This is yours truly with another episode of some news from Spain !!! Lots of things going on This is
Spain, let me tell you my latest news chosen by yours truly, By the way CLXX is old Roman numeral for 170, Hope you enjoy this post as I.
Segovia, the lady of the cathedrals, turns 500 years old. Plenty in my blog on it, They started their cathedral in 1525 on the side that is usually left for last, the west side, and they did it in the Gothic style, when the rest of the Christians were already in the Renaissance. If you have to see the most attractive thing first, we will start with the smallest stone in the cathedral, which is a white, puny tile like the claw of a lesser kestrel that was placed in front of the chapel of San Pedro to complete the 5,250 square meter puzzle formed by the 50×50 centimeter slabs of the temple, installed at the end of the 18C; the oldest part is the cloister, as is obvious when discovering the coat of arms of Isabella the Catholic on its access doorway, who paid for it at the end of the 15C; the Museum, under the Cloister, which is also a small work: a 405 square meter room which easily fits canvases as large and magnificent as the Triptych of the Descent by Ambrosius Benson (1490-1550), almost three meters high; the old cathedral is the tomb of the Infante Don Pedro, one of the many natural sons of King Henry II of Castile, who presides over the chapel of Santa Catalina in the new one. The floor of the cathedral was full of granite tombstones with skulls engraved on them and with real skulls buried underneath. Until 1790, when the lustrous pavement of black, reddish and ivory white slabs that it now shows, as if it were a palace, was installed. It is difficult, however, to see the top of the tower because it is very high, at 88 meters. Luckily for the observer’s neck, a lightning bolt tore it off 401 years ago, when it was still tallest, the tallest in Spain : 108 meters! Every Sunday at 17h (5:00 pm), there is a guided tour of the stained-glass windows. Until the end of 2025, a Rubens painting will be on display in the Chapel of La Piedad: Landscape with Saint George and the Dragon, a work dated around 1634, never before exhibited in Spain. The cathedral tower still needs to be visited, and for that, there is a spiral staircase of 190 steps. Luckily, you don’t go up in one go, but rather take two rest stops. After 72 steps, you stop in a room. And after another 132, you visit the Bell-ringer’s House, where the last bell-ringer lived with his family until 1950, sharing two windowless rooms, a living room, and a kitchen. After 190 steps, you reach the bell tower. From there you can see all of Segovia
, from the Alcázar to the Aqueduct, and a good part of the Guadarrama mountain range, from the Mujer Muerta( Dead Woman) to Peñalara.
The Sierra Norte de Madrid is a whole world waiting to be discovered. It is home to the largest waterfall in the Community of Madrid: the Chorrera de los Litueros, also known as Chorro de Somosierra or Cascada de los Litueros. In winter it can freeze over, and in summer it can even disappear. Located in the town of Somosierra. The route begins at the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, from where you have to follow the old N-I highway north and take the path that goes off to the right after 1 km. You can admire the impressive Chorrera de los Litueros. A cascade of spring water that comes from the Caño stream and runs between the enormous rocks, creating a spectacular image. The stream finally joins the Las Pedrizas stream, and later, reaches the source of the Duratón river. It is the largest waterfall in the Community of Madrid. Somosierra, located in the far north of the Community of Madrid 92 km away, was the scene of important historical battles, such as that of November 30, 1808, during the War of Independence, when Napoleonic troops faced Spanish troops in the port, and during the Spanish Civil War, as the front between Somosierra and Buitrago del Lozoya was established there after the first months of the uprising.
The official Sierra Notre de Madrid on Somosierra : https://www.sierranortemadrid.org/pueblo/somosierra/
Pilgrims under full sail: the maritime Camino de Santiago. The aquatic version of the pilgrimage route with more than 25 sailboats and around 150 pilgrims will participate in the upcoming voyage. The Camino a Vela, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, will depart on June 5, 2025, from the emblematic French port of La Rochelle. More info on the official El Camino a Vela : https://elcaminoavela.com/en/
Through the Sierra de Francia, in six fairytale villages of La Alberca, Mogarraz, San Martín del Castañar, Sequeros, Miranda del Castañar, and Villanueva del Conde, The Sierra de Francia, between the north of the province of Cáceres and the south of the province of Salamanca, seems frozen in time. In La Alberca, the Día del Trago (Day of the Drink), celebrated during Holy Week and established by the Duchess of Alba; a beautiful parish church with a monument to the pig at its feet; the main square framed by double balconies and presided over by a stone cross. Just over 7 km from La Alberca, Mogarraz surprises with its unique open-air museum, an exhibition of portraits that covers the town’s facades. The photos taken of the town’s inhabitants in 1967. The Church of Our Lady of the Snows, the Jewish Cross, the Calvary, and the Humilladero Hermitage complete the visit. In San Martín del Castañar preserves a Roman bridge and road. Its medieval castle. Inside the fortress stands the Biosphere Reserve Interpretation Center, a magnificent place to learn about the species that populate the Sierra de Francia and what make it unique. The Plaza Mayor and Portalón, a huge arcade that, for centuries, has been used as a meeting center and for holding events. The most formal of all the towns in the mountain range is Sequeros. The Liceo Theatre, now the León Felipe Theatre, a true architectural, cultural and social pride of the town, with uninterrupted activity since 1876. The poet lived there for his first six years of life. It also has several wineries, such as El Robledo and La Galeana, open to visitors to learn everything related to grapes and winemaking, and to participate in tastings. The arcades of the Eloy Bullón Square, its parish church, the imposing cross, and the Humilladero Chapel are some of the other stops that no one should miss in Sequeros. Miranda del Castañar is a village located on a high, steep hill protected by the confluence of the San Benito stream with the Francia and Alagón rivers. It is surrounded by an old town center by an imposing wall that makes this place impregnable. A royal granary, a beautifully crafted Gothic church, and narrow, steep streets that lead to an old bullring glide through the pictorial palette of a town that invites you to stroll and enjoy. Villanueva del Conde is a tribute to the land and its fruits. This small town in Salamanca province is surrounded by terraces where olive trees, vines, and cherry trees grow. This is without losing sight of the stone porticos, the exterior staircases, or the tramonera walls; its beautiful corners of unusual beauty, its Church of San Sebastián, or the Humilladero Hermitage.
The official Sierra de Francia tourist office no its towns : https://turismosierradefrancia.es/nuestros-pueblos/
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 ! A very special post, always remember where it all begin, it is you ! Again, hope you enjoy the post as I.
And remember ,happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 