ZARAGOZA. (in English generally written Saragossa), a city of Spain, capital of the ancient kingdom and former province of Aragon and of the modern province of Zaragoza, is situated in 41° 47' N. lat., 0' 53' W. long., 180 miles N.E. from Madrid. It is the see of an archbishop and the residence of a eaptaiu-general. The population in 1845 was 40,482.
The city of Zaragoza stands on tho south bank of the Ebro, and is connected with a suburb on the north bank by a good stone bridge Ce0 feet in length, which was constructed in 1437. The small river lluerba flows from the smith towards the central part of the city-wall, and then, sweeping round the outside of the wall, falls into the Ebro en the east side of the city. The Gallego falls into the Ebro on the north bank a short distance below the city. The wall is low, built of brick, and is entered by eight gates. The adjacent plain is fertile, and is well irrigated from the canal of the Ebro. [Ananols] The houses are solidly built, some of stone, but mostly of briok; the streets are narrow, tortuous, ill paved, and ill lighted.
Zaragoza possesses two cathedrals, in each of which the chapter resides alternately six months. The older of the two, called La Sou (the See, or Scat, ' cathedra') is a gothic structure, with one octagonal belfry-tower, the other being yet to build. The second cathedral, dedicated to Nueatra Senora del Pilar, is a quadrangular building about 500 feet in length, and with three naves. In the centre of the church, in a small chapel under the central dome, is the sacred pillar, surmounted by a small wooden figure of the Virgin Mary. The legend is, that the Virgin stood on this very pillar, and thence directed St. James (Santiago) to build a chapel on the spot. This pillar is held in great veneration by the Aragonese, who resort to it from all parts of the province. Several of the other churches, and most of the con ventual buildings, were either destroyed or greatly injured during the two sieges of 1808.9.
Au octangular clock-tower, built in 1504, and called La Torre Nueva, ie as much out of the perpendicular as the leaniog tower of Pisa. It is of brick-work, much ornamented. The university, with its valuable library, was destroyed by the French, but has since been partially reconstructed. The students amount to about 1000. The General Hospital is also a new structure, the former having been burnt during the siege. The Aljaferia (so named from Abu-Jafar, the Moorish sovereign who built it), the palace-citadel, or alcazar, is outside the north-western gate. It was much damaged by the bombs
of the French, and is now in a ruinous condition. The Poor-House and Orphan Asylum (Casa de Misericordia), has accommodation for 600 or 700 individuals. Near to this building is the Plaza de Toros (bull-arena), where grand fights are occasionally exhibited in honour of the Virgin, on which occasions the profits are applied to the sup port of the hospitals. The Lonja, or Exchange, is a fine stone edifice, round which marble busts of most of the kings of Aragon arc placed iu niches. Nearly opposite is La Casa de la Diputacion, a noble building erected by Alfonso V., in the principal hall of which are portraits of the kings of Aragon. The other principal buildings consist of a theatre, a museo, or academy of fine arts, and a public library. The alamadas extend on the outside of the city-wall as far as the Casa Blanca on the canal; they are lined with poplar-trees, and much frequented by the inhabitants.
The principal manufactures are silks, woollens, and leather, and there is a considerable trade in agricultural produce by tho canal of the Ebro.
By the Celt-Iberians Zaragoza was called Salduba or Saldyva (Plin. lib. iii.). It was colonised by the Romans, and the Emperor Augustus named it Caesar Augusta, which the Moors corrupted into Saracosta, ancieutly written caragoca, whence the present name Zaragoza. It was taken by the Goths about A.D. 470, by the Moors in 712, and by Alfonso I. of Aragon in 1118. Zaragoza was twice besieged by the French in the early part of the Peninsular War. It was first invested June 15, 1808. The French carried some of the exterior works, and forced their way into the city ; but the garrison and inhabitants attacked the enemy with irresistible fury, and after 49 days of opeu trenches and 21 days of bombardment, the siege was raised on the 4th of August. Being a military position of great importance, where several roads meet, the siege was recommenced on the 20th of Decem ber. It was bombarded till the 27th of January 1809, when a general assault was made, and the French forced their way through the breaches into the city. The city itself however was defended with desperate valour by the inhabitants as well as by the garrison, house by house as well as street by street, and was not conquered till the 22nd of February 1809.