A new exhibition at the Museo de Zaragoza is the best example yet of its proud heritage and cultural art influence, eager to be shared with visitors and residents alike.
Zaragoza is the capital city of a region in north-eastern Spain known as the Kingdom of Aragon. It is Spain's fifth largest city, and its enduring cultural climate, with roots back to the Roman Empire, includes fine dining, exceptional accommodations, entertainment, nightlife, and museums that bring world-class talent to the city. A steady influx of tourist dollars allows Zaragoza to maintain its status as a superior travel destination. Expo 2008, an international fair on “water and sustainable development”, was hosted there just last summer.
Zaragoza's Shining Star
The Museo de Zaragoza is one of Spain's oldest museums, with a grand façade set into a picturesque, tree-lined plaza in the heart of the city. It is one of several major art galleries in the city, affirming an effort by established government to inform its residents and visitors with some of art's greatest treasures and regional works. A current exhibition titled “Goya and the Modern World” showcases a presentation of their most-famous Western artist, Fransisco de Goya (1746-1828), and includes paintings from those he influenced.
Goya was born in Fuendetodos, a small town just east of Zaragoza. Goya's birth-house, now a national monument, still stands, allowing tourists a glimpse of his humble heritage. His work remains a major influence on artists worldwide, and his status as the native son of art in Aragon is a strong source of national pride.
A City Rich in Culture
The diverse range of holdings in the city's galleries is impressive. A cluster of museums contain archeology and art from Gothic to modern times, and most offer free admission. Tourists can visit the remains of past civilizations – the Forum, the Torre Nueva, the Aljafería Palace, the Basílica del Pilar – some of history's most venerated archaeological finds. Both classical and contemporary artists are well represented, including the works of Edouard Manet, Vincent Van Gogh, Salvador Dali, Edvard Munch, and Pablo Picasso, as well as regional luminaries like sculptor Pablo Gargallo, artist Pablo Serrano, and collector Camón Aznar. There's even an art school there, dedicated to teaching art theory and cultivating local talent.
Zaragoza's efforts to preserve and share its art treasures assure it a lasting artistic soul. The wide range of artifacts on display demonstrate a commitment to the fine arts – past, present and future. Highlighting a diverse cultural mix that includes Romans, Moors, Christians, Muslims, and Jews, the region is infused with Baroque, Iberian and Renaissance influences, and offers a variety of art forms. Paradigms of monuments, paintings, ceramics, sculpture, and tapestry are all within the city's limits. Its leaders in government and public relations are poised to maintain an enduring legacy of art on the world stage.
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