July 3
Today we arrive at the port of Cadiz. We took a bus to Seville to see the Cathedral of Seville, followed by the Royal Alcazar, the Old Jewish Quarter (now Santa Cruz Quarter), and La Plaza de Espana.
The 15th century Gothic Cathedral in Seville is Europe's third largest church, and the largest Gothic building in the world. The Cathedral was built on the site where a Grand Mosque stood before the Christians recaptured the city from the Moslems in 1248. At first, the Grand Mosque was simply reconsecrated to the Virgin Mary as a Cathedral, however they ended up tearing the old Mosque down in 1401 to make way for the present Cathedral. Not all of the Mosque was removed, the beautiful Moorish style minaret and the orange tree court are surviving elements of the old Grand Mosque.
The Royal Alcazar, designed as a Moorish fortress in 913, was rebuilt as a royal palace by the Christians. It has stunning gardens, various rooms, patios and halls with an intricate infusion of Islamic and Spanish Christian architecture (Mudejar style).
The biggest surprise was our final photo stop at La Plaza de Espana, which has the largest brick building in the world. I saw the outside of the building and was tempted to stay on the bus because I had been up since 5am, been on my feet all day, and just had lunch and a glass of wine or two, and it was hot. Anyway, thinking I might not get another chance to see the place, I went through the exterior of the building, to be blown away by the panoramic view of the Spanish square and gardens on the other side. We were told that this site was in the one of the Star Wars films (recent ones).
Wind farm and sunflowers. Sunflowers were the feature of our 90 minute drive to Seville.
Our drive into Seville. The streets were lined with Orange trees. The Seville oranges are exported to countries that are known for making marmalade, like Britain.
The tomb of Christopher Columbus inside the Cathedral of Seville. Columbus sailed on an expedition from Cadiz to the Americas in 1492. Columbus's body is not in this tomb (only a small portion of his ashes), but buried in Santo Domingo. He didn't want to be buried under Spanish soil. His son is buried in the cathedral.
Private chapel for the wealthy.
There are two massive twin organs.
A disgruntled worker at the cathedral, cut the Monk (on the bottom right) out and took off with him. Some time later, a collector in New York came across the missing portion of the picture and returned it free of charge to the Seville Cathedral. You can see the marks where it has been restored.
The orange tree court that was a part of the original Old Mosque was kept when the Mosque was torn down.
Tower with a Giralda weather vein statue on top.
Transport option in the area.
Entrance to the
Alcazar, Royal Palace. Inside the Royal Palace. The building you see was built in the reign of Peter I, the cruel. He got his nickname because he killed his brother. The Damsels' courtyard, the main public zone within the palace. Mudejar style architecture is used throughout the palace, a mix of Islamic and Spanish Christian architecture combined. The Dolls' courtyard, interconnected the private rooms in the palace. The Hall of the Ambassadors. This is Peter I's throne room, and the most lavishly decorated. Envoy's and guests were received in this room. The dome in the
Hall of the Ambassadors, built 1427.Glass doors in the Royal Alcove, connecting bed chambers.
Water powered musical fountain.
Alley in Barrio de Santa Cruz, the former Jewish Quarter before the Jews were expelled in 1492. Out and about in Seville. The exterior of the largest brick building in the world. La Plaza de Espana.
That about covers La Plaza de Espana. Now I will have to go back and see which Star Wars movie features this site.
Tomorrow we arrive is Lisbon, Portugal's capital city.
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