Interesting buildings in Spain;
March 9th, 2010
Rioseco Abbey (Monasterio cisterciense de Santa María de Rioseco) is a former Cistercian abbey in Rioseco, Burgos. The monastery was dispossessed in the 1820s, during the first Spanish Civil War. Most of the community’s goods were sold, but the monastery itself however found no buyer, and was left abandoned. In the 1850s the surviving buildings were stripped and reduced to ruins. There is now a campaign to save what is left of the the abbey and convert the site into a Romantic (with a capital R) botanical garden. Sounds a lovely idea to me. Continue reading
Architecture history of Spain, Interesting buildings in Spain, Places in Castilla y León, Religious architecture in Spain | Tags: Abandoned monasteries in Spain, Churches in Burgos, Monasteries in Spain, Places in Burgos, Rioseco monastery, Santa María de Rioseco|
The Baños Arabes in Jaén are considered one of the best examples Moorish hammams in Spain. They were built between the 11th and the 12th centuries, and cover an area of 450m2 making them probably the largest in Europe. The horseshoe arches and brickwork ceilings with their famous star-shaped windows give a nice, airy feel to the place. Most of the baths have been well restored.
The baths are in the Palacio de Villardompardo which also worth a visit. They are free to visit and are open from 9am-8pm between Tuesdays and Fridays and from 9.30am-2.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
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Interesting buildings in Spain, Moorish places in Spain, Places in Andalusia | Tags: Arab baths in Europe, Arab baths in Spain, Largest Arab baths, Moorish hammams in Spain, Palacio de Villardompardo, Places in Jaén, Sightseeing Jaén, Things to do in Jaén|
The Almagro Corral de Comedias is the only 17th century theatre to retain its original structure in Europe, and has probably been in continuous use since it was first opened, possibly in 1628. Corral de Comedias means open-air theatre. There are performances almost everyday of the works of classic authors from the Golden Age of Spanish theatre. Continue reading
Interesting buildings in Spain, Places in Castilla-La Mancha | Tags: Buildings of Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real architecture, Golden Age theatres in Spain, History of Ciudad Real, Places in Ciudad Real|
Consuegra is the site of the famous La Mancha windmills immortalised in Don Quixote. The mills were used to grind grain and their ownership passed from fathers to sons. Most consisted of two rooms or levels. They fell into disuse in the early 1980s.
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Architecture history of Spain, Interesting buildings in Spain, Places in Castilla-La Mancha | Tags: Places in Toledo, Windmills in Toledo|
The Palacio de Marqués de Santa Cruz in Viso del Marqués (Ciudad Real) is the only Italian-style palace in Spain. The palace was built in the 16th century under the orders of Álvaro de Bazán. The walls of its rooms are covered with mural paintings of mythological scenes. The palace is in good condition except for four towers which were destroyed by the Lisbon earthquake in the 18th century.When King Felipe II saw it, he contracted the same Italian architects to make the balustrades at the El Escorial Monastery A piece of Italian Renaissance in the heart of rural Spain.
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Architecture history of Spain, Interesting buildings in Spain, Places in Castilla-La Mancha, Places in Spain: themes | Tags: Buildings of Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real architecture, History of Ciudad Real, Renaissance in Spain, Viso del Marqués|
