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Zaragoza (-esθaɾaˈɣoθa), also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. It is situated on the Ebro river and its tributaries, the Huerva and Gállego, near the centre of the region, in a valley with a variety of landscapes, ranging from desert (Los Monegros) to thick forest, meadows and mountains. On 1 September 2010 the population of the city of Zaragoza was 701,090, ranking fifth in Spain. 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. Zaragoza hosted Expo 2008 in the summer of 2008, a World's fair on water and sustainable development. It was also candidate for the European Capital of Culture in 2016. In addition, Zaragoza wants to be a candidate city for the Winter Olympic Games 2022, a project similar to Torino 2006 and Vancouver 2010. Ice and snow sports in Zaragoza, are popular in the nearby Pyrenees, where many of Spain's best ski resorts are located. The city is famous for its folklore, a renowned local gastronomy, and landmarks such as the BasÃlica del Pilar, La Seo Cathedral and the The AljaferÃa Palace. Together with La Seo and the Aljaferia, 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. |
