In Spain, most every old building, church, or basilica holds a long history shared with multiple cultures, religions, and peoples. Some dates can easily be verified while others are highly debated. Some of the stories are debated as fact or fiction. Here are some of the basics rounded off to centuries instead of year ranges, along with basic descriptions of changes made to the chapel as it made it's transformation from a small city chapel to a nationally recognized religious center.Local tradition says that that the apostle James was praying near the Ebro river when the Virgin Mary appeared to him and instructed him to build a chapel there by the bank of the river. There is some debate as to whether this was a heavenly visitation or a visit in the flesh, as the date of the Mary's death is close to the date of the apparition. Supposedly she left with James a jasper pillar as a testament of her visit. James and the first converts of the city then set to work building the chapel.Over the centuries the chapel would be used by the conquering cultures. From the VIII to the XII century Zaragoza was under Muslim occupation. The chapel was used for Muslim services for those years and fell into disrepair. Once the city was retaken, donations allowed for the chapel to be functionally be repaired, and further restorations would happen in the XIII century; although it would not be until the XV century when Ferdinand the Catholic would have the chapel restored in a Gothic style. In the XVI century, a Mudejar style is introduced probably from the influence of Muslim residents. The result is the vaulted rose ceilings, and the majestic domes built on top of the chapel.It was also in the XVI century that the Damian Forment built the Retablo de la Asunción. This highly detailed and finely crafted work is considered perhaps the greatest of Aragón's renascence. According to the locals, many people dream of being wed in front of it, although it's price and public nature make it less desirable in spite of it's beauty.In the XVII century a lame man claimed that his unusable arm from an accident was miraculously healed by thanks to the Virgen del Pilar; The relevance of the incident results with the Virgin being named the patron saint of the city.In the XVIII century the chapel went though another renovation this time under a baroque style. In this century it was set apart as a basilica. Throughout the XIX and XX centuries the basilica was used for refuge during the various wars and battles what would pass through. Considering how much the basilica has been through it's a marvel that it's still currently in such beautiful condition.The basilica has multiple stories of bombs being hurled and killing undetermined numbers of people, although there are many more stories of bombs launched without hurting a soul, and sometimes without even detonating. The most memorable of these stories would be during the Spanish Civil war, when two of three bombs blew through the roof but didn't detonate. These two bombs, now disarmed, have been on display in the basilica ever since.Apart from itself being a massive demonstration of fine architecture from multiple stylistic periods, the basilica contains holds some of the finest works of art by Francisco de Goya. Many are painted directly onto the walls and ceiling of the basilica, while others are hung as individual pieces. Sadly I could not capture any images well enough to post here.