Another lovely memorable visit and glad able to updated bringing back many nice time in our lives. Happy to share it with my reading public in my blog, thank you for reading me! Here I need to talk again about Cuenca! And we came down the mountains of the Serrania de Cuenca to visit the main city , Cuenca. Unesco World Heritage Site! Indeed is worth the trip and as we rented a house nearby , we came often here in our trip. I will try not to repeat pictures shown elsewhere already. However, let me tell you about the curiosities of Cuenca !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
We drove into the town with our big Kuga into very narrow and steep streets but that was the fun of it. Parking was precious so we continue climbing up in town! until finally finding a spot by the Arco de Bezudo in the Castillo or castle now in ruins with ramparts where you can see the whole town and beyond .The castle dates from the 13C and large parts of its walls are still visible as well as the wonderful Arco de Bezudo that you can climb for wonderful views below; it is now the site of the ministry of culture of the region of Castilla la Mancha where Cuenca is a province and Capital city of same name.
Coming downward you first see on your left the Church of San Pedro (St Peter) very old church site of many battles for control of the city from the 15C; going down on Calle Trabuco. You come into the Colegio de los Jesuitas from the 16C (jesuit college). Further find the Church of San Nicolas 13/14C. On your left side further down you come to the old cementary , there is a statue sitting there in the middle now, and to the side there is a restaurant!
We walked past the nice Diputados provincial building or the regional government where our house owner worked as secretary! And, right around it there was the Cafeteria Boni (see post) with terrace sitting that is set up in the parque/Jardines de San Juliàn by Calle Caballeros. The service and food was good but it was the most expensive experience in the trip! Only 15.90€ per person for arroz a la Cubana, small steaks, fries, omelettes, croquettes of ham and cheese, and beers for all. We continue our walks into the valleys below such as the Hoz de Jucàr very nice views indeed; walking more we came into the Church de Santa Cruz. Right there is the Theater but just looking above it into the mountains you see a huge Christ statue very nice indeed. Now we are walking again, heading for the most famous monument in Cuenca, the Casas Colgadas or hanging houses. First, you need to cross the bridge or Puente de San Pablo (see post) built in 1902 replacing one done between 1533-1589. to get a good look at the best preserve house. This bridge connected with the monastery of San Pablo ,today a nice (see post) it. Between the monastery and the casas you see the great canyon or hoz del rio Jucar river passing underneath. Inside the Casa Colgadas there is now a museum of Abstract art (see post) showcasing many artists including Fernando Zobel.
You have a wonderful local Adif train station at Calle Mariano Catalina 10 in city center, and an AVE or fast train station outside of town by Avenida Cerro de Estrellas s/n going out towards the N420 direction Mota del Cuervo at about 5 kms or 3 miles; many buses connects with city center Cuenca. The main bus terminal is in city center by the train station adif with buses to many cities including Toledo and Madrid! We were lucky while here to see briefly the Fiesta de San Juliàn August 24th,2017 ; the traditional feast of the town in honor of their patron Saint. Also, we saw the 7th stage of the Vuelta de España, the bicycle tour passing by Cuenca all the way to the Alto del Castillo (13C ruins see post).
In Cuenca ,there is plenty to see and even in two stays in the area we have not seen it all; time is precious. The Tuneles Alfonso VIII are underground passages showing life as it was in the time ,and serve as refuge during the Spanish Civil War. It has 90 meters long by 250 square meters of space with three entry points; the main at the street of same name Calle Alfonso VIII. On this street you can ,also, admire great architecture as on the houses or casa de los Clemente Aróstegui from the 17C,with a facade adapted to the curve of the street; casa del Corregidor, with a palace like facade and on the back gives way to the neighborhood of (Barrio) de San Marín; and the casa de los Mendoza, that now houses the museum Museo de las Ciencias de Castilla-La Mancha.
There are the Monasterio de la Concepcion Fransiscana, built in 1504, managed by the order of the immaculate conception the same as in Toledo. Monasterio de Madres Benedictinas, or the Religiosas de San Benito dedicated to the Our Lady of Contemplation built in 1448 at the corner of today streets of Gonzalez Francés, Posito ,and Esperanza. The Convent of San Pedro de las Justinianas built in the mid 18C; Convent of Merced managed by the order of the Merced Calzada built between the 16C and 18C in baroque style. The Church of San Salvador started in the middle ages; a water fountain was built here in 1534 to bring water to the neighborhood. The Casa Consistorial or city hall in in the Plaza Mayor ,here since the 15C done in baroque style.
As you come back into town you past by the Museo Abstracto de Arte Contemporario or contemporary abstract arts museum. You see the treasury museum of the Cathedral and the Casa del Rey (King’s house); come into the side of the Cathedral into Plaza Mayor see the equestrian statue of king Alphonso VIII of Castile. Next building is the Episcopal Palace attach to the back of the Cathedral. Then, you see the next famous building here, the Cathedral of Santa Maria y San Juliàn (St Mary and St Julien) where we walked back up to Castillo parking to get our car and came back to our mountain house. One day at a time easy does it in Spain, where everything is Under the Sun….. There is more to see in Cuenca and we will be back later on with our blazing trails in Spain.
The Tuneles Alfonso VIII are underground passages showing life as it was in the time ,and serve as refuge during the Spanish Civil War. It has 90 meters long by 250 square meters of space with three entry points; the main at the street of same name Calle Alfonso VIII. On this street you can ,also, admire great architecture as on the houses or casa de los Clemente Aróstegui from the 17C,with a facade adapted to the curve of the street; casa del Corregidor, served as prison abandoned by 1541 today is just a building with a palace like facade and on the back gives way to the neighborhood of (Barrio) de San Marín; and the casa de los Mendoza, that now houses the museum Museo de las Ciencias de Castilla-La Mancha.
The bridge or Puente San Antonio or San Anton crossing the river Jucar and built in the 18C , and at the other end you see the Church of Virgen de la Luz that houses the divinity of the city. Hospital Santiago Apostol (St James) built in 1511 and still in use as a hospital today!!! . The modern Museo de Cuenca museum opened in 1974 with the history of the area from earlier times to now. Don’t forget to climb over to the Tour Mangana (see post) to see the city from an old site with ongoing excavations. Climb the old city narrow cobblestones to the old Castle and the Puerta de Bezugo gate (see post). The city has great public transportation in buses and now a tourist train little train that takes you all over the old town hilly streets .
And of course, the one thing to see if time is short other than the Casas Colgadas is the Cathedral of Saint Mary and Saint Julian (Catedral de Santa Maria y San Juliàn). (see post) It is located in the Plaza Mayor in the old section of town on a hilly street leading to the old castle. It began as a gothic style as the builders came from Normandy France sent over by Leonor Plantagenet, the wife of king Alfonso VIII of Castile and sister of Richard the Lion heart. It has a huge amount of treasure of an inmense value since it began to be built in the year 1196; the exterior was renovated in the 16C and the façade renovated in the 17C. Finally, all was renovated in the 20C as we see it today. My son on the left !!!
The new tourist office of Cuenca! https://www.visitacuenca.es/es/ciudad-y-paisaje-urbano
Again , a lasting impression of a nice town and friendly folks, nice family vacation, wish we had more days lol!!! Cuenca is in, we love it !! Again, hope you enjoy the post on curiosities of Cuenca !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 