Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Famous Castles in Spain

Villena

Villena Castle is located in the kingdom of Valencia in the province of Alicante. Moreover it is placed 52 km from the city Alicante. It rises above the Vinolpo River. Larger part of the castle is in ruins. It was built on the ruins of the Roman military fortress in the first century. The castle was conquered by Jaime I in the second half of the thirteenth century. Later it became the seat of the Marquess Villene in the fifteenth century. From that period dates a massive quadrangle tower, which is the main tower of the castle. It was built in Gothic style on the remains of the Arab buildings.

Villene walls consist of double walls with twelve towers and the main tower of the castle (dungeon). Exterior walls were built in the fifteenth century and the internal walls were built by the Arabs.

Javier

Javier is located in the province of Navarre about 30 km southeast of Pamplona. Javier is an example of Spanish military architecture. It was built in the 10th century as an Arab fortress. The elements of Arabic architecture were changed during the centuries.
The modern name was attributed to it in 1506, when San Francis of Xavier was born there.

Loarre

Loarre is located about 40 km north-west of the town of Huesca. The castle is located in Suerra de Gratal, an isolated region deeply situated on the slopes of the Pyrenees.
It is believed that the name derives from the old Loarre language and it means stone castle or fortress. Today, the earliest discovered architectural remains of the castle are from the Roman period. In the Roman period this region was known as Caesaraugusta. Roman Fortress Loarre fell under the rule of the Visigoths at the time of the dark period in Spain.

The fortress was neglected for nearly three centuries until the Arabs conquered it in 711. Arabs called it Zuda. They also invaded and restored the remains of the Roman structures. Today, however, there is no visible evidence of the Arab occupation of Loarre. The earliest reliable data on the reconstruction of the castle is from 1070. King of Aragon reconstructed it and declared it as the capital. In 1071, King Ramirez began the construction of the monastery of the Holy Order. The construction of the church continued in the twelfth century.

Olit

Olit is located about 30 km south of Pamplona.

In the Roman period it was an important military fortress. It has strengthened Roman towers and fragmentary Roman walls surrounding the old city. Information about the great medieval fortress is from the 10th century. Olit, with high, thin and elegant towers and domes is an excellent example of Gothic military architecture. This castle is also an example of the first moving artillery in Europe.

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Monuments in Bilbao

Arriaga Theatre – is an important building in Bilbao and this was inaugurated in 1890. The architects - Octavio de Toledo and Joaquín Rucoba were instrumental in its design and construction. The name of the building is derived from Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga, the composer. This theatre suffered damages throughout its history. A major fire damaged this building extensively and this place was rebuilt and re-opened in 1919. Throughout the year it conducts programs – opera, concerts, theatre, ballet and cultural activities.

Deusto University – is a 19th century neo-classical building and is in an emblematic Bilbao area. The literary university built in 1886 is the oldest building in this place and was constructed by the Marquis of Cubas. There are two cloisters in this building and a central staircase. There are also a Gothic Chapel, Paraninfo Room and Library.

Euskalduna Conference and Music Centre – is a 20th century Avant-Garde architecture and was inaugurated in 1999. The architects were - Dolores Palacio and Federico Soriano. The building represents the vessel built last in the Euskalduna shipyard. Lots of cultural activities – concerts, opera, music recitals, ballet, etc. are hosted in this place. In addition conventions, congresses and business meetings are also conducted. The stage here is the second largest in Europe.

Mercado de la Ribera Market – is Europe’s largest indoor market and was built in 1929. It is a columnless building and the space inside is completely open. The inside of the entire building gets natural light because it is fully open; the sunlight enters from the top as well as from below because the material used for construction is translucent.

Regional Government Building
– is a 19th century building built in the contemporary architecture of Basque country. This was inaugurated in 1990 and the architect was Luis Alarden. It stands as the best example of Eclecticism. The palace’s interiors have a large staircase and décor. You will find lots of marble, stucco, wood, mirrors, ceramics, vases and 19th century paintings of well known artists used in this place.

San Nicolás Church – is an 18th century church with Baroque architecture and this was built to honor the patron saint of sailors. Construction began in 1743. This has a Baroque style and an octagonal floor plan. You will find the best sculptures and altarpieces and works of artist Juan de Mena.

San Vicente Mártir Church – is a 16th century Basque church and has an open nave. The construction began in 1556 and this is situated near the Albia gardens. On its exterior, the Renaissance façade stands out with its triumphal arch. There is also a large altarpiece inside.

In addition to the above, there are other monuments: Santiago Cathedral – 14th century Gothic structure, Begoña Basilica – 16th century Gothic church and Bilbao Town Hall – 19th century neo-classical building.

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Monuments in Madrid

Bauer Palace – was owned originally by a family of bankers – Bauer. At present it is the site of Escuela Superior de Canto.

Debod Temple – was constructed in the 2nd century BC in Egypt and brought as a gift from Egypt to Spain. The shifting of this temple began in 1960 and was completed in 1968. In this temple you can see the archaeological remains of Egypt far from Egypt. A beautiful garden surrounds this monument and there is a fountain in this garden. It contains number of chapels, a hall and an upper floor terrace.

Liria Palace – is an 18th century palace with neo-classical architecture. Duchess of Alba resided here and some of the best private collections of Spanish art are hung on the walls. This was more or less destroyed in 1936 and was reconstructed. This building has 3 floors.

Puerta de Toledo Gate – is a 19th century gateway opened in 1827 and is 19 meters tall. This is the most recent monument in Madrid.  It has a semi-circular arch at the center, 2 gates with lintel and columns with decorations. This was originally the entrance from Andalusia.

Royal Palace – is an 18th century palace with neo-classical architecture. It was built on the site of the former Moorish castle and the ancient Alcázar fortress. The staircase of honor and the southeast wing were designed by Sabatini. The plan is a square and there is a large courtyard at the center.

San Isidro Chapel, San Andrés Church – The church was built as per Baroque architecture in the 17th century and it was totally burnt in 1936 except for the chapel. The architect was José de Villarreal. Most of the construction material used was bricks whereas columns were of stone construction.

Teatro Real Theatre – is a 19th century theatre and is situated in Orient Square Plaza. This ranked as one of the top opera houses in Europe because of its acoustics and facilities. It underwent a number of changes and the completely refurbished building was opened in 1997. Its floor plan is an irregular octagon and it has a capacity to house 1745 people.

Toledo Bridge – is an 18th century bridge built as per Baroque architecture. The original bridge was damaged in floods. It has been rebuilt. It has 9 semicircular arches. Granite ashlar stone is used in its construction. There are two vaulted niches – Santa María de la Cabeza and San Isidro – in the center. No traffic is allowed on this bridge.

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Pamplona - A City which speaks for History

Pamplona is very well connected with nearby cities Zaragoza and San Sebastian through highways. It also has a small airport and fast train network. If you like archaeological and historical sites, you will have a great time in the city of Pamplona.

Churches

The largest building is the Gothic cathedral from the 14th century with a beautiful monastery and a façade in neoclassic style. There are also two largest Gothic churches of the old city: Saint-Sernin and Saint Nicolas. Both of them were built in the 13th century. Two other Gothic churches were built in the 16th century: St. Dominic and St. Augustine. In the 17th and 19th centuries there were also built vaults such as the Baroque Saint Fermin, the Saint Lawrence River and the Virgin of the road (Virgen del Camino), the Saint-Sernin, the Augustinian monasteries of nuns and church Recolect Brothers of Caramel and St. Ignatius of Loyola, where he was wounded in battle and decided to become a priest.

Other historical sites

Due to its large military past, Pamplona preserved four side walls and a little changed fortress. All medieval structures were renovated and improved from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century to withstand siege artillery. Today these locations are converted into parks. The oldest civil building today is a house of the fourteenth century, which served as Camara de Comptos from the 16th till 19th century.

There are also several bridges such as Magdalena, Miluce, Santa Engracia and San Pedro. They date from the medieval period. 

Then there is the castle of Saint Peter from the medieval period. Today this building is reconstructed and it serves as The Archive of Navarre.

In Pamplona you will find many nice Baroque buildings such as city hall, palace for episcopes, etc… One of these outstanding buildings was converted to the hotel Guenduláin's. 

Parks of Pamplona

Pamplona is rich in greenery. Therefore if you like walking, you will enjoy the amazing parks of Pamplona. Taconera is a park that dates from the 17th century. It is a perfect place for romantic walks due to its amazing sidewalk, flowerbeds and sculptures.

In the north part of the city, you will find the Media Luna Park. This park provides excellent places to relax. After demilitarization, the fortress and its surroundings were displaced in this area by the park with large meadows and contemporary sculptures.

Then there are Yamaguchi, Iturrama and Ermitagaña parks. The Ermitagaña park has a part of a small Japanese park. Other great places with outstanding greenery are the campus of Navarre University, the Parque del Mundo and the park named after the river Arga.

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Malaga In South of Spain

In the south of Spain, you will find Malaga, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso and a favorite tourist destination. You will see a city with rich natural, architectural and cultural heritage which has many beaches, museums, restaurants and pretty gardens to visit.

Things to Do: Arts and Humanities Tour

If you are fascinated with monuments and other architectural structures, Malaga is the best place to visit. You can choose from many different tours, each one with its own highlight. You can choose from Sierra de las Nievas (a Natural Park with a wide variety of flora and fauna, it is also a National Hunting Reserve), El Torcal Nature Reserve (known for it's unusual limestone rock formations), El Chorro Gorge (famous for the Camino del Rey (King’s Walk), a truly frightening single-file walkway pinned to the cliff face and hanging 150 metres above the river floor, and the Cave of Nerja, which has been declared a Historic-Artistic Monument.

You can learn an appreciation of some Spanish historical monuments in Malaga by visiting The Gibralfaro Castle (means "rock of the lighthouse"), and the ruins of the Roman Theater in Alcazaba and The Malaga Cathedral. You will notice different architectural styles in The Cathedral ranging from Renaissance to Baroque to Gothic. Also worth visiting are the Sagrario and Santiago Churches in the city.

To see how the city has preserved its Spanish heritage, you can visit the museums starting with the Malaga Picasso Museum which has 200 pieces of artwork by Picasso. Then, you can go museum hopping and see the Museo del Patrimonio, Contemporary Art Center, Interactive Museum, and the Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares.

Water and Nature Adventure

To really appreciate the summer weather, you can go for an excursion and visit all the beaches along Malaga's great coastline. These include Estepona, Fuengirola and Marbella beaches. You can also have an interesting adventure with the walking routes around the city. These include the Fuente Piedra and the Mijas Peak. You will enjoy the thrill and fun offered by these activities.

Walk at National Parks

You will experience Malaga’s attractive, natural landscapes in its National Parks. You can go for a long walk or simply take a stroll or just relax in any one of the National Parks. These include the Sierra de las Nieves National Park, Laguna de Fuente de Piedra National Park and Sierra de Grazalema National Park.

Entertainment

Experience a fascinating nightlife in Malaga. You will have many choices of pubs, clubs and restaurants where you will have a mixture of a great dining experience and enjoying the exciting nightclubs. You can try good restaurants that include La Casa del Guardia, La Posada de Antonio, Las Garrafas, Restaurante Gallego Candamil among others.

Your stay in Malaga will be both fun and relaxing. You will enjoy your activities as you remove the stress from your life and feel the warmth and beauty that nature offers in this part of the world. You will fall in love with this magical city!

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Sunday, August 29, 2010

Montjuic - “the mountain of museums”

Montjuic - “the mountain of museums”

Montjuic is a hill located near Barcelona. The development of Montjuic as a tourist attraction started in 1929, when the first large construction began. Today, this hill offers history, culture and leisure to its visitors. It is often said that Montjuic is “the mountain of museums”. Its history is very old - thousands of years ago, Celts settled in this place. Later on, the hill was a ceremonial place for the Romans.

How to reach Montjuic

For those who like walking, reaching the top of Montjuic on foot can be a real satisfaction. If you are not in this category, the best way to get to the top is by cable car or a tram. Using the cable car can provide you a magnificent view of Barcelona.

What to visit

The Palau Nacional was built in 1929. This neo-baroque building was built for an International Exhibition. Then it was renovated in 1992 for the summer Olympics held in Barcelona. This magnificent building, with a central dome surrounded by many towers, was designed by architect Josep Puig I Cadalfach.

The Magic fountain is another project built for the International Exhibition. It was designed by the engineer Carles Buïgas i Sans. Furthermore, it consists of many cascades and fountains placed between Palau Nacional and the main exhibition center. The best time to see the fountain is in the evening. All your senses will enjoy the variety of lights, music and water coming out of the fountain.

Mies van der Rohe Pavilion was also built for the International Exhibition in 1929.
This project was originally designed by German architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe - the main trendsetter of modern architecture at that time. The building is made of glass, marble and steel with a pool in it. In the pool you can see a bronze statue of a woman.

A beautiful sample of Spanish architecture built for the International Exhibition is the Spanish Village. It consists of 116 buildings - original and reproductions of existing buildings (Puerta San Vicente, the Town Hall of Valderrobres and clock tower of Utebo).

Olympic Stadium was built for the Olympic Games held in Barcelona in 1992. The stadium is a part of the so called, "Anella Olímpica" - number of sports facilities. One of the most beautiful facilities is the Montjuic Communications tower, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

Montjuic is a place with many lovely gardens. Some of them have more than 2000 different plants. One of the most popular gardens to visit is "Nou Jardí Botànic" - botanic garden.

Castell de Montjuic is the oldest building on the hill. This fortress built in the 17th century, was created as a wall to defend Barcelona. Today, this fortress is a popular museum - Military Museum.

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La Pereira

The origin

Probably most of the visitors of Spain would have heard about the famous Catalan architect - Antonio Gaudi. His individualistic design goes beyond Modernism. Above all, one of his famous pieces of art is La Pereira or Casa Mila. La Pereira is situated on one of the major avenues in Barcelona. It was built for Rosario Sangamon and Peres Mila. Rosario Sangamon was the wife of a wealthy man, José Guerilla, one of the Catalans who came back from America. After his death, Rosario married again, this time to Peres Mila who was often criticized for his lifestyle and his love for money.

When Rosario and Peres bought a large state at number 92 on "Paso de Garcia" avenue, they decided to ask Gaudi to construct a house with rental flats that resemble beautiful Gaudies "Ballot" house. Rosario did not like the idea of Gaudi designing her new home but accepted the idea because of her husband.

Exteriors and Interiors
Gaudi had a magnificent idea for this house, with lot of living lines and forms. In the end, the result was a building with no straight lines. It has no bearing walls but stands on metallic girders and vaults supported by iron columns. In the centre of the building, there are two courtyards (circular and oval). In order to receive as much light as possible, all the rooms and apartments are arranged around these two courtyards. On the outside, the balconies look like waves and were designed by Joseph Maria Juju. Just like the exterior, the interior has no straight lines at all. The most interesting parts of the house for the visitors are the top floor, the attic and the roof. The rooms with lot of "New Styles" are also tempting. In the attic, visitors can see the exposition of Gaudi’s work with lot of photos. The most extraordinary part of the building is the roof. On the top of the roof there are two colorful chimneys. Their lines are not straight and they look like two soldiers standing alone. And from the top of the house visitors can see a magnificent view of Barcelona.

La Pereira today

Building of the house was not an easy task. In some aspects, the original design by Gaudi was not respected. The local authorities found some aspects of the project not suitable, such as exceeding the height standard for the city. However, Gaudi also had another idea. Gaudi's original idea was to put a huge sculpture at the top of the building. That sculpture was meant to represent the primeval earth goddess, Gaia (the Earth), but it was not authorized by the local government. Till 1980s, La Pereira was in bad shape. But after being restored, it came under the protection of the UNESCO World Heritage.

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