Tourists invade the Plaza del Pilar in Zaragoza this August bank holiday

The August long weekend is a special date for many Aragonese , who take advantage of these days to make a getaway to the beach, to village festivals or simply to escape the heat and enjoy a well-deserved vacation. Zaragoza, at this time, lets its usual guests go and welcomes an endless number of tourists who are not only national, but also come from the other side of the globe such as Puerto Rico or the Philippines. The main attraction continues to be El Pilar, a temple par excellence for parishioners, travelers and art lovers who pass through the capital of Zaragoza.

This Saturday morning has not left high temperatures or stifling heat, so the Plaza del Pilar becomes the perfect setting for groups of tourists with free tours, selfies or to sit on a terrace and admire the incomparable views. This is the case of Mariana, a Venezuelan who has been living in Barcelona for almost 20 years and has taken advantage of the August long weekend to show the city of Zaragoza to her family.

“We had already been to Zaragoza before, it is my fifth time, and we really like it because it is an 
organized city full of fantastic monuments,” explained Mariana, at the doors of the Basilica del Pilar, while acting as a guide for her Venezuelan relatives who are visiting the city for the first time. Mariana says that shortly after arriving this morning the first thing she did was eat a torrezno. “I love them, they are delicious, we only came for one day but I never miss the opportunity to eat this typical delicacy from here,” explained the tourist, who usually lives in Barcelona.

FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE BASILICA DEL PILAR

Patrick, from the Philippines, has come to Zaragoza with his mother and they are both embarking on a trip through Europe, visiting countries such as Spain, France and Italy. “We stopped in Zaragoza for two nights on our way from Barcelona to Madrid,” said this Filipino tourist. The tranquility and the absence of mass tourism was something that surprised this son and his mother on their visit to the city. “Also, compared to Madrid or Barcelona, ​​Zaragoza is somewhat cheaper ,” said this traveler.

La Seo, the Basilica del Pilar and the Aljafería Palace are some of the most popular emblematic places that attract the most visitors and where the most stops are made on the free tours that are completely full. “We came on a pilgrimage with the parish from Puerto Rico ,” said Luz Coto, a tourist who is part of a group of 42 people who are touring the most emblematic churches and temples throughout Europe throughout the month of August.

“We started in Portugal and followed the route of the Marian sanctuaries. We were in Fatima and also in Lourdes,” explains this 46-year-old Puerto Rican. “Both the Basilica del Pilar and the Cathedral of La Seo are beautiful things, and the tiny size of the Virgin is something very curious, because she is beautiful,” said the tourist from Puerto Rico, who also considers “the reasonable prices of Zaragoza and the warmth and friendliness of its people” to be a plus point.