Por fin llegamos a la cima de las torres del Pilar, con la pata jorobada, pero llegamos.
The Virgin of the Pillar, Spain's Patron Virgin, is located in the city of Zaragoza (capital of the autonomous community of Aragon).
The Virgin of the Pillar is considered to be the first Marian temple in Christianity.
One undeniable fact about Zaragoza, which I wasn't expecting, was the pronounced Islamic influence in its design and architecture.
In fact, it was a capital city of an Islamic kingdom during Islam's rule over Spain (711 - 1492).
Touristic pamphlets also boast that the area of Zaragoza is the oldest civilization found in the valley of the Ebro River. This area was populated by Iberians.
During the Roman Empire this city was called Caesaragusta.
40 -- Just when he started to get very frustrated, the Blessed Mother appeared to St. James on top of a pillar carried by angels on January 2 in this place. She encouraged him to keep on.
714 -- Zaragoza fell into the hands of Sarraceno Mussa Ibn Nusair. The city's name was changed to Medina Al-baina Saraqusta
788 -- The Bano Qasi of the Lerida region of Spain transformed Zaragoza into their capital
1118 -- Zaragoza is taken over by Christians and it becomes the capital of the Kingdom of Aragon
Besides entering the Basilica where the Virgin sits on top of her pillar, we also toured La Seo, the neighboring church which really blew my mind. To witness the overwhelming amount of artistry here was definitely worth the 6 euro entrance fee.
During the early evening (it doesn't get dark in Spain until 10 pm) we walked around the city window-shopping. I also stopped in the Pablo Gargallo museum while my parents patiently waited in the plaza watching yet another wedding party.
Before returning to the hotel, we watched the US vs. England World Cup soccer game in an Irish pub.
The Basilica looks surreal at night with its glittering yellow, blue and white tiles against the black sky. It was a picture that I could have only imagined in my dreams.
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