When I first moved to Zaragoza, I was woken up every morning at 7 AM by the plaza bells. To be honest, it was quite annoying at first, but after living here for a while, I got used to it. Now if I don’t hear the bells on any given day, something feels off for the entire day.
Origin of the Bells
The bells of Zaragoza mainly come from the bell tower of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar. This basilica was built in the 17th century, and the bell tower houses a total of 11 large bells, each with its own name and tone. The largest bell weighs 10 tons, and when it rings, the entire old town can hear it.
Bell Schedule
The bells don’t ring randomly—they follow a fixed schedule. The table below outlines the daily bell schedule at Zaragoza Plaza location:
| Time | Bell Type | Duration |
|---|
| Every hour on the hour | Hourly chimes | About 30 seconds |
| 07:00 | Morning prayer bells | 2-3 minutes |
| 12:00 | Noon bells | 5 minutes |
| 20:00 | Evening prayer bells | 2-3 minutes |
| Sunday 09:30 | Mass call | 10 minutes |
Special note: During important festivals like the Pilar Festival, the bells ring more frequently, basically every half hour. If you live near the old town, it’s recommended to prepare earplugs in advance.
Local Perspectives
I once chatted with a café owner near the plaza about this topic. He said he used to find it noisy too, but now the bells have become part of daily life. Many people from Zaragoza who work elsewhere, upon returning home, make hearing the plaza bells their first priority. This is their deepest memory of home at Zaragoza’s Plaza de España.
I heard the city government once considered reducing the bell volume, but faced strong opposition from residents. In the end, they only adjusted the intensity of the late-night bells, preserving tradition while accommodating residents’ rest.
For tourists visiting Columbus Square, I recommend going to the plaza in the evening. When the bells ring accompanied by the sunset, it’s truly spectacular. Remember to bring your camera—backlit photos of the bell tower turn out especially well.
