del Pilar

Basilica de Santa Engracia

Iglesia de San Pablo

Guided Tours around Ancient city centre

Guided Tours around Ancient city centre.

You can have a guided tour in several languages organised by tourism office. Walking around main monuments in city centre and knowing some secrets of old streets that maybe they will not appear in some guide.
It is just a tour with an official guide. It is not visiting inside a monument but walking around several of them. You will enter in some of them and explanations could be given inside some monuments or just... in any Ancient street

What's Guided tours?

Tourist office will prepare several guided visits for main monuments. Some of them are available only in Spanish but there is one available in English, French, German and Italian.
Guide will make explanations in these three languages and you will be free to ask him any question being sure he/she will answer you with no problem.

Which are their timetables and fares?

It is a 2 hours walking tour around city centre. It runs on saturday afternoon (spring, autumn and winter 16:00, summer 18:00) and will require a 10 people minimum. You can book your visit one day in advance buying your ticket at Tourist office (you will assure at the same time that you have your ticket as well as it is not cancelled because no minimum).
Fare for year 2013 is 5,50 EUR but it doesn't include entrance to the Cathedral (it will include the entrance for any other monument in the visit).
If you bought the Zaragoza Card, this visit will be free for you.

What's the itinerary we will do?

Visit will start at 16:00 or 18:00 depending the season in front of Basilica del Pilar. There is a Touristic Bus Stop just behind it (and the main stop, in front of the Cathedral is only 300m ahead).
You will enter inside the Basilic and the Cathedral (entrance not included in the price) with explanations in English, French, German and Italian for all of them. You will make the following tour around the city.

Other visits can be modified according to the day or timetable but in anyway, the streets to run across the itinerary are the best ones for making a tour in the Ancient city.
You will know about the "Lonja" (Modern era market, only for trade, not purchasing), about the cathedral environment, Roman city (be sure no time to enter in any of these museums... they will require at least half a day but you will know about it and be able to ask anything to prepare your visit if you want).
You will know about some of the Mudejar towers. It is an architectural style that can be found in central-south Aragon and four towers remains in Zaragoza (In Teruel city, Unesco stated Mudejar buildings as Human Heritage). But also something about Renacentist palaces in city centre and finishing in the central market, Roman walls and Zuda tower.
This is a really very short description. Walking around the city with the guide you will know more.

Are there other guided tours?

Yes, they are not in English but enough interesting to make them.
Ask for timetables and schedules at any tourist office.
There is another guided tour around the city centre (daily in summer, and on weekends and special dates the rest of the year) that could help if you are not able to go to the English guided tour on Saturday afternoon.
There are gastronomic tours inside city centre. Despite explanations are only in Spanish... do not hesitate to take this tour as well as fare includes a visit to several shops, bars or bakeries and tasting products.
For instance, saturday morning there is a "Chocolate tour". You will start at 11:00 and will visit four different sites (be sure they are some of the best known in the city) were tasting sweet and chocolate products... and finishing before lunch time.

We are sorry but a local product tasting tour is also at 11:00 on saturday mornings so, except if you are going to be for more than one week... you will have to choose. With this visit you will enter in a very selective shops or markets with some goods ready to be tasted.

Price for both of them is 13 EUR. Little discount for children.
Not included in Zaragoza card.
Even if visit is only in Spanish, touristic guides in Zaragoza speak English so any question could be answered by them.
Wanna visit Zaragoza by bike?. If you have your bike (Zaragoza bike 3 days pass is accepted), you can walk with your guide and he will make some stops somewhere to make explanations.

And... in Spanish there are many other visits (daily in summer). Just ask for them because, despite you will not understand the language, the chance to enter or visiting easily somewhere is there and questions will be answered in English.

Something else to visit?

Yes, of course.
They are really too many visits within Zaragoza.
Several days you will find special visits for disabled people. These will be so specific and adapted one day to deaf people, other day for blind people. Two visits more for physic disable people (absolutely ready for wheel chairs) and for intellectual disables.

They will run some of main Zaragoza documents for only 2,50 EUR.
Visits will be every saturday at 12:00 but take schedule of each one of them (one saturday for deaf people, next for blind, etc...)
And, of course, a Tour for children.
Just ask for any of them at Zaragoza Tourist offices.
There are other visits to some monuments. This is, one guide that with its timetable daily will make at several hours some guides to any visitor.
Many of these visits are included in the Zaragoza card

Finally... in English there is only one visit on Saturday afternoon... but if you are going to stay for longer in Zaragoza you can try with some of them in Spanish. Just ask!.

Zaragoza Aquarium

Zaragoza Aquarium

Wanna visit something different in Zaragoza?
There is an Aquarium in the city. But it is not an usual aquarium indeed. It is an aquarium with only river fishes (no sea fishes or other sea animals).
In fact, it is the biggest River Aquarium in Europe.
It was opened when the International Exhibition in 2008 and it remains open to public everyday (365 days per year).

It will take about two hours visiting this aquarium and, maybe after visiting monuments, museums and that stuff... be sure it will be a quite different visit!.

How can I arrive to Zaragoza Aquarium?

You can arrive in tramway (Pablo Neruda stop going from city centre and Clara Campoamor, just the opposite avenue, to go back to centre) or by the Circular bus lines (Ci1 and Ci2) stopping at Ronda de Rabal avenue.
Zaragoza Aquarium is just in the centre of this map
https://maps.google.es/?ll=41.669081,-0.896909&spn=0.003398,0.018883&t=h&z=16
(and sorry, google maps is not updated in this area yet and it will appear under construction)
And... in summer, if Zaragoza Ebro boats are operating, one of their stops will leave you very close to the Aquarium (and maybe you can get a discount if using it)

If you got a Bike pass, there are stations near it.

And... there is a Touristic Bus stop besides it. If you are using it, take a look to the map because you can get off near it.

In summer it is possible to arrive by vessel. Ask for timetables

When can it be visited?

EVERYDAY.
Aquarium opens everyday from 10:00 to 20:00 Friday, Saturday and Sunday while all the year and also everyday in July, August and September.
From October to June, Monday to Thursday it will open 11:00 to 19:00
In Christmas' eve, Christmas, New Year's eve and New year's day ask for special timetable... but it remains open.
If you are going to stay several days in Zaragoza take notice that Mondays will open because several sites will close on Monday and it is the best way to plan your visits.
Adult fare without any discount is 14 euro. There are discounts for children, senior citizens and other advertisments with discounts.

What will I find at Zaragoza Aquarium?

It is based over a "world river" in the centre of the Aquarium (without taking notice, a huge, huge, huge fish tank with fishes from any river of the world will be visited eight times from different points).

And around the World river there is one river per continent. In each river you will find information (translations into English and French are available) about flora and fauna. You will get wrapped by an atmosphere that will remember you the area of the river and will find several fishes or other animals of every year.

You will start in the Nile river in Africa. All the fishes and also Egyptians crocodiles. Aquarium responsibles are happy to say that they suceed with these animals when they got new baby-crocodiles, not very often inside an Aquarium.

Next stop is for Mekong river in Asia. It will be interesting looking about differences between rocky mountains in this river and later the rice grounds near the ocean. You will have different atmospheres in each ones.

Continue with the Amazonas river in America. What can you find there?. Almost all varieties of fishes and other animals, incluiding piranhas, snakes and caymans.



Keep on with Darling river in Oceania and finally, Ebro river in Europe (just the river you have 100m ahead) and... you can be sure that almost all Zaragoza citizens who have visited the Aquarium have discovered something new there.

You can walk as fast or slow as you want. Is something like a little zoo, but only river fishes and so on. You will not have too many visitors at the same time and you can make a nice tour inside

Of course children are welcome and the Aquarium prepares all kind of activities while the year for children if booking. Children will enjoy looking so many animals in this building.
Just take notice that it is a River Aquarium, not a Sea Aquarium. For instance you will not have Whales nor sharks. Animals will be smaller. Maybe crocodiles are the biggest ones.
It is not better neither worst than Sea Aquariums. It is just... different

What about around the Aquarium?

Aquarium was opened while 2008 International Exhibition and remains opened since there. There are a lot of things to have a look in the nearby. Just have a look to any post with the tag "Expo" because you will be able to visit all of them at once, avoiding to go several times to the same corner of the city.


Are there other things to visit around?

Of course:
- all walking area from old international exhibition centre, refurbished for citizens
- Pabellon puente (Bridge pavilion), an unique brigde
- Parque Metropolitano del Agua Luis Buñuel (Metropolitan Water Park, Luis Buñuel)

Touristic Bus

Touristic Bus

As many other cities, Zaragoza has a touristic bus too.

It was in 1997 when first service was created. Just a bus with a 30-minute tour only in city centre but enough for a fast visit to the city.
Today service has been enlarged. In last years and according to city enlargement we have seen many changes. Sometimes two different tours, shorter and enlarged. Sometimes two different tours in different ways and today a single tour but much longer.
In fact it takes 75 minutes to make a tour in the Touristic Bus.

2013 UPDATE: SAME STOPS, JOURNEYS AND FARES THAN 2012

What is the touristic bus?

It is a service in double deck bus where you can get on and get off as many times as you want while a full day.

It has twelve stops. It will start in city centre, in front of the Cathedral and Roman forum, but after a Tour you can remain in the bus (except in the last service in the morning and evening).

You can choose any stop to get off the bus, visit something around and get on again... as many times as you want within the same day.

Where are those stops?

This is the last map for service

You might consider only the largest journey with red line and red spots (we will talk later about green and blue lines).

Main stop is with a green square besides the cathedral in this map. That is the first stop.
Take advice that journey makes a picture like a "snake". This means that you can get off anywhere and, if after your visit maybe a stop in the opposite direction is not far away. You can have a look to schedules for each stop and organise your visit.

Hint: Delicias train and bus station has a stop in the Arrivals area. If you arrive by train to Zaragoza... you can get from station to your hotel or destination just by touristic bus. Tickets can be bought in the bus too.

In the centre of this image, a Touristic Bus Stop, near La Aljafería. It appears a map and schedule on it

Google street Image

What is its schedule and operating dates?

It will operate mainly weekends and bank holidays from middle March to December.
Since 1st July until middle of September it will operate daily.
In some dates (mainly Easter and special holidays) service can be only in the morning.

Frequencies are one bus every 25 minutes. There are three buses, 75 minutes per journey... so 25 minutes every bus.

In almost all the year when service operates this is the schedule (departing Stop number 1 in front of Cathedral).
Morning: 10:30 to 13:25, one bus every 25 minutes
Evening: 16:45 to 19:40, one bus every 25 minutes.

Take advice that they are last services for each stop. This is... bus departing at 19:40 will make a full tour and finish at 20:55 in the same point. Just think that at Plaza La Seo you will not be able to take a new bus after that hour, and some minutes later at P.Independencia and so on.
Of course tickets used in the morning are accepted in the evening. Just service stops from 14:40 (last morning arrival to Cathedral Square) to 16:45 (first evening departure).

With your ticket you will receive a handout with monuments in each stop and schedules for them.

Where can I buy tickets?

Tickets can be bought at the same bus prior to entry.
Nevertheless if you want to save time, or if you want to assure you have your ticket you can buy them in advance on-line (http://www.zaragozaturismotiendaonline.com/turismo/inicio.asp) in the official Zaragoza municipality webpage or in any tourist office

Having a ticket do not assure seat in each bus. Seats have no numbers and you cannot choose upper or downer deck. They just assure you can entry them.

Prices and languages

Touristic bus for one day costs 8 Euro / person
Youth pass is accepted and cost will be 6 Euro
Kids younger than 5 are free but have no seats.

Touristic bus is included in Zaragoza Card and other cards that we talk about them in other entrances in this blog. Depending about your stay in Zaragoza it will worth to buy the Zaragoza Card because includes this service

A guide will make explanations at least in Spanish. Nevertheless they speak English too.

Headphones are included in the price with the full explanation of the tour in several languages including English.

Does it worth the Touristic Bus?

Yes. 

Except in that case you know the city, it is a fast and nice way to move within main touristic points in the city, specially those that are interesting but not in the city centre. You will have the schedules and a sum-up about the monuments or areas you can visit in every stop.

If you are going to stay for a short time in Zaragoza or you have a full agenda and not too much time, it will be the best way to know about the city and have a full look around it.

Better than visiting only a monument or something like that, having a full tour.

And... you can plan the bus you are going to get. Even if you make a full tour with non-stops, just hearing explanations, it will make you knowing something better about the city.

Which are other Touristic buses in the city?

Children touristic bus

Everyday there is a touristic bus with animation for children (sorry, but live animation is available only in Spanish).
It is at 16:30 everyday except in July and August when it is at 20:15. It take an hour and will make the green line tour (the same one that in the touristic bus with without going to arrivals in the Station and not approaching Casa Solans near the river)

It has no stops. You will enter and make a full tour (can be taken on only in front of the Cathedral)
Fare is 7,50 Euro.

Night touristic bus
Even the touristic bus tour is nice... looking from an upper bus deck in the night with all monuments lighted can be nicer!!!

In July, August and until middle September every Friday and Saturday night at 21:45 a night journey will run.
They will depart in front of the cathedral and will not make any stops. Journey will be the same than for children bus (blue line in the map).

Are you in Zaragoza because other reasons rather than tourism and really have no time to visit the city?
Sorry but... there is no excuse. At 21:45 you have an appointment and in one hour, even with live explanations, or headphones, you will have a full view of the city.

Tickets can be bought at the same bus but we will recommend to buy them in advance on-line or at tourism office if possible.

Sites that can be visited very near to any Touristic Bus Stop and have a thread in this blog:

Zaragoza Aquarium
The four cathedrals (Different stops)
El Pilar Tower (Lift)