Our interest in visiting the Royal Basilica of Saint Francis the Great in Madrid arose a few years ago when we stumbled upon the Gardens of the dahlias of Saint Frances. It was the beautiful temple that stood out on the other side of the wall that caught our attention. Continue reading “Madrid and the Royal Basilica of Saint Francis the Great”
One of the must-see places to visit in Paris is the Luxembourg Palace. On a sunny day, and after a long walk, it is the perfect stop to rest in one of the many green metal chairs that are around. So, from reading a good book, eating a light meal or just relaxing while contemplating the many statues and sculptures found in the gardens, it’s worth a stop. Continue reading “The Luxembourg Palace and its Gardens”
It is the only beach located in the historic center of Cadiz and the smallest of the whole city. Located in the neighborhood of “La Viña”, the Caleta Beach is very popular among the people of Cadiz and among all those who visit it to enjoy the sun and cool off from the summer heat.
The Caleta Beach is a strip of fine golden sand about 450 meters long and at low tide can have a maximum width of 50 meters.
It was a natural harbor that served as a base for commercial operations in this area of the Iberian Peninsula. Each in its time, Phoenician, Carthaginian and Roman ships docked next to the channel that separated the archipelago from the islands of Erytheia and Kotinoussa. These islands made up Cadiz at that time. Thus, the current beach became a natural harbor between the two islands, separated by only a few hundred meters. Over the centuries, this channel was closed, forming the current shape of Cadiz. But the Caleta Beach continued to be an anchorage for small and medium-sized ships. And today, small fishing and recreational boats continue to moor there.
After the Anglo-Dutch invasion of Cadiz in 1596, it was decided to fortify the city, surrounding it with walls and building several fortifications in 1676. The beach is still surrounded by these walls, preserving the “Puerta de La Caleta”, which is part of the bastion of “Orejón”, and to its right was the bastion of Saint Paul and later Saint Peter, of which there still remains a sentry box. In 1860 the castle’s defenses were improved and a seawall was built to link it permanently to the city from the gate of “La Caleta”, today’s “Paseo Fernando Quiñones”.
The Caleta Beach is framed by two fortifications, located on their respective jetties or breakwaters formed by large rocks: the castle of “San Sebastian” of 1706, with its powerful metal lighthouse, and the castle of “Santa Catalina”. The latter, built at the end of the 16th century, has a pentagonal floor plan, with star-shaped points jutting out into the sea.
It was at the beginning of the 19th century that the “Balneario del Real” was built, a wooden structure created for the enjoyment of the people of Cádiz. After a century of use, the “Diputación” ordered its demolition due to its poor condition. In 1926 a new masonry one was inaugurated under the name of “Balneario de Nuestra Señora de La Palma y del Real”. It was in 1990 that it was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest by the “Junta de Andalucía” and was restored again, and is currently the Center for Underwater Archaeology. It is precisely here where bathers protect themselves from the intense summer sun.
The Caleta Beach of Cádiz, as long as the weather is good, is the ideal place both to contemplate the sunset, to sunbathe, take a walk or share among friends.
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Upon arriving in Cordoba and after leaving our luggage at the hotel, we immediately set out to explore the city and of course, have something to eat. It was the “Plaza de la Corredera”, one of the most emblematic places in Cordoba, the spot chosen for a food stop. Continue reading “Cordoba and its “Corredera” Square”
Visiting the Main Square in Burgos (Spain), we came upon the Palace of the Constables of Castile, better known as “Casa del Cordón”. A very curious name for this 15th century palace, and as always, there is a story behind its popular name. Continue reading “Burgos and its “Casa del Cordón””
In the vicinity of the ancient Roman forum of the Spanish city of Cordoba is located the Tendillas Square (“Plaza de las Tendillas”), a place for strolling, meetings, celebrations, shopping artcrafts and Christmas ornaments market, among many other activities. Nowadays, it is the center where the commercial life of the capital of Cordoba is developed and organized, serving as a connector of the main commercial avenues. Continue reading “The Tendillas Square of Cordoba, the return”
The Sorolla Museum is one of the best preserved artist’s houses in Europe and since March 1, 1962, the building is a National Historic-Artistic Monument.
In 1909, the great artist Joaquín Sorolla Bastida, commissioned the project to the architect Enrique María de Repullés y Vargas, who fulfilled the wishes of the painter, creating a space that unites the work area and his home and also has a garden area. To achieve the latter, shortly after, Sorolla bought a second adjoining lot that would allow him to expand the built area and incorporate three gardens to the house. It was in 1911, that his new home in Madrid, on Paseo del General Martínez Campos, was inaugurated. Continue reading “Sorolla, his studio, home and museum”
From the top of the Gibralfaro Castle we spotted Pier One of the Port of Malaga, an area that has become since its opening in 2011, a whole experience of shopping, dining and recreation in front of the sea. Continue reading “The Port of Malaga has it all”
Walking along the Avenida de la Constitución in the city of Seville, you can see very beautiful buildings, with a variety of styles, depending on the time when they were built. However, there is one in particular that has us in love and that every time we visit this beautiful city, we have to stop to admire it, it is the Edificio de La Adriatica. Continue reading “The Adriatica Building, unique to Seville”
In the historic center of the city of Seville, is the best Andalusian noble building that is a clear example of Sevillian architecture of the sixteenth century, is the House of Pilate. Inspired by the Italian Renaissance, it was built in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, originally called the Palace of the “Adelantados Mayores de Andalucía”. Continue reading “The House of (Pontius) Pilate in Seville”