On the corner of Alcalá street and the Prado Promenade in Madrid, Spain, stands the Cybele Palace, framed by the famous Cibeles Fountain, from which its name derives. This symbol of the city of Madrid, with a certain touch of cathedral, is within walking distance of other famous structures such as the Metropolis Building, the Prado Museum and the Arch or Gateway to Alcalá.
Initially known as the Plaza Saint Salvador, the Plaza of the Villa was one of the main medieval centers of the Villa of Madrid. King Henry IV of Castile granted the title of “Noble and Loyal Vlla” to Madrid in the fifteenth century and, therefore, the change in the name of the square.
The city of “Toletum”, now Toledo, Spain, was known before Roman times for being a “small town fortified by its location”. Rome further fortified the city with walls and access achieved through a series of gates or portals. The Moors added their signature traits to ensure the city even more.
Since the beginning of time, the constant conflicts among human beings forced the development of protection measures, especially as they joined together to form communities. This led to the construction of fortresses and enclosed towns or cities. Therefore, only gates lead in and out of the city, the architectural element of greater prominence in this type of fortresses.
Continue reading “The gates of Toledo and San Vicente – Madrid”
Surrounded by historic buildings such as the Palace of “Rajoy”, the Hostal de los Catholic Kings, the Saint Jerome’s School and the Cathedral of “Santiago de Compostela” is “Plaza del Obradoiro”, center and heart of this Galician town. Today, it is the place where pilgrims and tourists arrive, to celebrate the completed pilgramage, to reaffirm their faith or to simply contemplate and be a participant in everything that surrounds them and provokes their splendor. Continue reading ““Plaza del Obradoiro”, center and heart of Santiago de Compostela”
In what is known as the Puerta del Camino, on the outskirts of the city walls of Santiago de Compostela, is the old convent of Santo Domingo de Bonaval, which since 1976 has housed the “Museo do Pobo Galego” or the Galician People’s Museum . At the foot of Mount Almáciga, the pilgrim San Domingos de Guzmán founded this convent in 1219. Continue reading ““Museo do Pobo Galego” – Santiago de Compostela, Spain”
The main altarpiece of the Church of the Divine Savior of Seville was made between 1770 and 1778, in the Baroque style. Continue reading “Church of the Divine Savior”
The Virgen of the Portal Shrine in Galicia, Spain, is an integral part of the Convent of the Dominican Mothers of Belvis, also known as the Santa María de Belvis Convent or simply the Belvis Convent. It is currently a Cloister Convent. Continue reading “The Belvis Convent – Santiago de Compostela, Spain”