Sacrario Militare Italiano de Zaragoza

The Italian Military Sanctuary (Sacrario Militare Italiano), known locally as the Torre de los Italianos, is a 42-metre memorial tower attached to the church of San Antonio de Padua in Zaragoza's Torrero district. It's one of the city's more unusual landmarks — a site formally belonging to the Italian state, holding the remains of nearly three thousand soldiers who died during the Spanish Civil War.

How did the sanctuary come to be?

The project was proposed by Pietro de Varzi, chaplain of the Italian volunteer corps that fought in Spain, who wanted to gather in one place the remains of his countrymen previously scattered in makeshift graves near former battlefields. Mussolini's government ordered the construction in 1940, and the church of San Antonio de Padua, together with the adjoining sanctuary, was formally inaugurated on 25 July 1945.

After the Second World War, once Italy had become a republic, the government in Rome decided to add to the mausoleum the remains of 546 Italians who had died fighting on the opposite side of the conflict, in the International Brigades. That decision turned the site into a symbol of reconciliation, honouring the fallen from both sides of the civil war under one roof. Today the crypt holds 2,889 sets of remains in total, making it the third-largest Italian military mausoleum anywhere in the world.

What is there to see?

The slender tower is visible from many points across southern Zaragoza and stands out clearly in the skyline of the Torrero district. Inside the complex, alongside the mausoleum itself, the church of San Antonio de Padua is worth a look — its architecture and interior decoration echo the Italian style of the period when the complex was built. The very nature of the place, a working parish church paired with a formally extraterritorial military mausoleum belonging to another country, makes it a rare kind of memorial site in Europe.

For anyone interested in twentieth-century history, it offers a first-hand look at Italy's involvement in the Spanish Civil War — a subject rarely covered on typical Zaragoza sightseeing routes, yet an important piece of the story of the city and the wider Aragon region during that period.

How to get there and when to visit?

The sanctuary sits in the Torrero district, south of Zaragoza's historic centre, on Paseo de Cuéllar. From downtown, the easiest way to reach it is by city bus or tram heading toward the southern neighbourhoods, followed by a short walk to the church. A visit pairs naturally with a stroll through Torrero itself, known for the Parque Grande and a nearby municipal park.

Since the building functions as both an active parish church and a memorial mausoleum, it's worth checking local opening hours before setting out — mornings or early afternoons on weekdays tend to be quiet and well suited to an unhurried, reflective visit. Spring and autumn, milder than Aragon's hot summers, are the most pleasant seasons for exploring this part of the city on foot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Italian Military Sanctuary in Zaragoza? It's a memorial tower attached to the church of San Antonio de Padua in the Torrero district, holding the remains of nearly 2,900 Italian soldiers who died in the Spanish Civil War, from both the Nationalist and Republican sides.

Who built it and when? Chaplain Pietro de Varzi proposed the project, and Mussolini's government ordered its construction in 1940. The complex, together with the church of San Antonio de Padua, opened on 25 July 1945.

Why does the mausoleum honour soldiers from both sides of the conflict? After Italy became a republic in 1946, the remains of 546 Italians who died fighting in the International Brigades were added to the mausoleum, turning it into a shared memorial for both sides of the civil war.

How do you get to the sanctuary from central Zaragoza? The simplest way is by bus or tram to the Torrero district, followed by a short walk to the church of San Antonio de Padua on Paseo de Cuéllar.