Torres de la Zaidería

The Torreón de la Zuda is a surviving piece of the fortified palace that once dominated the northwest corner of Zaragoza, and it stands at the western end of the Plaza del Pilar, a short walk from the great basilica and La Seo. The name Zuda comes from the Arabic word for the governor's palace. The complex was the residence of the Muslim rulers of the city and later served the Christian kings of Aragon as a royal palace, until the Aljafería became the principal royal residence in the eleventh century. Most of the complex has disappeared, and the tower is the best-preserved remnant.

The tower is a plain, sturdy block of stone and brick, and in its present form it dates largely from a sixteenth-century rebuilding, which altered the medieval fabric. It stands over earlier layers, and the area has even older roots, with traces of the Roman city of Caesaraugusta around it, including stretches of the Roman wall, which are visible nearby. The tower was restored in the early 2000s and now houses a municipal tourist information point, so it has a modern civic function. Walking in, you can pick up maps and information about the city, and get a feel for the building's thick walls.

The tower's neighbours add interest to the visit. The Church of San Juan de los Panetas, a short distance away, has a leaning Mudéjar tower that is a minor local curiosity. On the Plaza del Pilar itself, the Fuente de la Hispanidad, a modern fountain from the early 1990s, is shaped like a map of Latin America and speaks to the connection between Zaragoza and the Spanish-speaking world on the day of the Virgin of the Pillar. Fragments of the Roman wall and a Roman tower are preserved close to the plaza, forming a small archaeological walk.

Because the interior is small and used mostly as an office, the main experience is exterior. It is a good place to stop for orientation at the start of a day in Zaragoza, with the Mercado Central de Abastos, the Museo del Pilar and La Seo all within a few minutes on foot, and the Aljafería Palace and its gardens a short ride away. The plaza is also the best place to see the basilica from a distance.

It suits history and architecture fans, and travellers who want practical information. Check current opening hours at the tourist point.