National Event of MADream

OCTOBER 2016

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INDEX

Toledo

Madrid

Segovia

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Toledo

City considered Heritage of Humanity since 1986, Toledo is known as “the city of three cultures” because it was occupied many centuries by Christians, Jewish and Muslims. It is the capital of Castilla-La Mancha and its name has a origin which means “erected, at the top” due to its geographic location.

Monastery San Juan de los Reyes

It was designed by the architect Juan Guas as a request of the Catholic Kings for the Franciscan Order to commemorate their victory at the Battle of Toro (1476). It was declared Historic-Artistic Monument of national interest in 1926.

Formed by a unique nave, it has open chapels with arches to allow the practice of simultaneous rites. The temple, completed in 1495, has an Elizabethan style, made with one nave with alcove chapels between the buttress and with chorus raised at the feet. The cloister, considered one of the Spanish jewels of the Gothic period, is the most antique of the two it had and it suffered many restorations. It has two floors and has a squared floor. The church communicates with the cloister by the south side through two doors situated in the transept and the nave.

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Synagogue of El Tránsito

The synagogue, also known as the synagogue of Samuel ha-Levi, is a building of the XIV century erected under the patronage of Samuel ha-Levi during the reign of Peter I. It was built between 1357 and 1363 with an Mudejar style, phenomenon exclusively Hispanic that takes place between the XII and XVI centuries as a mixture of the Christian and Muslim artistic movements of the period.

Erected as the Church of Saint Benedict, the synagogue of El Tránsito is located in the Jewish district and in the XVII century becomes to be known as the “of El Tránsito” due to a picture that represents the Transit of the Virgin which decorated the altar since then. In 1877 the King, in accordance with the Fine Arts Royal Academy of Saint Ferdinand and on the motion of the General Direction of Public Instruction, declares the chapel of Transit as National Monument. In 1964 the Synagogue Samuel ha-Leví becomes the see of Sephardim museum which aim is the conservation of the Hispanic-Jewish and Sephardim culture legacy.

The dimensions of this temple are 23 meters length, 9.5 width and 17 height. The building has a hall church, rectangular, as in many Christian buildings of the period. The elevation is divided in two floors; the first is the zone where the rite took place and in

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the other you can see the position of the beams that held the place where women attended the liturgy hided from men.

Cathedral of Santa María de Toledo

It is considered the biggest construction of gothic style in , this cathedral is popularly known as Dives Toletana, being part of the four cathedrals more important in Spain, consecrated in the XV century Sancta Ovetensis (Oviedo), pulchra Leonina ​ ​ (León), dives Toledana (Toledo), fortis Salmantina (). ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Toledo is a city where different conflicts took place, changing its occupation in many occasions. When the Archbishop Ximénez de Rada arrived to the city the cathedral and its state achieve relevance. This man fought for the improvement of this building and for giving the city of Toledo the value it deserved with the presence of a cathedral. It was built in 1226 under the reign of Ferdinand II the Saint and when the last gothic contributions of the XV century arrived.

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Structure

Nowadays, it is formed by 5 naves, the cruise and a double ambulatory located at the top, with magnificent proportions and enriched with architectonic elements and with an original vault. The sections of the ambulatory related to the different chapels were solved with alternative rectangular and triangle floors, which made that every chapel had a different size; the rectangular were bigger and the triangular smaller. This way of distributing the head may be seen in the French cathedrals of Notre Dame in Paris, Bourges and Le Mans.

Main doors

The front of building has three façades, the Puerta del Perdón (Door of Absolution) in the centre, built in the XV century. Its name is due to the time when indulgences were conceded to anyone that enter through that door. The Puerta del Juicio Final (Door of the Final Judgment) at the right is the most antique and in it is represented the scene of the final judgement. The Puerta del Infierno (Hell’s door) at the left, is also known as the door of the Palmas because formerly it was reserved for the entry of the palm procession on Palm Sunday.

In the north façade is the most antique of the doors, the door of the clock, placed there at the start of XIV century and called that way because of the clock that is on the top.

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Finally, the Puerta de los Leones (Lions’ Door) whose name is due to the sculptures that the exterior fence. It is of the XV century.

The tower

The original idea consisted in raising two towers, one at each side of the west façade, but only one was totally built in 1422, while the other become in the Mozarab chapel.

It is gothic with Mudejar influences and it has 92 meters height.

Chapels

The most important are the following:

Main chapel: the biggest and whose purpose was to serve the church.

Mozarabic chapel: built to conserve the Hispanic-Mozarabic rite.

Chapel of New Monarchs: chapel without worship, formerly people worshiped the monarchs.

The Transparent

In the cathedral of Toledo it is call transparent to the work of the baroque sculptor Narciso Tomé and it was built between 1729 and 1732. Nowadays has many interest and respect nationally.

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The idea of making this transparent breaking the wall came up to give light to the sanctuary. Its materials are marbles from Genoa, jasper and bronzes.

Main Treasure of the Cathedral

The Chapel of the Treasure is located in the old chapel of Saint John, occupying the site of the former tower chapel, called the Quo Vadis. It stands before the Mozárabe chapel, on the north side, directly below the cathedral tower. In reality, it was never a true chapel, instead it served as sacristy to the chapel of the New Monarchs before its transfer.

The interior shows multiple display cabinets that hold the treasure of the Cathedral which consists of liturgical objects, reliquaries, Poles, clothes, books, etc. There are two good carvings, one of Juan Martínez Montañés and other Pedro Mena.

In one of the showcases are kept two treasures of historic value: a pectoral cross, a gift from Papa Juan XXIII and a chalice, gift of Marshal Pétain (head of State of France from 1940 to 1944). Another of the more precious treasures is the Bible that San Luis King of France gave to this Cathedral in the century XIII, formed by three volumes written in latin and decorated exquisitely with miniatures elaborate on more than 5,000 breads of gold. It's a Bible moralisée, i.e., that relates the biblical scenes with the customs of the historical moment in which this work was done.

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The Cloister

The building of the Cloister was begun on 14 August 1389, and finished in 1425. It had ​ very different functions at various times: from storeroom to classroom, as a centre of mercantile transactions and one of its rooms was a Mozarabic chapel.

Alcázar de Toledo

Located in the highest part of the city, it is a fortification erected on rocks, and its location gives you a valuable strategic military, since it comes from the Arabic Al Qasar ​ which means fortress.

The Palace Roman from its origin in the century third has served among other things as school of translators of Toledo, combining the three cultures (Christian, Jewish and Arabic) that the city hosted; as a temporary residence of the Spanish as a point of resistance to the Civil Guard during the Spanish conflict. Currently its dependencies serve mostly as libraries and museums, among which we can highlight the weapons and uniforms contemporaries, as well as several walls where you can still see Civil War bullet marks.

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Museum of Santa Cruz

It was an important hospital in its origin, converted into a Museum in the XIX century. Its construction dates from the XVI century and was founded by Cardinal Mendoza to centralize the assistance to orphans and homeless in the city.

The cruise includes two plants and is covered with vaults. It has sections for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Decorative Arts. Fine Arts funds are distributed in the first and second floor of the building, and the Archaeology funds are in the noble cloister and in an underground floor. The Decorative Arts are a sample of folk crafts Toledo, who also sits on the floor of the basement.

Bridge of San Martín

The bridge of San Martin is a medieval bridge on the river Tagus, located in the west area of Toledo, from which you can enjoy a magnificent view of the city. It was originally built in the XIII century and its style is Mudejar and has the qualification of Cultural Interest since the 21th of December of 1921 when it was declared «National Monument».

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Cristo de la Luz

Of the ten mosques that reached the city, it is the best preserved. In Muslim times it was a small oratory linked to a gateway to the city (Bab al - Mardum) used by the newly arrived in Toledo or as a preparation to exit. It was built in the year 999, the era of splendour of the Caliphate of Córdoba.

The floor is practically square, about 9 meters of width, and generates, from the four central bases, nine vaulted compartments. The columns are responsible of the separation of the naves that make up the first section. Nine ribbed caliphal vaults constitute the third body, but the central dome is composed by an element that elevates the central dial a bit more than the rest.

A Roman road with 6 meters width was found under the mosque, and there appeared a sewer from the same period. The road was formed by large slabs of granite and flowed in from the North to the South.

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There is a legend that says that when the armies entered in the city during its reconquest, the horse of the monarch fell on its knees when he arrived to the mosque, where currently we can see the pavement marked with a white stone. The King tried to get his horse up but to the impossibility was interpreted as divine clairvoyance, that is the reason of the excavation inside the building where was found the image of a crucified Christ next to a lamp of oil which had remained lit for more than 300 years. In this place Christians of Toledo would have hidden the sacred image to prevent its desecration by Muslims during their occupation.

Castle of San Servando

It is located next to the bank of the river Tagus and its construction began in 1024 with the purpose of containing a monastery. After the expulsion of the Moors from the Iberian Peninsula it was relegated to oblivion deteriorating gradually and being almost knocked down. Fortunately in 1874 was declared 'National Monument' and today the castle is completely restored. After serving successively as Lower College, see of the courts of Castilla-La Mancha and university residence, now it works as hostel and venue for courses and conferences.

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Church of San Ildefonso

Also known as the Church of the Jesuits, the Church of San Ildefonso is a Baroque style church located in the Centre of the historical district of the city.

Its construction, that is extended during more than one hundred years, began in the year 1629, on some land acquired by the Jesuit of Toledo in 1569. The interior of the Church, with its main nave with Latin cross shape, is large and white. Ruling the nave after the greater altar, the Church of San Ildefonso has an altarpiece that is a fresh painting that presents trompe l'oeil and that tells the descent of the Virgin over San Ildefonso for the imposition of the chasuble.

The outside of the dome, due to its dimensions and the location of the Church, is one of the highest points of Toledo, next to the Cathedral of Santa Maria and the Alcazar.

Palacio de Galiana

Galiana Palace is located on the banks of the Tagus River and has privileged views of Toledo. This old almunia (Palace of recreation) was built in the XI century by the King to the Mamun.

Since the XVI century it receives this name in memory of those fabulous palaces and gardens that would inhabit Galiana, the beautiful Muslim Princess, legendary daughter of the King Galafre and wife of Charlemagne, in the Toledan alficen. In the second half

Erasmus Student Network Vigo Local de asociaciones 3, edificio Miralles, Plaza Miralles, Campus Universitario Lagoas Marcosende s/n 36310 Vigo www.esnvigo.org 13 of the XIX century the Empress Eugenia de Montijo, wife of Napoleón III, was the owner of the Palace. In 1959, the Palace was sold to Alejandro Fernández de Araoz and his wife Carmen Marañón. Under the direction of the architect Fernando Chueca Goitia and the historian Manuel Gómez-Moreno it is conducted an admirable project restoring its original splendor to Galiana.

Galiana is now beautifully restored and consists on a rectangular floor divided into nine vaulted rooms, a recessed courtyard and pond that reflects the magnificent architecture and the wonderful garden. This Palace is an ideal and unique space for the celebration of a reception, a lunch, a dinner, a wedding, a family or corporate event or an exclusive visit.

Church of Santiago del Arrabal

The Church of Santiago el Mayor or of Santiago of the Arrabal is a Catholic church located in Toledo, next to The New Bisagra Gate, in the north area of the historical part

Erasmus Student Network Vigo Local de asociaciones 3, edificio Miralles, Plaza Miralles, Campus Universitario Lagoas Marcosende s/n 36310 Vigo www.esnvigo.org 14 of the city. Built in the second half of the XIII century, under the patronage of Sancho II, King of , it is one of the best samples of the Toledan Mudejar. It is classified as cultural interest.

Its location, close to The New Bisagra Gate and an old Muslim neighborhood, suggest that the Church was build in the place of a primitive Temple, perhaps a mosque. Its location also comes from the name, for being the Church on the outskirts of the city, in the suburbs.

In the XX century many restorations and works of redevelopment in the environment were made, which disencumbered the temple of adjoining buildings and left if free and independent from The New Bisagra Gate.

The New Bisagra Gate

The Bisagra Gate or The New Bisagra Gate is a monumental gate in the walls of the city. It is known with the title of new because there is another smaller door close to it, called Old Bisagra Gate or Gate of Alfonso VI.

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It is formed by two independent bodies with two high crenellated walls that unite them, forming a courtyard between them, where is a statue of Carlos V. The outside consists on a semicircular arch with padded blocks, on which is placed a large shield of the ' City', with its distinctive double-headed eagle and a pediment with a sculpture of a guardian angel. They flank the entrance two large circular towers.

Madrid

Madrid is the capital of Spain and the Spanish city that attracts more tourist. The number of tourists grows every year due to the perfect combination between the cultural, monumental and leisure offer.

El Palacio Real (“The Royal Palace”)

The , also called East Palace by the square in which it is located, is the official residence of the King of Spain, although he does not live there, it is only used for official acts.

Before the construction of the palace, in this same place was the Real Alcazar: a Muslim fortress of the 9th

Erasmus Student Network Vigo Local de asociaciones 3, edificio Miralles, Plaza Miralles, Campus Universitario Lagoas Marcosende s/n 36310 Vigo www.esnvigo.org 16 century however, the Christmas Eve of 1734 there was a great fire that destroyed the ​ Alcazar completely. Important works of art were lost but some could be salvaged, for example Las Meninas. After the fire, they built a new building thanks to Filippo Juvara and Juan Bautista Sachetti. By order of Carlos III, Francisco Sabatini decided to expand the building with the structure that currently exists. In 1764 the Royal Palace began to house King Carlos III and has been the habitual residence of the Kings of Spain until Alfonso XIII.

The Royal Palace has 2,800 rooms and just 50 of them can be visited when there is not an official act or a State reception. The first thing you will contemplate is the main stairway, made of marble and granite, from where the marvelous paintings on the vault can be seen. In addition, you cannot miss the several rooms which you will discover: the Salón de Columnas (“Hall of Columnm”), where the official receptions are held; the Salón de Gasparini (“Gasparini’s Hall”), where the king used to get dressed; the Saleta de Porcelana (“Porcelain Small Room”); the Comedor de Gala (“Gala Dining Room”); the Salón de los Espejos (“Mirrors’ Hall); the Salón del Trono with its throne guard by Apollo and Minerva; and the Real Capilla (“Royal Chapel”). Moreover, the Farmacia Real (“Royal Chemist’s”) and the Armería Real (“Royal Armoury”) can be highlighted.

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The plaza de Cibeles (“Cybele Square”)

It is located in the city centre, where the calle de Alcalá (“Alcalá Street”), (Prado Avenue) and paseo de Recoletos (Recollects Avenue) connect. It is one of the most emblematic places in the city and is known for being the place where Real Madrid fans celebrate its victories.

The Fuente de Cibeles (“Cybele Fountain”)

The main monument is located at the centre: the Fuente de Cibeles. It was originally located in one of the square corners, facing South, but it was later moved to the centre of the square, as it is now.

Designed by Ventura Rodríguez and unveiled in 1782. It is dedicated to the goddess Cybele who carries a sceptre and a key, and rides a carriage pulled by two lions. It is located on a rock built in the middle of the fountain.

The four corners of the plaza de Cibeles (Cybele square)

In addition to the Fountain of Cibeles, in this beautiful plaza located in the centre of Madrid, you can see another four buildings, each situated at one of the corners of the square.

● Palacio de Buenavista(“Buenavista Palace”). It is the current headquarters of the General Army and was the residence of the Dukes of Alba. It is surrounded by a wooded area which hinders the view of the plaza de Cibeles.

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● Banco de España(“Bank of Spain”). It is the current headquarters of the . Its construction began in 1884 and opened in 1891.

● Palacio de Linares(“Palace of Linares”). Its construction was completed in 1900. Today it houses the House of America, a place of cultural exchange between Spain and America.

● Palacio de Cibeles(“Palace of Cibeles”). Also called Palace of Telecommunications. One of the symbols of Madrid, it is now the town hall. It was opened in 1913 and was also the Post Office.

Gran Vía and plaza de España

Gran Vía is the most famous street in Madrid and in 2010 it celebrated its 100th year anniversary since being constructed. It is conceived as a leisure and business zone and the gateway to a modern and cosmopolitan Madrid.

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The Buildings in Gran Vía

Gran Vía has been famous for its cinemas, but in recent years they have replaced their theatres for shops and currently there are only 3 cinemas open. The theaters in the street, where there is a wide variety of musicals, have caused Gran Vía to be known as the Madrid Broadway. There are always people in the street, at all hours of the day. It is recommended to go to the movies, theatre, shopping, drink a coffee or just walk.

Not to be missed:

● Edificio Metrópolis. It is located at the west end of the street. It is crowned by a circular dome on which you'll find the statue of Victoria Alada.

● Oratorio del Caballero de Gracia. A Neoclassical style Church.

● Edificio Telefónica. It is the first skyscraper built in Europe. Its construction was completed in 1929. It is 89 meters high with 15 floors and the headquarters of Telefónica. The main store of this company is located on the first floor.

● Edificio Madrid Paris. Here was the famous ​ Department Stores Madrid Paris, the greatest model of ​ the luxury shops of the early twentieth century. They were replaced by the SEPU warehouses, which no longer exist, as they were closed in 2002.

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● Casa Matesanz. This office building was constructed similar to those built in Chicago.

● Palacio de la Prensa. Located in the Plaza de Callao, it houses one of the few theatres remaining on the street.

● Cine Callao. Another one of the cinemas in the street. Initially it was designed to accommodate offices at the same time as a recreational area.

● Edificio Carrión. The Schweppes neon advertisement is one of the emblems of Gran Vía and Madrid.

● Edificio Coliseum. Of american style, it houses a theater today but before it also housed a cinema.

Plaza España

The Plaza España is the largest square in Spain and it is located at one end of Gran Vía. In the center of the square you can find a large fountain dedicated to Miguel de Cervantes and the skyscrapers nearby, pointing to the Madrid sky, should be noted.

The important features of the plaza are:

● Monumento a Miguel de Cervantes. Its construction was completed in 1930 and it is located in the centre of the plaza. In the monument, Cervantes is sitting on the pedestal and at the base you will find the statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza,

Erasmus Student Network Vigo Local de asociaciones 3, edificio Miralles, Plaza Miralles, Campus Universitario Lagoas Marcosende s/n 36310 Vigo www.esnvigo.org 21 the protagonists of his most famous novel. Also you will find statues of Dulcinea and Aldonza Lorenzo, although they were subsequently added.

● Torre de Madrid (“Madrid Tower”). At 142 meters high, it is one of the tallest buildings that can be seen from some parts of Madrid. For some years it was the tallest concrete building in the world and currently hosts both apartments and offices.

● Edificio España. This gigantic building occupies the front of the plaza and is characterized by four heights in a staggered manner. It is 117 meters and is currently empty but in midst of a remodel. It housed a hotel, luxury apartments, offices and stores until 2006.

● Edificio de la Real Compañía Asturiana de Minas (“Building of the Royal Austurian Mining Company”). Eclectic style monument dating back to 1899.

● Casa Gallardo. Built in a modern style. Its façade and balconies are the most important elements in the building. In the dome there is a G (from Gallardo.)

Puerta del Sol

The Puerta del Sol is one of the magical places in Madrid where people from all nationalities come. This makes it, possibly, one of the busiest areas in the city. The Puerta del Sol is considered the center of Spain. Here you can find the socalled ​ Kilómetro Cero of all the Spanish radial roads.

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History of the Puerta del Sol

The origins of the Puerta del Sol can be traced back to the 15th century. Three of the main buildings for which it was known are no longer standing. These are the Church of Buen Suceso, that was also a hospital and was demolished in 1854, the Convento de San Felipe el Real, that was demolished in 1838 and the Convento de Nuestra Señora de las Victorias.

The Puerta del Sol has witnessed important historical events in Spain, such as the Motín de Esquilache, the uprising on May 2nd of 1808 and the camping of outrage as an expression of the 15M movement in 2011. Currently it is a meeting place for locals and tourists and it is also famous for hosting New Years Eve with the chimes of the Casa de Correos.

Points of Interest in the Puerta del Sol

● Estatua del Oso y el Madroño. Recently relocated to the corner with Calle de Alcalá, this could be considered the most famous statue of Madrid. It represents the emblem

Erasmus Student Network Vigo Local de asociaciones 3, edificio Miralles, Plaza Miralles, Campus Universitario Lagoas Marcosende s/n 36310 Vigo www.esnvigo.org 23 of the city. This is a statue made of bronze and stone on a granite pedestal and represents a bear with the legs on a strawberry tree and eating its fruits.

● Edificio Tío Pepe. Known for the neon light it has on top.

● Casa de Correos. It is the main building of the plaza and the headquarters of the government of the Community of Madrid. It is the oldest building in the Puerta del Sol and it is recognized by the clock in the tower off of the roof, and is famous for its bells. On the façade are the plaques of Kilómetro Cero and it is dedicated to the victims of the Madrid train bombings on March, 11th (11M). ​

● Estatua de la Mariblanca. Still today they are not sure who this statue represents, it could be Diana, Venus or an allegory of faith.

● Estatua Ecuestre de Carlos III. It is a replica in bronze of the original which is located in the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. On the pedestal there is an inscription in spiral that describes the reign of Carlos III.

● Casa Cordero. Located on the corner of Plaza Mayor.

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Plaza Mayor

The Plaza Mayor is another one of the magical places in Madrid. Its origins date back from the 15th century, when they built the first framed house to regulate the trade of the area. It is located halfway between the Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace.

History of the Plaza Mayor

The current Plaza Mayor began construction in 1590 by order of Philip II and was not completed until 1619. In the beginning, the plaza was not only a great market but also the scene of public events such as bullfights, weddings, public acts of faith and public executions. The square has undergone several renovations, especially due to the 3 fires that have occurred throughout its history and made them obligated to build back what was destroyed.

Currently it is an important center of tourism with numerous terraces and cafes underneath the porches and a place with numerous street artists. A Christmas Market

Erasmus Student Network Vigo Local de asociaciones 3, edificio Miralles, Plaza Miralles, Campus Universitario Lagoas Marcosende s/n 36310 Vigo www.esnvigo.org 25 is is held here every December since 1860. On Sundays they celebrate the market of stamps.

The most important buildings in Plaza Mayor

This is an arcaded square 129 meters long by 94 wide completely closed by buildings of 3 floors with a total of 237 balconies. The most important thing that you can see in this square is the following:

● Arco de Cuchilleros. It is the most famous of the 9 doors in access to the square. Its name is due to the fact that formerly in the bordering street were workshops of the Cutlers Guild.

● Casa de la Panadería. It is highlighted by the angular towers that stand out at both ends. The name comes from the bakery that used to be located at the bottom floor of the building. Currently this is the location of the Center of Tourism in Madrid. The of Spain, with the weapons from the time of Carlos II, is located in the upper part of the building and stands out. The decoration of the façade is quite recent, 1992.

● Casa de la Carnicería. Like the Casa de la Panadería, it has 2 angular towers at its ends. As its name indicates, in its origins it hosted the general repository of meat from where it was then supplied to the markets of the city. It is currently the District Board Center.

● Estatua de Felipe III. Located in the center of the square since 1848, when Isabel II moved it from the Casa de Campo.

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Calle Mayor

Next to the Plaza Mayor and out of the Puerta del Sol, we have the Calle Mayor, one of the main streets of Madrid. This street includes the Casa de Calderón de Ia Barca, the Edificio de la Compañía Colonial, a large commercial building; the Palacio de los Consejos, the headquarters of the General Captain of the Army; the Palacio del Duque de , headquarters of the Italian Culture Institute and the Palacio del Marqués de Camarasa.

Parque del

This historic and enormous park, Parque del Retiro, is located in the heart of Madrid and is considered it´s lung. It has an area of 118 hectares.

It originated in the 15th century when King Felipe V received some land for his enjoyment and he built the Palacio del Buen Retiro which was converted into the second royal residence. Today this is one of the few tourist places in Madrid where you can enjoy tranquility, though on Sundays it tends to be very busy. Here you can find families with children, sportsmen, strollers, nature lovers and street performers.

You can perform various activities in the Parque del Retiro, like hiring little boats to row on the lake or visit the Palacio de Cristal.

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Palacio de Cristal

It was built in 1887 in the interior of the Parque del Retiro and is made of metal and crystal on occasion of the universal exhibition of the Philippine Islands. At the entrance of the palace you will find a artificial lake with various cyprus trees. In addition, there is a curious ladder that plunges into the lake. Currently in the Palacio de Cristal they hold exhibitions of contemporary art that are well worth a visit.

What to see in the Parque del Retiro

The park is a huge area that is marvellous to walk through. The most important point in it is the monument of Alfonso XII that is located next to the pond. It is formed by a series of columns with various statues that surround the bronze, equestrian statue of Alfonso XII. There are stairs off the

Erasmus Student Network Vigo Local de asociaciones 3, edificio Miralles, Plaza Miralles, Campus Universitario Lagoas Marcosende s/n 36310 Vigo www.esnvigo.org 28 central monument that lead towards the pond with four stone lions and sirens on their pedestals.

In addition, you must also see the Paseo de las Estatuas, with statues of distinct spanish kings, the Puerta de España, the Fuente de la Alcachofa, the Casa de Fieras and the Fuente del Ángel Caído, representing the demon with wings unfolded and contorted over some rocks while a snake curls around the body.

Catedral de la Almudena

The Catedral de la Almudena is a temple located opposite of the Palacio Real built between the 19th and 20th centuries. The exterior is of a neoClassical style, the ​ interior is neoGothic and the crypt is neoRomanesque. It is the only Spanish Cathedral ​ ​ consecrated by a Pope, in particular by Juan Pablo II in 1993. In addition, it was witness to the wedding of Prince Felipe in May of 2004.

It is a modern cathedral due to the absence of bishopric in Madrid, as that belonged to the diocese of Toledo, that never caused the need to have a cathedral in the capital of Spain. It was not until 1883 that they started the construction and it was completed in 1984.

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The Catedral de la Almudena is perfectly integrated in the environment, opposite the Palacio Royal for reason that it’s orientation is NorthSouth instead of the rest of the ​ Spanish cathedrals.

It has a dome with 12 statues that represent the Apostles, that is the most striking element from the outside. The interior is of Gothic style but its exterior is Baroque. In its main façade, opposite the Royal Palace, a portico and a tower stand out. The portico has 4 statues representing San Isidro Labrador, Santa María de la Cabeza, Santa Teresa de Jesus and San Fernando Rey.

Interior of the Cathedral

Its interior, with a Latin cross plan, consists of two side naves and a central nave. In the interior they emphasize the high altar with its bureau of green marble. Behind it stands the Crucifiction of Christ in Baroque style, carved in 1620.

The Virgen de la Almudena, which gives its name to the temple, is located in the niche of the altarpiece, the latter being built by 18 tables with the life of Jesus and Mary. It also highlights the ambulatory with the Sacrament Chapel, where you can admire the masterpiece Los preparativos de la crucifixión and the sculptures of San Isidro Labrador and Santa Maria de la Cabeza.

Attention must also be given to the decoration of the roof of the central nave, organ, and the apse with its stained glass windows of Murano glass.

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Descalzas reales

The monastery of the Descalzas Reales is a classicist building from the 16th century by the Franciscan nuns and holds a large collection of works of art in its interior.

History of the Monastery

The monastery was built in place of one of the first palaces in Madrid in which held the first Courts of Madrid in 1339. The opening of the monastery was in 1559 although the church at that time had not been built and not finished until five years later.

In the monastery also lived the empress María of Austria along with her daughter, who later became one of the Franciscan nuns. The remains of the empress are buried in the church choir at her express wish.

The monastery houses works of art that were donated by the nuns who lived in it and belonged to the aristocracy and royalty. These works of art were in danger during the Civil War and were able to be saved and now we can admire them.

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Calle de Alcalá

Alcalá Street is the longest street in Madrid, with a length of 10,5 km. Its most touristy stretch is the one nearer to the Puerta del Sol. It is possible to visit it together with the Gran Vía or the Plaza Cibeles, as they have some monuments in common.

It is a perfect place to stroll, no matter day or night and at any time in the year, and it will take you to the most stately Madrid.

It is one of the oldest streets in city, as its construction began in the 15th century in the Puerta del Sol and it expanded along with the city. Most of the important buildings in it are located at the beginning of the street. Among these buildings, the most renowned ones are:

● Casa de la Aduana. Nowadays, the headquarters of the Spanish Finance Ministry is located here.

● Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. Known for its art collections.

● Casino de Madrid. It dates back to 1836, when it was a witness to the talks between members of the most select clubs of that time.

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● Edificio del Banco de Bilbao. Its significance rests primarily on its beautiful stained glass windows, on the sculptures in its façade and above all on the quadrigae that crown the towers of the building.

● Teatro Alcázar. Built 1921. It houses one of the most important theaters in Madrid.

● Edificio de la Unión y el Fénix. The balcony in its first terrace and the phoenix on top of its tower will draw your attention.

● Iglesia de las Calatravas. This church belongs to a former monastery. Its construction was completed in 1678.

● Edificio del Banco Mercantil e Industrial. Its most important element is its bay window.

● Edificio Metrópolis. It is also a part of the Gran Vía. Statues representing Commerce, Agriculture, Industry and Mining decorate the top of the columns in the façade of the ground level. The building is topped by a dome inlaid with gold, which is crowned by a statue representing a winged victory goddess.

● Edificio del Banco Central. It houses the Instituto Cervantes. A prominent feature of the building are the columns at the entrance, shaped as statues.

● Plaza Cibeles. In it you can find the Palacio de Comunicaciones, the Palacio de Buena Vista, the Palacio de Linares, the Banco de España and the Fuente de Cibeles.

● Plaza de la Independencia. Here you can find the impressive Puerta de Alcalá.

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Puerta de Alcalá

It is situated in the Plaza de la Independencia, near the main entrance to the Parque del Retiro. This gate, one of the most representative monuments in Madrid, was constructed by Francesco Sabatini, commissioned by King Charles III.

The gate has five openings, three of them in the shape of a semicircular arch and other two at the sides in the shape of flat arches. The façade facing the east (the one opposed to the Plaza Cibeles) has 6 granite statues, while in the one facing the west columns substitute the 6 statues. The capitals are Ionic. Over the central opening, the attics in both façades bear an inscription in Latin: Rege Carolo III. Anno MDCCLXXVIII (“When Charles III was the king. Year 1778”). Over the inscription in the east façade, two statues representing Fama and the Genius hold a coat of arms.

In the façade facing the west, over both side arches, there are four child sculptures representing the cardinal virtues: Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Courage.

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Basílica de San Francisco el Grande

The Basílica de San Francisco el Grande is a temple that is part of the franciscan convent of Jesus and Mary. It was built in neoClassical style during the 18th century ​ on a chapel dedicated to Santa María that no longer exists.

Since its opening in 1784, the basilica has been used for various purposes throughout history. In times of José Bonaparte it was converted into a hospital.

Later, after the were expelled, it was used as infantry barracks and later became the National Pantheon, sheltering the remains of illustrious like Calderón de la Barca or Francisco de Quevedo, among others. The temple was returned to the franciscans in 1926 and in 1962 it was declared a minor basilica by Pope Juan XXIII.

The dome and the main façade

The most important thing about the exterior of the basilica is its dome. It is 33 meters in diameter and 58 in height, which make it the world's third largest circular dome of the world, only surpassed by the Pantheon of Agrippa in Rome and St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Its exterior is also remarkable in its main facade, work of Sabatini, in the neoclassical style and with peculiarity of being a convex shape. It emphasizes the pediment with the cross of Jerusalem and the 4 stone statues on the pillars.

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Fuente de Neptuno

Inside, there is the Main Chapel and the side chapels. In the Main Chapel we're able to observe the 5 mural paintings of the bedside 4 framed by pilasters with golden trim that are dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. Also the 4 statues representing the evangelists on stands of black marble. Here you can see the stalls of the renaissance choir.

The Fountain of Neptune is located in the square of Cánovas del Castilla, halfway between the Atocha train station and the Plaza de Cibeles. It competes in beauty with its neighbor, the Cibeles fountain, and is surrounded by the luxury hotels, the Ritz and Palace, the Prado Museum and the Palacio de Villahermosa, which currently houses the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum. ​

The fountain was designed by Ventura Rodríguez in 1782. It is designed in neoclassical style and was sculpted in white marble between 1780 and 1784. The fountain was constructed due to the remodeling of the Paseo del Prado. Currently it is one of the most beautiful fountains in MAdrid and is famous for being the place where Club Atlético of Madrid celebrates its victories.

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The fountain consists of a large circular pylon and in the center is the figure of Neptune, the god of seas, with a snake coiled up in his right hand and a trident in his left, standing on a cart formed by a shell and being pulled by two sea horses with a fish tail. Around the carriage are seals and dolphins which shed water at high altitude. The god of the waters alludes to the Marina that Carlos III reformed to make it more competitive and strengthen the link with the colonies.

Templo de Debod

Oddly enough, there is an Egyptian Temple, the Temple of Debod, located in the Parque del Oeste, near the Plaza España which was donated by Egypt to Spain through the collaboration of UNESCO to save the Temple of Abu Simbel by the construction of Lake Nasser.

This temple, 2200 years old, was built near the town of Debod, to the shores of the Nile River to worship the God Amon. Later on, it also began to worship Isis by expanding the chapel. With the arrival of the Romans, the temple suffered modifications to begin to worship the Roman gods, also being built near a military settlement. With the Christianization by the emperor Justinian, the Temple also acquired Christian symbols.

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Later, the temple was abandoned during some centuries and deteriorated with the passing of time. The deterioration increased substantially due to an earthquake and the construction of the first dam of dam of Aswan, although fortunately it began to be restored. But with the construction of the second dam, the temple was stuck in water so it was removed stone by stone and shipped to Spain as a gift from Egypt. In 1972 it opened in Madrid and now it has been restored and some of the missing parts has been rebuilt and it seems to be complete.

The Templo de Debod in Spain

The Chapel of Adijalamani constitutes the core of the sanctuary and is the oldest part and decorated with scenes representing the king worshipping gods and offering sacrifices. We must also see the Mammisi, where the goddess worshiped at the temple gave light, the lobby, the anteroom of the Naos, the Chapels of Cabecera, the room of the Naoi and the crypts. It should be noted that this is one of the few Egyptian temples that had crypt. All of this, with a small pond at its feet.

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Santiago Bernabeu

Anyone in the world who has spoken about Madrid, also thinks about one of the principal clubs of football in the world: Real Madrid. Its stadium is one of the architectural jewels of Madrid and one of the stadiums with more history of football on its lawn. Since it was opened in 1947, very important games such as the final of the European Championship in 1964 and 1982 World Cup have been played here.

Following its inauguration, the stadium was named Chamartín because of the the neighborhood it was in, and fit only 75,000 spectators, almost all standing. It was in 1955 when the stadium adopted its current name in honor of the President of the club. Subsequently it suffered various reforms even to accommodate 125,000 spectators, all standing, but further regulations concerning the number of seated and covered places that had to be in the stadiums was reducing the capacity of the stadium to opens new steps which now only allow 80,000 spectators.

During its history it has hosted big football matches such as the finales of the Champions League, the final of the EuroCup in 1964 and the final of the World Cup in 1982. Also it has been used for other events such as concerts.

Puerta de Toledo

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The Gate of Toledo was one of the gates to the city of Madrid. Dating back from the first third of the 19th century, it was designed by the Spanish architect Antonio Aguado and is located in the middle of a roundabout on Glorieta de Toledo. It was built as a triumphal arch in honour of King Fernando VII as a Spanish commemoration of independence after the French occupation.

It was the last monumental gate built in the former grounds of Madrid. It was built between 1813 and 1827, and was restored by the City Council of Madrid in 1995. It is crowned by a group of sculptures in stone designed by José Ginés and sculpted by Ramón Barba and Valeriano Salvatierra. On the north façade you will see it supported by two children and the coat of arms of Madrid. There are military trophies on the side doors that face the south.

Basílica de Jesús de Medinaceli

The Basílica de Nuestro Padre Jesús de Medinaceli is a catholic church that is located in the Plaza de Jesús de Madrid. The temple is built on the old Convent of Discalced Trinitarian of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación. It was solemnly consecrated on November 21, 1930 by the Bishop of Madrid, Leopoldo Eijo Garay. Before leaving the present temple, there were several chapels where the

Erasmus Student Network Vigo Local de asociaciones 3, edificio Miralles, Plaza Miralles, Campus Universitario Lagoas Marcosende s/n 36310 Vigo www.esnvigo.org 43 imagine is venerated, donated by the Duke of Medinaceli.

In 1922 the building was knocked down because it was dilapidated, and in 1927 they started to build the current one, designed by the architect Jesús CarrascoMuñoz ​ Encina; It was completed in 1930.

The basilica has a Latincross plan with three naves, the widest is the center; in the ​ upper part of the sanctuary is the chapel where the devout image of Our Father Jesus Medinaceli is venerated. Its facade is the most characteristic element, reminiscent of the baroque style; it has a central window in the form of serliana, closing the set with a triangular pediment.

Convento de las Trinitarias Descalzas

The Monastery of San Ildefonso and San Juan Mata, better known by its old name of Convent of the Descalzas Reales Trinitarian of San Ildefonso, is a baroque architectural ensemble of the Villa de Madrid, situated in the area known as Madrid of the Austrias. Although the original structure dates back to 1609, the current building corresponds to enlargements and alterations. It consists of a church and a convent.

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Cervantes was buried in 1616 in the modest and primitive church, unknown at the present time the exact location. The current church has the particularity of being surrounded by the convent. Here professed a natural daughter of Cervantes and Sor Marcela de San Felix, daughter of the writer Lope de Vega.

Congreso de los Diputados

The Congreso de los Diputados is the lower chamber of the , the constitutional legislative body which acts on behalf of the Spanish people. They gather for meetings in the Palacio de las Cortes, located in the Plaza de las Cortes, specifically between the calle Zorrilla and the

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Carrera de San Jerónimo, within short distance from the Paseo del Prado. Built in a neoclassical style, it is one of the most emblematic buildings of the 19th century Madrid. The Thyssen Bornemisza museum is located in the apple just next to the ​ east.

Main Façade

It constitutes one of the masterworks of Neoclassicism in Spain, despite the late construction (it was completed in the mid 19th century), and it is well known by its architect of the front entrance, Narciso Pascual Colomer Como. The entrance consists of a large portico of 6 corinthian columns that support a large triangular pediment, decorated with a basrelief representing Spain and the Constitution, accompanied by ​ imagines on both sides that glamourize the fortitude, justice, courage, the sciences, the harmony, the arts, agriculture, trade, the rivers, the abundance and peace, from the masterpiece of Pontian Ponzano. The portico, with a strong classical influence, protects the bronze doors that give access to the building and that is only used when the King performs the solemn opening session of the Congress. The entry of habitual use is located on the side of the building, in the street of Floridablanca, it is closed and converted into market access.

In front of the central body opens a monumental staircase, flanked by the most characterized and iconic elements of the building: two monumental bronze lions, the work of Ponciano Ponzano, created in 1866, according to the inscription at the foot of the sculptures, with the canons capturing the enemy in the African War of 1860.

Interior

The ground floor contains the most significant places: Session Hall, Conference Room, President of the Congress, Room of Ministers and the Library.

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​Plaza de la Lealtad

The Plaza de la Lealtad is located in Madrid in the Paseo del Prado and here you can find the Palacio de la Bolsa de Madrid, which hosts the Madrid Stock Exchange and the Ritz hotel.

The Monumento a los Caídos por España is located in the square, where the ashes of Madrid rebels are located after their rebellion on May 2nd, 1808 and were executed on May 3rd. It was built in the reign of Isabel II. In addition, there is a flame that is always lit.

Palace of the Madrid Stock Exchange

The Palace of the Madrid Stock Exchange is located in the Plaza of Lealtad built in the neoclassical style and currently the location of the Madrid Stock Exchange, formerly called the Palacio de la Bolsa de Comercio.

The building was designed by the architect Enrique María Repullés y Vargas, who won a contest organized by the Board of Public Works in the Madrid Stock Exchange in 1884. Finally, on

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May 7th, 1893, the Palacio de la Bolsa was opened by the Queen María Cristina, where it would be the new and definitive placement of the Madrid Stock Exchange.

Luis Taberner decorated the ceilings of the different rooms representing figures and attributes that represent the different . He was also commissioned to decorate the ceiling of the meeting room with a symbol of trade. Francisco Molinelli also contributed to the decoration with sculptures.

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Los Jerónimos

The monastery of San Jerónimo el Real, popularly known as Los Jerónimos, was one of the most important convents of Madrid, originally ruled by the order of San Jerónimo.

Only two parts of the convent are still standing: the church, nowadays converted into the San Jerónimo parish, and the cloisters, behind the Museo del Prado. The cloisters have suffered deterioration all through the 19th century and, after an agreement with the ecclesial communities, has been restored and added to the Prado as part of the extension designed by the architect Rafael Moneo. The cloisters are popularly known as «Moneo’s cube» because of its external appearance.

Both the church and the convent have been closely linked to the Court life and to the Spanish monarchy. The temple has been the setting for funerals, oaths of allegiance, weddings and proclamations, the last one of the latter being King Juan Carlos I of Spain’s.

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House of the seven chimneys

This building, constructed between 1574 and 1577 is located in the plaza del Rey. Nowadays, it houses the Spanish Ministerio de Cultura (“Culture Ministry”), and its current appearance is the result of a series of transformation operated throughout its history, as it changed proprietorship.

Antonio Sillero designed the blueprints of the building, which were modified afterwards by Juan de Herrera, for Pedro de Ledesma.

National Library

It is located in number 20 in the Paseo de Recoletos, in the same building as the Museo Arqueológico Nacional, and it has a second headquarter in Alcalá de Henares as well.

The Biblioteca Nacional de España is the official centre where the

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Patrimonio Bibliográfico y Documental de España (The cultural heritage of Spain, in the form of books and documents) is kept, and it custodies more than 26 million publications produced in national territory since the beginnings of the 18th century: books, newspapers, maps, engravings, paintings, sheet music, leaflets, etc. The Biblioteca Nacional publicises this bibliographic patrimony through its catalogue and by writing the Bibliografía Española.

National Archaeological Museum

The museum was founded in 1867 by Royal Decree of Isabella II. Its creation was caused by the need of having a museum where it could be preserve, classify and exhibit archaeological, ethnographic, decorative art and numismatic materials which were been collected by the Spanish monarchs at the Real Biblioteca (“Royal Library”) and the Real Gabinete de Historia Natural (Royal Cabinet of Natural History”). The museum was opened by Amadeo I on 9th July 1971 and covered four sections: primitive times, Middle Ages, numismatic and ethnography. In 1941 its funds of American archaeology were moved to new Museo de América (“Museum of America”).

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Columbus Square

It is named after Christopher Columbus and is demarcated by Serrano, and Jorge Juan streets and the Recoletos and La avenues, joining the last two with the calle de Génova (“Genoa Street”). On its east side there is a wide open area known as the Jardines del Descubrimiento (“Discovery Gardens”).

In this area there are the de Arte Teatro Fernán Gómez (Art Centre Fernán ​ Gómez Theatre) and a monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus of neogothic style built between 1881 and 1885.

In 1997 the Monumento al Descubrimiento de América (“Monument to the Discovery of America”) by Joaquín Vaquero Turcios was erected in the gardens. It is a group of three concrete macrosculptures, named respectively Las profecías (“The prophecies”), La génesis (“The genesis”) and El Descubrimiento (“The Discovery”).

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Museo del Prado

The building was designed by the architect Juan de Villanueva in 1785 as a Natural Sciences Cabinet by order of the king Charles III. Nevertheless, the final purpose of this construction would not be clear until his grandson Ferdinand VII decided to allocate this building to the creation of a museum. The Real Museo (“Royal Museum”), which was soon renamed Museo Nacional de Pintura y Escultura (“National Museum of Painting and Sculpture”) and Museo Nacional del Prado (“National Prado Museum”) afterwards, opened to the public in 1819 for the first time.

Both the collection and the number of visitors to the museum have hugely increased throughout the 19th and the 20th century. For this reason, the museum have had to enlarge its historic headquarters until they use up all the intervention possibilities on the building. This is why the Prado has been force to find the way of its recent enlargement with an architectural solution located in the back façade of its traditional headquarters and connected to this one from the inside.

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

The opening of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in 1990 lead to suppose the creation of a museum of Modern and Contemporary art in Spain of international level, even though there were not few the changes suffered by this building until

Erasmus Student Network Vigo Local de asociaciones 3, edificio Miralles, Plaza Miralles, Campus Universitario Lagoas Marcosende s/n 36310 Vigo www.esnvigo.org 54 reaching that end. On 10th September 1992, the kings Juan Carlos I and Sofía opened the permanent collection, which until that time had only housed temporary exhibitions.

Circle of Fine Arts

The Círculo de Bellas Artes (CBA) is a private nonprofit cultural organisation declared ​ “Protection Centre of the Fine Arts and Public Utility”. From its creation, it has developed an important work of international significance in the field of cultural creation and dissemination.

The CBA, one of the most important private cultural centres in Europe, is characterised by its open towards the most renowned and innovative artistic movements. It is a multidisciplinary centre where activities are organised which ranged from the plastic arts to the literature, the science, the philosophy, the cinema, and the performing arts.

The current Círculo’s headquarters were a project commissioned by the Galician architect Antonio Palacios, who is also the creator of emblematic buildings as the

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Palacio de Comunicaciones, the Banco Central in the calle Alcalá or the Palacio de Maude, among others.

It was opened by Alfonso XIII on Monday, 8th November 1926, with an painting exhibition by Ignacio Zuloaga at the Sala Goya.

​ SEGOVIA

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985, Segovia is an ancient city situated just 87 kilometers from Madrid. It is considered as one of the most beautiful cities in the world because of its extraordinary architectural configuration and has been a protagonist of major events throughout the . Today it is distinguished by its cultural dynamism, gastronomy, festivals and traditions in addition to its impressive Roman Aqueduct. Surrounded by the green belt that forms the valleys of the rivers Eresma and Clamores, Segovia is a town located on 1,005 m of altitude and enjoys a crystalline atmosphere, which allows the city to invoke the light which is one of its most prized attractions.

Aqueduct

Located in the emblematic Plaza del Azoguejo, it is the distinctive symbol of the city; it is not known the date of its construction, which could have been built at the end of the first century or early second century, and is the work of important roman civil engineering in Spain. It was made with around 25,000 granite blocks without any type

Erasmus Student Network Vigo Local de asociaciones 3, edificio Miralles, Plaza Miralles, Campus Universitario Lagoas Marcosende s/n 36310 Vigo www.esnvigo.org 56 of mortar, it has a length of 818 meters, it consists of more than 170 arcs and highest part measures 29 meters, as reached in the Azoguejo, it is the most visited area.

The Alcázar

Royal palace located at the top of a rock between the rivers Eresma y Clamores. Its existence ​ is documented for the first time in 1122, it is possible that it existed before that time though. It was one of the favourite residences of the monarchs of Castile. lt was built in the transition between the Romanic and the Gothic and its Mudejar decorations stand out in its halls. The building is divided in two patios and has two towers: the tower keep and the tower of John II. In addition, it was

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Alfonso X the Wise and Henry IV’s favourite residence. Isabella the Catholic departed ​ from here in order to be crowned queen of Castile at the plaza Mayor (“Main Square”). Destroyed by a fire in 1862, it was rebuilt afterwards. Nowadays, it is home to the Archivo General Militar (“Military General Archive”) and the Museo del Real Colegio de

Artillería (“Museum of the Royal Association of Artillery”). ​

The wall

It already existed when Alfonso VI of Castile snatched the city to the Arabs. This monarch commanded an extension of the wall, coming to have a perimeter of 3 kilometres, eight towers, five gates and several wicket gates. Its construction was mainly made by granite blocks, even though tombstones of the Roman necropolis were reused. The wall traverses the old town and there are only three gates these days: San Cebrián (“Saint Cebrián”), of great austerity; Santiago (“Saint Jacques”), with Mudejar appearance; and San Andrés (“Saint Andrew”), entrance gate to the Jewish quarter; and the wicket gates of the Consuelo (“Solace”), San Juan (“Saint John”), the Sol (“Sun”) and the Luna (“Moon”).

Erasmus Student Network Vigo Local de asociaciones 3, edificio Miralles, Plaza Miralles, Campus Universitario Lagoas Marcosende s/n 36310 Vigo www.esnvigo.org 58

The Alcázar’s gardens

They are erected at the terrace where there was the old cathedral and the Episcopal palace. Its creation started on the occasion of the wedding of Philip II with Anna of Austria in 1570 at the Alcázar. For this reason, the existing ruins were removed. Nevertheless, it was not completed until the visit of Ferdinand VII in the 19th century. Between 1816 and 1817 the first trees were planted and closed with the railings as they are now. They burnt due to the fire that occurred at the Alcázar in 1862 and recovered in 1882.

Erasmus Student Network Vigo Local de asociaciones 3, edificio Miralles, Plaza Miralles, Campus Universitario Lagoas Marcosende s/n 36310 Vigo www.esnvigo.org 59