TWO CATHEDRALS
In Zaragoza there is only one town hall with two cathedrals:
La Seo and El Pilar.
Why
TWO CATHEDRALS?
During the Muslim period of the city, Christians could celebrate their rites in two churches: Santa María la Mayor and Santa Engracia. When the troops of the kingdom of Aragon invaded Saraqusta in 1118, they imposed and organized their religious cult and the main mosque was converted into a Christian cathedral (La Seo).
The following centuries there were great disputes among the local clergy since the chapter of Santa María la Mayor (el Pilar) wanted to be the main temple, while the canons of La Seo claimed their right to host the episcopal chair.
The situation became complicated in the 17th century and both factions took their complaints to the Holy See. The decision was firm: Clement
Thus, currently the Metropolitan Council of Zaragoza has two residences (La Seo and El Pilar) that are exchanged on April 1 of each year. The capitular emblem is composed of the superimposition of the Agnus Dei (emblem of La Seo) on the column (emblem of the Pilar).
CATHEDRAL OF
EL SALVADOR OR
LA SEO
Built on the ancient Roman forum of Caesaraugusta from the old Great Mosque of Saraqusta, the temple was built with a Gothic interior appearance but which today presents us with an eclectic set of styles, a journey through the history of Western art since the Romanesque until the Neoclassical.
For lovers of history, architecture and art, La Seo is an essential destination.
Furthermore, its location in the old town of Zaragoza, close to other historical and cultural attractions, makes it a central point for any visit to the city
Annexed to the cathedral is the Parish of San Miguel Arcángel. Its outer wall is a masterpiece of Aragonese Mudejar and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001, along with the dome, which represents a triple crown evoking the shape of the papal tiara.
The intricate geometric patterns, elegant arches and glazed tiles that adorn this wall are testimony to the skill of Mudejar artisans and a manifestation of the thriving cultural exchange between different communities in medieval Zaragoza.
BASILICA CATHEDRAL
From EL PILAR
The Basilica del Pilar is a Baroque jewel, an icon of the city of Zaragoza and one of the most important pilgrimage centers in the world, in addition to hosting spectacular works of religious art
Christian legend has it that the temple was built from the marble pillar or column on which the apostle Santiago saw the Virgin Mary “in mortal flesh” on January 2, 40 AD.
It speaks of coming and not of appearance, since the Virgin was still living then in Palestine. In the small chapel where the venerated column was housed, a Mozarabic church was built first, then Romanesque, another Mudejar and finally the baroque temple that we know today.
Its overflowing artistic wealth from different periods, from the Gothic-Renaissance of the altarpiece and the choir to the paintings of Francisco de Goya and the baroque chapel of the Virgin, makes it a must-see for tourists.
The temple is the epicenter of the city's Christian traditions and the image of the enormous building on the banks of the Ebro River is portrayed every day by citizens and visitors from various points of the city.
