Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Córdoba
Abundant courtyards , flowers dripping from balconies, and narrow winding streets make Cordoba a captivating and unhurried city. Perched on the south bank of the Río Guadalquivir, it was once the largest city in Western Europe and for three centuries the hub of the Moorish Empire and rivaled only by Bagdad and Cairo. Córdoba has well preserved monuments of Roman, Jewish, Islamic and Christian origin in baffling proximity. Only in Toledo are the remnants of Spain’s colorful heritage as visibly intermixed. The heart of Córdoba is the old Jewish quarter. A walk around this area gives the sensation that little has changed since the 10th century when this was one of the greatest cities in the Western world. Wrought ironwork decorates cobbled streets too narrow for cars and here silversmiths create fine jewelry in their workshops. At the heart of the Jewish quarter is the Mezquita.
La Mezquita
La Mezquita
Built in 784 on the site of a Visigoth basilica, this architectural masterpiece is considered the most important Islamic monument in the Western world. Over the course of 2 centuries is was enlarged to cover an area the size of several city blocks with more than 850 columns, making it the largest mosque in the Islamic world at the time of completion. Vistors enter through the Patio de los Naranjos, an arcaded courtyard featuring carefully spaced orange trees, palm trees, and fountains, where the faithful performed their ablutions before prayer. The Torre de Alminar encloses the remains of the minaret from which the muezzin called the faithful to prayer.
Built in 784 on the site of a Visigoth basilica, this architectural masterpiece is considered the most important Islamic monument in the Western world. Over the course of 2 centuries is was enlarged to cover an area the size of several city blocks with more than 850 columns, making it the largest mosque in the Islamic world at the time of completion. Vistors enter through the Patio de los Naranjos, an arcaded courtyard featuring carefully spaced orange trees, palm trees, and fountains, where the faithful performed their ablutions before prayer. The Torre de Alminar encloses the remains of the minaret from which the muezzin called the faithful to prayer.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Granada
The guitarist Andres Segoiva described Granada as “a place of dreams, where the Lord put the seed of music in my soul”. Granada was first settled by native tribes in the prehistoric period, and was known as Ilbyr. When the Romans colonized southern Spain, they built their own city here and called it Illibris. The Arabs, invading the peninsula in the 8th century, gave it its current name of Granada. It was the last Muslim city to fall to the Christians in 1492, at the hands of Queen Isabel of Castile and her husband Ferdinand of Aragon.
The name Granada is ancient and mysterious. It may mean "great castle", for the Roman fortress that once stood on the Albaicin Hill. When the Moors came here, the town was largely inhabited by Jews, for which they called it Garnat-al-Yahud - Granada of the Jews. The Jews are said to have been one of the first peoples to settle in Spain, even before the Romans.
The Albaicín, an enchanting maze of Moorish houses and twisting alleyways, is Spain’s best-preserved Arab quarter and the only part of the Muslim city to survive the Reconquest intact. This corner of the city, which clings to the hillside opposite the Alhambra, is where one feels closest to Granada’s Moorish ancestry. A fortress was built here in the 13th century and there were once 30 mosques. Along the cobbled alleyways stand cármines, villas with Moorish decoration and gardens, secluded from the world by their high walls.
The Sacromonte hill, which overlooks the city from the North, is famous for its cave dwellings, once the home of Granada's large gypsy community.
The name Granada is ancient and mysterious. It may mean "great castle", for the Roman fortress that once stood on the Albaicin Hill. When the Moors came here, the town was largely inhabited by Jews, for which they called it Garnat-al-Yahud - Granada of the Jews. The Jews are said to have been one of the first peoples to settle in Spain, even before the Romans.
The Albaicín, an enchanting maze of Moorish houses and twisting alleyways, is Spain’s best-preserved Arab quarter and the only part of the Muslim city to survive the Reconquest intact. This corner of the city, which clings to the hillside opposite the Alhambra, is where one feels closest to Granada’s Moorish ancestry. A fortress was built here in the 13th century and there were once 30 mosques. Along the cobbled alleyways stand cármines, villas with Moorish decoration and gardens, secluded from the world by their high walls.
The Sacromonte hill, which overlooks the city from the North, is famous for its cave dwellings, once the home of Granada's large gypsy community.
The Alhambra
One of the most brilliant jewels of universal architecture is the Alhambra, a series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th C. This mighty compound of buildings – including the summer palace called Generalife, with its fountains and gardens - stands at the foot of Spain's highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, and overlooks the city below and the fertile plain of Granada.
A magical use of space, light, water , and decoration characterizes this brilliant piece of architecture. It is considered by some to be one of the 10 wonders of the world
A magical use of space, light, water , and decoration characterizes this brilliant piece of architecture. It is considered by some to be one of the 10 wonders of the world
Los Toros de Osbourne
Originally used to advertise a brand of sherry made by the Osbourne company, these bulls can be seen all over Spain along major highways. A law was passed in 1994 prohibited this type of advertising and the signs were to be removed. However, due to public outcry only the name of the compnay was blackened out and the bulls were allowed to remain. They are considered a cultural symbol of Spain. To date there are 88 of them. The first person to spot one on our trip wins 5 Euros! Happy hunting!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Born to Snack
Born to snack: Most unfamiliar of all—and most delightful—is the tradition of tapas. These are appetizers which you can find lining the counter of most bars. (Realize that in Spain the bars called tavernas, are family oriented) They come in tapas (small saucers, just enough to taste) or raciones (slightly more substantial). Often, one small tapa (of olives or patatas ali-oli, for example) is served free with a drink. They are perfect for a snack lunch, and they are also cheap. You can get just one for a short hunger stop or a selection to make a fine meal. They can serve to fill in the long gap between lunch and dinner, as most restaurants generally open late in the evening (9.00pm normally, 8.00pm at the earliest).
This is a fairly typical tapas menu which you are likely to see in a Madrid bar:
Tortilla (the famous Spanish omelette, made with eggs, potatoes and olive oil)
Chorizo (a kind of spicy sausage)
Patatas bravas (fried potato wedges smothered in a hot sauce)
Calamares (batter-covered squid deep-fried in olive oil)
Ensalada rusa (a mixed vegetable salad in mayonnaise)
Chipirones en su tinta (baby squid cooked in their own ink)
Aceitunas (olives: you are, of course, in Spain)
Albóndigas (meatballs)
Gambas al ajillo (shrimp deep-fried in olive oil with lots of garlic, served sizzling hot)
Morcilla (blood sausage, made with garlic and rice, the speciality of Burgos)
Pulpo gallego (octopus, in olive oil with onions and sea salt)
Jamón Serrano (delicious lean cured ham)
Queso Manchego (Spain's most famous cheese)
¡Buen provecho!
Did you know?
Madrileños, in spite of living nowhere near the sea, eat more seafood than any other people in the world, with the exception of the Japanese.
Can you figure out?
Why the Spanish, whose cuisine seems so adventurous and interesting, have the most boring desserts in the world?
This is a fairly typical tapas menu which you are likely to see in a Madrid bar:
Tortilla (the famous Spanish omelette, made with eggs, potatoes and olive oil)
Chorizo (a kind of spicy sausage)
Patatas bravas (fried potato wedges smothered in a hot sauce)
Calamares (batter-covered squid deep-fried in olive oil)
Ensalada rusa (a mixed vegetable salad in mayonnaise)
Chipirones en su tinta (baby squid cooked in their own ink)
Aceitunas (olives: you are, of course, in Spain)
Albóndigas (meatballs)
Gambas al ajillo (shrimp deep-fried in olive oil with lots of garlic, served sizzling hot)
Morcilla (blood sausage, made with garlic and rice, the speciality of Burgos)
Pulpo gallego (octopus, in olive oil with onions and sea salt)
Jamón Serrano (delicious lean cured ham)
Queso Manchego (Spain's most famous cheese)
¡Buen provecho!
Did you know?
Madrileños, in spite of living nowhere near the sea, eat more seafood than any other people in the world, with the exception of the Japanese.
Can you figure out?
Why the Spanish, whose cuisine seems so adventurous and interesting, have the most boring desserts in the world?
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Walls of Avila
The symbol of the city of Avila is the wall, one of the best preserved walled sites in Europe. Its perimeter is two kilometres and a half, with about 2,500 battlements, 100 towers, 6 doors and 3 secondary entrances.
Avila
Ávila is a medieval city in the province of Castile-Léon in western Spain, about 70 miles northwest of Madrid. Founded in the 11th century to protect the Spanish territories from the Moors, Ávila has a magnificently-preserved city wall, a historic cathedral, a number of Romanesque churches, and an authentic medieval atmosphere. The entire old town of Ávila has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
For pilgrims, the city of Ávila is important because of its association with the great mystic and reformer St. Teresa de Jesus, better known as St. Teresa of Ávila. Teresa was a 16th-century Carmelite nun who reformed her order, had many ecstatic visions, and wrote several books. She is the female patron saint of Spain and was the first woman to be named a Doctor of the Church
For pilgrims, the city of Ávila is important because of its association with the great mystic and reformer St. Teresa de Jesus, better known as St. Teresa of Ávila. Teresa was a 16th-century Carmelite nun who reformed her order, had many ecstatic visions, and wrote several books. She is the female patron saint of Spain and was the first woman to be named a Doctor of the Church
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
La Catedral de Sevilla
Legend has it that in 1401 the reconquistadores wanted to demonstrate their religious fervor by constructing a church so great, they said, “those who come after us will take us for madmen.” With 44 individual chapels, the cathedral of Sevilla is the 3rd largest in the world, after St. Peter’s Basilica in Roma and St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Not surprisingly it took more than a century to build. In 1401 a 12th century mosque was destroyed to clear space for the massive cathedral. All that remains is the Patio de los Naranjos, where the faithful washed before prayer, and the famed La Giralda minaret, built in 1198. The tower and its twins in Marrakesh and Rabat are the oldest and longest-surviving Almohad minarets in the world. The 35 ramps inside leading to the tower’s top allowing a disabled muezzin to climb up on his horse for the call to prayer.
The Altar of the Cathedral of Sevilla
As incredible as this picture is, you must see this altar in person to really do it justice. It is amazing!
'A twentieth century tiled location in Seville not to be missed is the Plaza de España dominated by a monumental brick building designed by Anibal Gonzales for the Ibero-America Exhibition of 1929. It was constructed in a semi-circle around a large square. Set against the lower half of the building are 50 tiled benches symbolizing Spain's 50 provinces. Every bench has a central pictorial panel depicting a significant historical event from each province.' You may recognize the Plaza de España from the "Star War" films. If you check out the second "Star Wars" episode (Attack of the Clones), you can watch the young Anakin and Padmeyou walking over the bridge and along the corridors of Plaza de España buildings
Torre de Oro
It was the Moors that built the 12 sided, "Torre del Oro". At the start of the 1200's AD, the Almohades needed to protect the city from the river side of town and keep Christian invaders from moving up the river. So this tower was built, with a twin on the opposite bank of the river and a long chain was drawn between them. Undoubtedly, the tower was the site of many a battle during the Re-Conquest.
Exactly how the tower received its name is a little unclear. Some reports indicate, in Moorish times the tower was gilded in gold (or at least the tiles used to decorate it were). Others believe the tower's name was derived from its use during the time of Christian Monarchs, when gold from the Americas was transported off the ships and stored in the Tower.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Andalucia
Andalucia is, without a doubt, Spain at its best. This is where all Spain’s stereotypes meet. Bullfighters, beaches, flamenco, white villages, cave houses, gaudy fiestas, religious processions, tapas, and sherry are all here in abundance. But each is part of a larger whole, which includes great art and architecture, nature preserves, and an easy-going way of life. Once we leave Madrid the rest of our trip will be spent in southern Spain. We will be visiting the cities of Cordoba, Sevilla, Granada, and the Costa del Sol.
Sevilla
Sevilla is probably the most charming and romantic of Spain’s great cities. Narrow tangled streets unfold from the center, leading to an awe-inspiring cathedral, the 3rd largest in the world. Once the site of a Roman acropolis founded by Julius Caesar, Sevilla later became the capital of the Moorish empire and a focal point of the Spanish Renaissance. The city is now the guardian of traditional Andalusian culture: flamenco, tapas, and bullfighting. The festivals during Semana Santa (Holy Week) are among the most lavish in Europe. Our guided sight-seeing includes: María Luisa Park, Plaza de España, Torre de Oro, the Santa Cruz quarter, the Cathedral and La Giralda.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Toledo
For Cervantes, Toledo was “the glory of Spain and the light of her cities”. Cossio called it “the most brilliant and evocative summary of Spain’s history”. Toledo is one of the Spanish cities with the greatest wealth of monuments. Known as the “city of the three cultures”, because Christians, Arabs and Jews lived together there for centuries, behind its walls Toledo preserves an artistic and cultural legacy in the form of churches, palaces, fortresses, mosques and synagogues. This great diversity of artistic styles makes the old quarter of the capital of La Mancha a real open-air museum, which has led to it being declared a World Heritage Site. Visitors delight in Toledo’s Damascene swords and knives, colorful pottery and delicious marzipan. Toledo is a fortified city built on a hill overlooking the Tagus River and is without a doubt one of the densest monumental cities in the world. An important city in the Middle Ages it was Spain's capital until the 16th century. In the 16th century, the city became home to El Greco, and Toledo has many of his paintings, among which is "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz", his masterpiece which is housed in the Mudejar Church of Santo Tome.
For Cervantes, Toledo was “the glory of Spain and the light of her cities”. Cossio called it “the most brilliant and evocative summary of Spain’s history”. Toledo is one of the Spanish cities with the greatest wealth of monuments. Known as the “city of the three cultures”, because Christians, Arabs and Jews lived together there for centuries, behind its walls Toledo preserves an artistic and cultural legacy in the form of churches, palaces, fortresses, mosques and synagogues. This great diversity of artistic styles makes the old quarter of the capital of La Mancha a real open-air museum, which has led to it being declared a World Heritage Site. Visitors delight in Toledo’s Damascene swords and knives, colorful pottery and delicious marzipan. Toledo is a fortified city built on a hill overlooking the Tagus River and is without a doubt one of the densest monumental cities in the world. An important city in the Middle Ages it was Spain's capital until the 16th century. In the 16th century, the city became home to El Greco, and Toledo has many of his paintings, among which is "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz", his masterpiece which is housed in the Mudejar Church of Santo Tome.
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