Cesaraugusto, City founder-fundador de la ciudad, Zaragoza, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The statue of Caesar Augustus on Avenida de César Augusto is a bronze tribute to the Roman emperor who gave Zaragoza its name. It stands in the Casco Antiguo, the old town, right beside a surviving stretch of the Roman walls, so the city's founder and its ancient defences share one spot.

The story behind it

Caesar Augustus was the first Roman emperor. Zaragoza began as a Roman city founded around 15 B.C. and was named Caesaraugusta in his honour. Over the centuries that name wore down into the Zaragoza we know today.

The statue itself is much younger than the city. It was a gift from the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in 1940, one of several statues of the emperor sent to places linked to him. Next to it you can see a fragment of the Roman walls, which are the real ancient presence here.

What to look for

• The bronze figure of the emperor, shown as a Roman ruler in military dress, which makes it easy to picture the founder of the city.
• The fragment of Roman wall beside the statue, a rare piece of the original Caesaraugusta still standing in the street.
• The contrast between the 1940 bronze and the ancient stonework behind it, two very different moments in the story of how Rome is remembered here.
• The name of the avenue itself, César Augusto, a reminder of how closely the city's identity is tied to the emperor.

Tips for your visit

• The statue stands in the open street, so you can see it at any time without a ticket. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough to look at the bronze and the wall.
• Go in the morning or late afternoon, when the light is softer on the stonework and the street is calmer.
• It sits in the old town, so it combines easily with a stroll to the other Roman remains and the main sights of the centre.
• Check current opening hours for any museums or sites nearby before you plan a longer visit.

See it on a quest

You can reach the statue on foot as one stop of Zaragoza and the Napoleonic wars, a self-guided walk through the old town with a Napoleonic theme. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so the statue becomes part of a wider story of the city rather than a quick photo. There is no guide and no group to join, and you can start whenever you like. One ticket covers the whole group.