Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza

Museos y Exposiciones

Zaragoza Histories Centre >> Historical Background

The area occupied by the site of the former San Agustín convent and, in general, the surrounding area, show the sequential remains of all of the cultures, stages and even the historical vicissitudes that have occurred in Zaragoza.

The different archaeological excavations carried out on this site and neighbouring ones, have uncovered testimonies of the presence of the Iberian, Roman and Muslim cultures. The Convent of San Agustín was finally built on this site at the end of the 13th century, remaining here until the alienation of Church property and the subsequent transformation of the convent into a military supplies barracks around the middle of the 19th century.

The events that took place during the famous "Sitios" or Sieges in 1808 and 1809 are of particular importance as the convent formed part of the city´s defence line and was used to position batteries and as a bastion, becoming the target of bloody battles that finally destroyed it. It was precisely at this point that one of the breaches in the city´s defence line was made, allowing the French troops to enter the city, forcing its surrender.

In 1978, as part of the so-called Barracks Operation, the site was given over to the City Hall Authorities and several projects were undertaken, finally resulting in the current Zaragoza histories Centre.