Paris1972-Versailles2003

This is yours truly with another episode of some news from Spain !!! Lots of things going on , sad this time due to flooding all over ,We will be there next month, This is Spain, let me tell you my latest news chosen by yours truly, By the way CLXVII is old Roman numeral for 167, Hope you enjoy this post as I.

Go see the « Historia de una escalera » or history of a staircase ‘which is also history of the theater, the play with which Antonio Buero Vallejo became known, seventy -five years after its premiere,October
14 1949 to the stage where it premiered: the teatro Español of Madrid, webpage : https://www.teatroespanol.es/historia-de-una-escalera

The Prado Museum delays until the second semester of 2027 ,the inauguration of the Salon de Reinos
or Kingdom Hall, The reforms of the kingdom hall of the Prado Museum continues to add months to its reopening date. The delay in the works, mainly caused by the appearance of archaeological remains during the adaptation work, makes them not ready to end at least until the second semester of 2026. and, as recognized by the artistic institution itself, the opening to the public of this building is still scheduled for a year later. That is, for the second semester of 2027. The rehabilitation of the Salon de Reinos
is the main strategic objective to address the future of the public institution. This is due, in the first place, to the need to expand the Prado museum to incorporate the 9,000 square meters of the kingdom hall, in which to develop new exhibitions. Especially at a time when the number of visitors does not stop growing in recent years.

San Andrés , the unknown baroque jewel in the heart of the Latina with one of the most imposing domes of Madrid , passages, fires, ruins, first tomb of San Isidro Labrador … The temple has lived a random story that concludes with its last and brilliant restoration in 2024, it was the Mozarabic style that wore the church in its early days. Very different in its simplicity to the recharged baroque airs that today adorn the temple consecrated to San Andrés (St Andrew ). This apostle was called the protocleto, whose meaning is the first call, for being the one that became the earliest disciple of Jesus Christ, convincing his brother Peter to follow, San Isidro Labrador and his wife Santa María de la Cabeza were parishioners of the Parish of San Andrés, being neighbor of the house of his master, Iván de Vargas, subsequent palace of the Marquises of Paredes and today the headquarters of the Municipal Museum of San Isidro. The body of the saint was buried in the cemetery attached to the Church, moving in 1212 inside. The Society of Jesus was in charge of the temple until its expulsion in 1769, which led to the transfer of the remains of the saint to the Church of the Imperial College, on calle Toledo, where they have been preserved since then. Before these events, the Catholics kings made to the church of San Andrés a Capilla Real,or Royal Chapel a passage that connected it with the residence of the monarchs of the neighboring Palace of Laso de Castilla. At the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, it was burned, disappearing valuable works by artists like Juan Carreño, Manuel Pereira and Francisco Rizzi among others. Only the facade remained. The church remained in ruins until 1986, when a new restoration began until 1990, the lack of funds left the recovery unfinished. Retaking in 2022, it lasted until April 3, 2024, date on which the last works ended. The Baroque dome stands out, whose height of half a hundred meters places it among the most powerful in Madrid.

Just two hours from Madrid, in the heart of Castilla-La Mancha , there is a destination that surprises those who visit it. This is San Carlos del Valle , a small town in the province of Ciudad Real known as ‘The Vatican Manchego’. Its denomination comes from the Church of the Blessed Christ of the Valley, whose majestic dome and centralized plant design remind the Basilica of San Pedro in the Vatican. This temple, built in the 18C on an old hermitage, is an outstanding example of the late baroque with neoclassical influences. Its structure, with four octagonal towers and a central dome, dominates the profile of the town and reinforces its monumental appearance. With dimensions 53 meters long by 21 wide, it has become the heart of local life and an indisputable attraction for travelers looking for corners with history.
San Carlos del Valle continues to captivate visitors with their unique charm and their timeless atmosphere, consolidating itself as a hidden jewel within the tourist map of Spain. The town of San Carlos del Valle on its heritage: https://sancarlosdelvalle.com/turismo/monumentos-san-carlos-del-valle/

This is the town of Spain where Santa Teresa forgot ‘The trunk of her memories’: the oldest in Castilla-La Mancha ,Villarrubia de Santiago , located in the heart of the province of Toledo , is known for its close relationship with the order of Santiago and to house a very special historical treasure. This is the trunk of Santa Teresa de Jesús, an object that, according to tradition, the Holy forgot in one of her many journey through the Peninsula in her mission of founding convents. The Church of San Bartolomé , where the trunk is located, is a Renaissance church with an imposing five -bodies tower and an altarpiece of baroque transition. Its conservation has allowed the legacy of Santa Teresa to remain an attraction for those who seek to connect with the story. In addition to the Church, Villarrubia de Santiago offers other points of interest, such as the Plaza de la Constitución, surrounded by historical buildings such as the Casa Señorial de los Lara or lordship house of the Lara. They also highlight the enigmatic Cueva de la Yedra and the Hermitage of Castellar, located in a privileged enclave on the Tajo River. The Tierras de Logias tourist office on Villarubia de Santiago heritage: https://tierradelogias.com/ver/

The route of the interior road of the Basque Country and La Rioja from Briñas to Haro and Santo Domingo de la Calzada dates back to the 10C, is the second great Jacobean route of La Rioja. The inner path treasures in its 50 km of Rioja lands, with the city of Haro as axis, numerous places marked by history, art, faith, nature, gastronomy and legends that, however, are unknown to many. Briñas,
Capilla de las Ánimas or the chapel of the souls. The route begins, after descending the Lobera Portillo, in the town of Briñas, in whose medieval framework of stately houses the Church of the Assumption, of the 16C, as well as the jurisdictional roll and the corpalso-humilladero, one of the two existing in La Rioja. The Briñas bridge, Gothic. It was built in the time of King Sancho III of Navarra, in the 11C, and extended in the 16C, and has seven pointed arches and six bows in the form of bow, which welcome the city of Haro
, which we will access by the popular neighborhood of the station, where centennial wineries of wine are found. Haro ,the capital of La Rioja Alta deserves a stop of several days ; much more than corners marked by history, art and legend as the remains of the old medieval wall, the Puerta de San Bernardo-El Portillo, the Puerta de Santa Barbara or the Torreón de los Perdones, the Calado Municipal and that of the Terete, the labyrinthine and underground urban wineries, the old house of the nuns and their curious brands of Renaissance quarry or the house of the Order of Calatrava and the Conopial arch. These last two are in the square where the Church of Santo Tomás, Gothic Temple, of Plateresca facade, where the relics of the San Felices, patron of the city, as of its disciple San Millán, a lignum Crucis, and a museum of Missal Wines, coming from all over the world, From Haro the path or camino continues to Zarratón , the town of the seven hermitages (one for each neighborhood) and the seven dances, in which the Church of the Assumption rises, 12C expanded in the 16C, of Plateresca facade with asymmetric tower of more than 30 meters. To Madrid de los Trillos , in the town of Cidamón , where the seventh convent of the Order of San Francisco and the Church of Our Lady of Los Angeles, of the 16C, and the hermitage of the Virgin of the Good , baroque, of the 17C. And later he arrives in the town of San Torcuato , referenced from the 13C, called until the 16C Villaporquera, whose Church of San Pablo, from the 15C, is dedicated to what was one of the seven apostolic men who evangelized the peninsula in the 1C Bañares , a town that enters by the Calle Real . In this town, the Church of the Santa Cruz, of the 15C, Gothic, which keeps the Ark of San Formerio, lined with sheet and enamels, holy protective martyr against storm and hail, as well as a great tantarium of three bodies Golden wood of the 18C. And not forgetting the hermitage of Santa María la Antigua, from the 12C, milestone of the Rioja Romanesque, Finally, the Calle Doce de Mayo to Santo Domingo de la Calzada , the saint builder and the popular legend of the ‘chicken that sang after roasted’, from where the pilgrim and traveler will continue on the Camino Francés , the Great Jacobean route, its route to Santiago de Compostela. Information: The Camino del Norte or north way: http://www.caminosnorte.org/

The assoc of Santiago on the north: https://www.asantiago.org/eeeee

The Federación Española de Asociaciones de Amigos del Camino de Santiago on the Camino Vasco del Interior : https://www.caminosantiago.org/cpperegrino/caminos/caminover.asp?CaminoId=21

Come to the City of Jerez de la Frontera ,a route through its streets and squares in search of its famous wineries, the Alcazar, the Cathedral or the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art One of those squares, rather, would say the square, is that of the Arenal, the neuralgic center of the old Jerez: a crossroads and start and end of all urban walks. Rectangular, with an equestrian statue of the dictator Miguel Primo de Rivera, who was born in Jerez in the center and the arcades of a 17C Alhóndiga on one of its sides the Royal Alcazares, the most representative historical complex of the city and forced visiting . The fortress was built in the 12C, in Almohade era, and was the major castle of a walled enclosure of more than 4 km perimeter. It suffered the neglect of time and men, and how little he was left thanks to the local philanthropist and winemaker Salvador Díez and Pérez de Muñoz who, in 1926, bought what remained from the enclosure to the descendants of the Duke of Villavicencio , in order to save him from ruin and abandonment. From the visit to these reais Alcazares impressed me, above all, the Arab baths, the door of the countryside-by its simplicity and authenticity-the oil mill-although it is an addition of the 18C, The great octagonal tower. The Villavicencio built in the middle of the fortress a Baroque Palace that today, conveniently restored, hosts the reception and sale of tickets and is part of the visit. On the street Padre Hortas Cáliz, the other great monumental team of the city is reached: the cathedral. A great temple whose construction was dilated over almost a century, from 1695 to 1778, with Gothic structure, exempt bell tower and a monumental baroque facade that looks even more great by the unevenness of the stream. Interestingly, between the Alcazar , symbol of real power, and the cathedral,symbol of divine power is Jerez’s most famous winery, González Byass or, what is the same, that of the fine Tio Pepe , the economic power , The Calle Consistorio that with its surroundings and the adjacent squares of Plaza de Yerbas and Plaza de Plateros are the route of the tapas, the bars, the terraces and the Jerez environment at all hours. A course for which the visitor will wander again and again, because it is the best corner of the city to eat or dinner Calle Larga, pedestrian and commercial street par excellence of the city, in which to walk to see and be seen. It ends at the Alameda Cristina, where the convent of Santo Domingo are, a great religious complex with a beautiful cloister. And, a little later, the Domecq Palace, perfect example of the Civil Palace of the 18C, belonging to one of the most famous winemaker in the city. About 10 minutes from there, on the Avenida del Duque de Abrantes, there is the Royal Andalusian Equestrian Art School, another icon full of symbols and a visit more than recommended to understand Jerez de la Frontera. The Jerez tourist office on its heritage: https://www.turismojerez.com/en/discover-jerez

The Patio de la Infanta de Zaragoza was built by the banker of Carlos I as a sign of love for his wife. After several stages of decline and its transfer to Paris piece by piece, it was coveted by different celebrities. It became the real lender of Carlos I of Spain and V of Germany the 16C, so in some way he had to publicize his economic bonanza. And what better way that building an impressive Renaissance palace in the center of Zaragoza at Calle Nueva, where he went to live with his second wife, Sabina de Santángel, whom he gave the 1,700 m2 building in a sign of Love as a wedding gift. It is part of the history of the first banker of the Crown of Aragon, Gabriel Zaporta, a Jewish convert that became rich exporting products such as wool, saffron or wheat to other European countries.The demonstration of his love does not end here, since the man insisted on reflecting the astral chart of the moment they married: 18.50 hours on June 3, 1549. Of course, someone has to reveal the visitor the finding , since the lender took care of his cabalistic beliefs as it was a heresy at that time. The current name of the patio (before was simply called Casa Zaporta) is due to María Teresa de Vallebrig , when, already a widow, he decided to settle in his native
Zaragoza after a while in the town and cut, turning the place at the point of intellectuals and artists among them, Francisco de Goya, Aragonese illustrious, who immortalized her several times. The painter was also a friend of the merchant Martín de Goicoechea, one of the previous tenants of the Palace, who came to host the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Luis, the monarchical and liberal casino or the Literary Lyceum. A guided tour is given best to see it all with explanations, Not only had money, but also a taste for art and architecture, so he ordered this Italian style monument to raised in 1549, In two floors, considered the undisputed jewel of the building, today recovered as the headquarters of the Ibercaja Foundation in Calle San Ignacio de Loyola, 16, in which all kinds of events take place, between workshops, talks, concerts and exhibitions. There, among palaustrated columns, beautiful tapestries made in Flanders by important cartonists after decadency and a terrible fire in 1894, the patio was sold in 1903 to a French antiquarian, Ferdinand Schultz, who dismantled and transferred it, piece by piece, to be the showcase of his store on rue Voltaire in Paris. Over time, several were interested in acquiring it. From Argentina, Eva Perón ,the nazi Hermann Goering, Hitler’s right hand, but none took the treasure. In 1958, Schultz’s heirs put it for sale through the press. After a complicated operation, the Caja de Ahorros de Zaragoza, Aragón y Rioja ,today, Ibercaja managed to buy it with great pride from the locals and to the lovers of art in general. The official Fundacion Ibercaja on the patio for info and reservation: https://www.fundacionibercaja.es/centros/ibercaja-patio-de-la-infanta/

The City of Oviedo is among the ten highlighted international destinations for 2025 in the annual survey that ABTA does, the Association of the Travel Sector most recognized by the United Kingdom consumers, The ABTA cities to watch 2025′ report has put the focus on a series of ‘new’ places at least seen from there. Among them, Oviedo, who according to this report stands out as a cultural jewel that combines history, gastronomy and impressive natural landscapes in the heart of the city is the Cimadevilla
neighborhood, known for its narrow streets, its lively squares and its wide offer of bars and restaurants. The same report is invited to know pre -Romanesque architecture. The churches of Santa María del Naranco, San Miguel de Lillo, Santa Cristina de Lena, San Julián de los Prados and the Holy Chamber of the Cathedral of San Salvador are the most representative buildings of that style recognized by UNESCO. The ABTA report showing Oviedo : https://www.abta.com/news/belize-tasmania-abta-launches-destinations-watch-report-2025

The Oviedo tourist office on its heritage : https://www.visitoviedo.info/home

There you go folks, another dandy tour of my dear Spain.  It is time to enjoy my some news from Spain once again, Remember, Spain is everything under the Sun ! Again, hope you enjoy the post as I.

And remember ,happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!