"Alcala de Henares", Blog English, Country, Spain

Parish of Saint Mary the Great, Alcalá de Henares, Spain

On Libreros Street in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain, is located the parish of Santa María La Mayor, which was adapted from the old chapel of the Colegio Máximo de la Compañía de Jesús. It was converted into the new parish of Santa María la Mayor, after the expulsion of the Jesuits and the fire of 1936 of the old Church of Santa María, in the Plaza Cervantes. The church is annexed to the Chapel of the Holy Forms, open day and night for Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. Continue reading “Parish of Saint Mary the Great, Alcalá de Henares, Spain”

"Madrid", Blog English, Country, Spain

Royal Church of Saint Anthony of the Germans – Madrid

The first thing that caught our attention about this church is precisely its name, “San Antonio de los Alemanes” or Saint Anthony of the Germans. It was founded by Philip III at the beginning of the 17th century, when Portugal was part of the Hispanic kingdoms under the Habsburgs. The mission of both the church and the adjoining hospital was to receive the sick and Portuguese pilgrims passing through Madrid. For this reason it was originally called Saint Anthony of the Portuguese. Continue reading “Royal Church of Saint Anthony of the Germans – Madrid”

Blog English, Country, France, Paris

The Alexander III Bridge in Paris

One of the most visited and emblematic bridges in Paris is the “Pont Alexandre III”. It was inaugurated by Émile Loubet, seventh president of the French Republic during the Third Republic, on April 14, 1900 on the occasion of the Paris International Expo. In 1925, the bridge was part of the Exposition “des Arts Décoratifs” of Paris and fifty years later, in 1975, the Pont Alexandre III was declared a French Historical Monument. By 1999, it was included in the delimitation of the Seine riverbanks in Paris, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Continue reading “The Alexander III Bridge in Paris”

"Aranjuez", Blog English, Country, Spain

The Garden of the Island – Aranjuez

The Garden of the Island is located to the north of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez and is considered one of the main works of Spanish Renaissance gardening along with the “Casa de Campo” in Madrid. Since 1931 it has been of Cultural Interest and since 2001 it has been a World Heritage Site as part of the Cultural Landscape of Aranjuez declaration. Continue reading “The Garden of the Island – Aranjuez”

"Aranjuez", Blog English, Country, Spain

“El Parterre” (The Flowerbed) Aranjuez

Inspired by the French gardens of the time, the engineer Esteban Marchand in 1727, create the “El Parterre” or The Flowerbed of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. It is located next to the eastern facade of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. The floral decoration of the garden was the work of the French gardener Esteban Boutelou, who completed the work in 1736. It is considered one of the few examples of French classical gardening in Spain. Continue reading ““El Parterre” (The Flowerbed) Aranjuez”