Zaragoza is the capital city of the Zaragoza province and of the autonomous

community of Aragon, Spain. It lies by the Ebro river and its tributaries, the Huerva and
the Gállego, roughly in the center of both Aragon and the Ebro basin.
On 1 September 2010 the population of the city of Zaragoza was 701,090,[4] within its
administrative limits on a land area of 1,062.64 square kilometres (410.29 square miles),
ranking fifth in Spain. It is the 32nd most populous municipality in the European Union. The
population of the metropolitan area was estimated in 2006 at 783,763 inhabitants.
The municipality is home to more than 50 percent of the Aragonese population. The city
lies at an elevation of 199 metres (653 feet) above sea level.
Zaragoza hosted Expo 2008 in the summer of 2008, a world's fair on water and sustainable
development. It was also a candidate for the European Capital of Culture in 2012.
The city is famous for its folklore, local gastronomy, and landmarks such as the Basílica del
Pilar, La Seo Cathedral and the Aljafería Palace. Together with La Seo and the Aljafería,
several other buildings form part of the Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon which is
a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Fiestas del Pilar are among the most celebrated
festivals in Spain.
The Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar (Spanish: Catedral-Basílica de Nuestra
Señora del Pilar) is a Roman Catholic church in the city of Zaragoza, Aragon (Spain). The
Basilica venerates Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title Our Lady of the Pillar[1] praised as
"Mother of the Hispanic Peoples" by Pope John Paul II.[2] It is reputed to be the first church
dedicated to Mary in history.[3]
Local traditions take the history of this basilica to the dawn of Christianity in Spain
attributing to an apparition to Saint James the Great, the apostle who is believed by
tradition to have brought Christianity to the country.[4] This is the only reported apparition of
Mary to have occurred before her believed Assumption.[2]
Many of the kings of Spain, many other foreign rulers and saints have paid their devotion
before this statue of Mary. Saint John of the Cross, Saint Teresa of Ávila, Saint Ignatius of
Loyola, and Blessed William Joseph Chaminade are among the foremost ones.[5] The
Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar is one of two minor basilicas in the city of Zaragoza, and is
co-cathedral of the city alongside the nearby La Seo de Zaragoza. The architecture is
of Baroque style, and the present building was predominantly built between 1681 and 1872.