The Paraninfo building, an emblem of the city, as well as of the University and of Zaragoza, was inaugurated in 1893 to house the Faculty of Medicine and Sciences. Following the standards of Renaissance palace architecture in Aragon, it is built of bricks, except for the central entrance, which is made of stone. Going up the wide staircase we are greeted by the statue of four important Medical Doctors and Scientists like Miguel Servet, Andrés Piquer, Ignacio Jordán de Asso and Fausto de Elhuyar. Santiago Ramon y Cajal, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1906), leads the way to the Aula Magna.
The Paraninfo was renovated in the years 2006-2008 after which it hosts the Rectorate and Vice-Rectorates of the University. Throughout the year, several exhibitions are held in its exhibition rooms, while its meeting rooms are available for Conferences and Meetings.
Travel Information
Zaragoza is about 320 km from Madrid and 290 km from Barcelona. The city is well connected with the rest of Spain and the world, and it can be easily reached by public transport.
By plane: There are currently regular flights to Zaragoza from Brussels, Bucharest, London/Stansted, Milan/Bergamo, Paris/Beauvais-Tille and Treviso/S.Angelo, as well as some domestic flights. The updated list of flight connections to Zaragoza airport can be found in the following link: http://www.aena.es/en/zaragoza/airlines-and-destinations/airport-destinations.html
By Train: Zaragoza is also easily reachable by train as it is one of the main links in the Spanish railway network. The High Speed Train (“AVE”) connects Zaragoza with several major Spanish cities, the closest being Madrid and Barcelona. The journey takes less than 90 min from Madrid to Zaragoza and less than 2 hours from Barcelona to Zaragoza. There are approximately one connection per hour and a one-way ticket costs around 50-70 EUR (discounts and/or special offers may be available). Timetables and prices can be checked at http://www.renfe.es (in Spanish) or http://www.renfe.com/es/en (in English). Tickets can be purchased online.
By Bus: Zaragoza is well-connected to Madrid and Barcelona by bus. The name of the bus company is ALSA. There is about one bus every hour and the journey takes about 4 hours. The cost is between 15-20 EUR, either from Madrid (Bus station "Intercambiador Avenida de America" or directly at Barajas Airport/ Terminal 4 or from Barcelona (Bus station "Barcelona Nord"). Tickets can be purchased online. Timetables and prices are available at http://www.alsa.es (in Spanish) or https://www.alsa.es/en/ (in English).
Getting around in Zaragoza
From the airport to downtown: Zaragoza Airport is about 9 km outside of the city. From the airport, the best option is to take a taxi to the city centre (~25 EUR). There is a bus service (single tickets cost ~4 EUR and only cash is accepted) but with low frequency (between half and one hour depending on the day). The bus stops at “Puerta del Carmen”, close to the venue.
More info available at the Zaragoza airport website: https://www.aena.es/en/zaragoza/getting-there/bus.html.
From the train and bus station to downtown: High speed trains arrive at “Zaragoza Delicias” train station, next to the “Zaragoza Estación Central” bus station, where buses from Madrid and Barcelona will arrive. To go from the train and bus stations to the venue, you can either take a taxi, with a cost of about 10-12 EUR, or the city bus service. Route/Bus 51 will take you close to the venue (bus stop “P. Pamplona N.o 5") and also close to the hotel/downtown area.
Useful links: Train station “Zaragoza Delicias”: https://www.adif.es/w/04040-zaragoza-delicias.
Bus station “Zaragoza Estación Central”: http://www.estacion-zaragoza.es/ (only in Spanish)
Transport in Zaragoza: you can use either taxis, bus and tram services within the city. Single tickets cost 1.60 EUR and can be bought from the bus driver (provided you pay with coins or small notes) or machines at tram stops (cash or card).
Information on bus lines and on the tram service (only in Spanish) is available at: http://zaragoza.avanzagrupo.com/ and http://www.tranviasdezaragoza.es/
Zaragoza is also a very walkable city, with the city centre and the conference venue about 10-15 min away on foot. During your walk, you will be able to see all the beautiful sites the city offers, so we definitely recommend a little stroll.
Getting around in Barcelona
To travel from the airport ("Aeropuerto Josep Tarradellas") to the train station ("Barcelona Sants") or to the bus station ("Barcelona Nord"):
By Taxi: Depending on the traffic conditions the journey could take around 30-45 min. Typical cost 35-40 EUR. More info available at the airport website https://www.aena.es/en/josep-tarradellas-barcelona-el-prat/getting-there/taxi.html
By Train: The train is called “Rodalies”, line “R2 Nord” and it leaves every ~30 min. The train station is at the third stop called "Barcelona-Sants" and the journey takes about 20 min. To reach the bus station you need to change trains at "Barcelona-Sants” to line “R4”. Exit at the second stop ("Barcelona-Arc de Triomf"). A single one-way ticket costs 3.8 EUR, but the journey is free for passengers with an AVE ticket connecting to/from a flight. Please, note that the tickets for the Rodalies trains do not allow the use of the metro or the bus service. More information available at https://rodalies.gencat.cat/en/inici/index.html and in the airport website https://www.aena.es/en/josep-tarradellas-barcelona-el-prat/getting-there/trains.html. Note that the “Rodalies” train line “R2 Nord” departs from Terminal T2 at the Barcelona airport. However, your flight may arrive at Terminal T1, in which case you can take a shuttle between the terminals https://www.aena.es/en/josep-tarradellas-barcelona-el-prat/airport-services/free-transport-between-terminals.html
By Bus: Several lines connect the airport to the city centre (“Plaza Catalunya”) (~35 min journey). A single ticket costs 2 EUR. General information on public transport in Barcelona is available at https://www.tmb.cat/en/home .
See also the “Transport and access” section at Barcelona airport website: https://www.aena.es/en/josep-tarradellas-barcelona-el-prat/getting-there/bus.html.
Getting around in Madrid
To travel from the airport ("Aeropuerto Adolfo-Suárez de Madrid-Barajas") to the train station ("Madrid Atocha") or to the bus station ("Intercambiador Avenida America"):
By Taxi: Depending on traffic conditions the journey takes about 30 min. The fare from the airport to the Atocha train station is fixed at 30 EUR. More info available in the airport website https://www.aena.es/en/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas/getting-there/taxi.html
By Metro: Line 8 runs from all the airport terminals to the “Nuevos Ministerios” station in the city centre of Madrid (~12-15 min). There, you have to change lines to get to the bus station ("Avenida de America", using for example line 6) or to the Atocha train station ("Atocha Renfe", using for example line 6 + line 1). One-way ticket costs ~4.5 EUR. You can find details at https://www.metromadrid.es/en. More info available at the airport website: https://www.aena.es/en/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas/getting-there/underground.html
By Train: Take the “Renfe Cercanías” line C1 from terminal T4 of the Madrid-Barajas Airport to the city centre, stopping at “Nuevos Ministerios” and “Atocha”. Single tickets cost 2.6 EUR, but note that the service is free for passengers with AVE tickets connecting to/from a flight. More info available at the airport website https://www.aena.es/en/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas/getting-there/trains.html
By Bus: “Airport Express Shuttle” runs every 15 min from the airport to the train station "Atocha Renfe"; the journey takes about 40 min and a single ticket costs 5 EUR, more info available at https://www.esmadrid.com/en/airport-express-shuttle. City bus route “200” goes to the bus station (stop "Intercambiador Avenida de America") and a single ticket costs 1.5 EUR. There are other routes to the city centre. General information on public transport in Madrid is available at https://www.emtmadrid.es/Index.aspx?lang=en-GB. More info available at the Madrid airport website https://www.aena.es/en/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas/getting-there/bus.html
Visiting Zaragoza
About Zaragoza
Zaragoza is the fourth largest city in Spain. Located on the banks of the Ebro River, halfway between Madrid and Barcelona, it is the capital of the Region of Aragon. Come and discover this open and friendly city:
A long-standing history.
In its streets you will find an amazing heritage of monuments, vestiges of the Roman, Moorish, Jewish and Christian communities that have left their mark on the city:
Roman ruins, the Roman Theatre, the Aljafería Palace, Mudejar churches with the UNESCO World Heritage designation, treasures such as the Basilica "El Pilar", the work of the brilliant artist Francisco de Goya... If you love art and architecture, Zaragoza is the perfect destination for you.
Leisure: A wide range of activities. Theatres, cinemas, exhibitions, concerts, festivals, fairs... Zaragoza offers a spectacular cultural programme all year round. The city's cultural life is intense. You can see it for yourself in the streets or in venues such as the Auditorium, the Teatro Principal or the Aragon Conference Centre. You will find all the different artistic styles in this city.
Delicious gastronomy. Enjoy typical regional dishes and, of course, take part in one of the city's great traditions - going out for tapas: small gastronomic creations that delight all those who try them (and help you get through until the typical Spanish dinner time at 21:00 or 22:00).
A great city for shopping. Zaragoza has a wide variety of shops, from malls to boutiques and alternative or traditional shops. There are large pedestrian areas for strolling and large shopping centres to escape the heat. There are also several street markets that make Zaragoza a lively and vibrant city.
Night-time entertainment. Of course, Zaragoza is also a great place to go out at night, with pubs, clubs, bars and terraces that stay open until the early hours of the morning. See for yourself by exploring the main nightlife areas. You will want to come back.
The pleasure of a stroll. Strolling around Zaragoza is a traditional activity open to all. Dress comfortably and explore the streets. Zaragoza is a compact city, ideal for exploring on foot, and its boulevards, avenues and pedestrian streets are perfect for a stroll. This is also the best way to admire many of its monuments.
Routes and excursions in the surrounding area. Discover the surroundings of Zaragoza, with a wealth of landscapes, villages, spas, cultural routes and countryside. From Fuendetodos, the birthplace of the brilliant artist Francisco de Goya, to Calatayud, where you will find the “Monasterio de Piedra” Nature Reserve. Follow the Moncayo route to the highest mountain in the province, a few kilometres from Tarazona, a Mudejar city full of art. We also recommend a visit to the Cinco Villas area, with its medieval atmosphere. These are just some of the excursions you can enjoy less than an hour and a half away.
For transport, services, hotels and tourist information in English, please visit:
● Zaragoza City: http://www.zaragoza.es/turismo/?idioma=en
● Region of Aragon: http://www.turismodearagon.com/en
● SpainTourism Office: http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres/ciudades-pueblos/grandes-ciudades/zaragoza.htm
Points of interest in Zaragoza (quick overview)
