Catedral Basílica Del Pilar or Or Lady of the Pillar

Sometimes referred to as the ‘Mother of the Hispanic Peoples,’  the cathedral’s facade is topped by lots of attractive cupolas that lie around its central dome. It looks particularly stunning at night when its fine features are fabulously illuminated and reflected in the waters of the river.

According to ancient local tradition, soon after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, Saint James was preaching the Gospel in Spain, but was disheartened because of the failure of his mission. Tradition holds that on 2 January 40 AD, while he was deep in prayer by the banks of the Ebro River, the Mother of God appeared to him and gave a column of jasper and instructed him to build a church in her honor: "This place is to be my house, and this image and column shall be the title and altar of the temple that you shall build."

About a year after the apparition, James is believed to have had a small chapel built in Mary's honor, the first church ever dedicated to her. After James returned to Jerusalem, he was executed by Herod Agrippa in about 44 AD, the first apostle to be martyred for his faith. Several of his disciples took his body and returned it for final burial in Spain. This first chapel was eventually destroyed with various other Christian shrines, but the statue and the pillar stayed intact under the protection of the people of Zaragoza.

Many of the kings of Spain, many other foreign rulers and saints have paid their devotion before this statue of Mary, including Saint John of the Cross, Saint Teresa of Ávila, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, and Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

Built in a beautiful Baroque style, the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, as it is known in English, it is a Catholic Church and one of Zaragoza, Spain's most popular attractions. While it was only erected in 1681, numerous chapels and churches have been built on the same spot, ever since the Mother of God was miraculously sighted on the banks of the Ebro in 40 AD.  It is reputed to be the first church dedicated to Mary in history.

Local traditions and history of this basilica relate io the spread of Christianity in Roman Spain attributing to an apparition to Saint James the Great, the apostle who is believed by tradition to have brought Christianity to the country. This is the only reported apparition of Mary to have occurred before her believed Assumption.