The Impressive Doors of Zaragoza

Residents of Spain’s fourth largest city, Zaragoza, are justifiably proud of its rich history and architecture, symbolized by the Puerta del Carmen, the only remaining gate of the 12 famous Roman or Medieval gates that surrounded the city. However, in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives we often overlook Zaragoza’s architecture and the numerous other attractive and historic doors that adorn the city, from the monumental doors in the Casco Viejo of the Palace of the Counts of Morata on Via Coso and the Palace of Tarín on Plaza Santa Cruz, to the intricate wooden doors or grilles of residential buildings on Calle de Alfonso I or Paseo de Sagasta. Sometimes it takes the eyes of an outsider to appreciate the architectural gems that lifelong residents of Zaragoza tend to take for granted. The eyes of an outsider are sometimes more observant.

Residents of Spain’s fourth largest city, Zaragoza, are justifiably proud of its rich history and architecture, symbolized by the Puerta del Carmen, the only remaining gate of the 12 famous Roman or Medieval gates that surrounded the city. However, in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives we often overlook Zaragoza’s architecture and the numerous other attractive and historic doors that adorn the city, from the monumental doors in the Casco Viejo of the Palace of the Counts of Morata on Via Coso and the Palace of Tarín on Plaza Santa Cruz, to the intricate wooden doors or grilles of residential buildings on Calle de Alfonso I or Paseo de Sagasta. Sometimes it takes the eyes of an outsider to appreciate the architectural gems that lifelong residents of Zaragoza tend to take for granted. The eyes of an outsider are sometimes more observant.

Click on the image of the door below to view a full gallery of the Doors of Zaragoza.

Click here for an index of all doors.

"

Philip Frayne, a native New Yorker, moved to Zaragoza with his Spanish wife in the fall of 2021. Frayne, a retired U.S. diplomat who served for 35 years in nine different countries with the American government, now teaches part time at the Instituto de Empresa in Madrid while taking Spanish and other classes in Zaragoza. In his spare time he enjoys taking long walks around the city focusing on architecture, especially in the Casco Viejo and surrounding neighborhoods.

“On my walks I noticed very interesting doors and entrances,” said Mr. Frayne. “While living abroad, I had seen posters made of the doors of Jerusalem, Tunis, Dublin, Damascus and other cities, but I couldn’t find any that grouped together the doors of Zaragoza. So I decided to take photographs of this city’s impressive collection and make a poster to highlight Zaragoza’s history and the architectural richness of which the city can be proud.”

Now maños and mañas as well as visitors and tourists can enjoy this heritage in a beautiful 50cm by 70cm high-resolution poster available directly from the author: FrayneP12@gmail.com.

Price per Poster: 15,00€.

Posters are available in blue or black.

Request a Poster