Repoblica Espa Iola
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REPOBLICA ESPA IOLA General Vÿew VILA (15.OOO inhabitants) is situated in tile plain of Castile, on a . high hill, I I3 kin. from Madrid, at a o' 3o'' longitude West, and • to° 39' 24" latitude North. It is more than i, ioo metres above tile level of the sea. It is watered by the river Adaja. In summer the temperature of Jtvila is delightful, and the pure atmosphere and ,ÿoft breezes from tile mountains make it a sumnler station of the first order, /tvila is essentially an historical town and exists to a great extent on its glorious past. Its streets, its walls and palatial buildings show that to be so. The ÿurroundings, formed by a desolate country covered with enormous boulders, the old streets, and the severe aspect of the old houseb, the harmonious chiming of its bells from more than 2o convents and churches lead one to a subjective life which explains the saying of caÿ,tos ÿ, santos (saints and songs). This Photo Wunderhch Photo Wÿderhch Mombeltran Castle Arenas de San Pedro.--Castle and Bridge feeling is explained by the fact that fl, vila was the home of mysticisnÿ decided to repopulate Avila with people from Asturias, Le6n and led and directed by the illustrious figure of Santa Teresa de Jesfis. Galicia. Among these were master-builders and workmen who, when Her life and acts are evoked at every turn like an obsession. The once re-edification was decided on, undertook the work with great character of the town is at once mystical and noble, and most im- zeal, 19oo men, many of them Moorish prisoners, taking part in it. pressive. ÿvila is the best sanatorium for a scourged spirit exhausted So well preserved are they that they are considered the most complete by the strains of modern life. military edification of the middle ages in Europe• The walls have In the markets the countrymen wear the traditional Castilian the form of a trapeze, and its weakest part, by reason of having es- dress, black or brown, large, broad-brimmed felt hats, a long big caped restorations, is the northern part. Tile eastern is the strongest cape and short breeches. The women wear a short and wide flannel part from which also is gained the best view. Here are the two skirt with gaudy scarves folded in a way as to end in a point at tile most important gates. The walls are ccmplete along their back, their hair dressed and tied into a low knot. tightly plaited whole perimeter; they are 2.526 metres long and have 88 da- with a broad pin through it. With their merchandise in knapsacks does, nine gates and several posterns. It is worth mentioning carried by donkeys these country-people present a gay and animated that the outer wall of the presbytery of the cathedral forms part picture which never fails to delight the traveller. of the military precinct. We must also mention the tower of the The Walls may be called the grandest and most important monu- Alciÿzar, called the (ÿTorre del Homenajeÿ) (tower.of homage) which, ment of fiÿvila, and form the physiognomy and characteristic note of although in restored condition is a fine specimen of this Romanes- the town. According to tradition they were begun in the spring que monument. of Io9o. After the final reconquest of the city King Alfonso VI The Cathedral is one of the finest monuments in Spain, in tran- St. Vlncent's Church, -- Pbrtlco Photo Campos A Hostelrg of the S. S. T. D., in Gredos Ph.to Wunde.rlieh sition Gothic style. It was begun, it is said, in the i2th century, and The Basilica o/ San Vicente stands north ouside the walls of the finished, with additions and alterations to it, in the I5th century. i city on the site where the saints to whom it was dedicated were The early fabric of the temple is contemporary with the walls and € tortured. It is a curious and magnificent specimen of Romanesque was built under the name of E1 Salvador. Its walls and embattled art passing into the Gothic (ogival) of the I2th to I4th centuries, towers give it the appearance of a fortress. In the part of the temple with additions of the i3th in the porch. The most important feature built in the i4th century the primitive Romanesque style changes outside the building is the west front of the I3th century. Its plan and the character of the buildings is transformed with the niceties forms a Latin Cross and the whole is very elegant and symmetrical. of the Gothic. Its most important gates are in this order: The north Church o/ San Pedro. It stands in the centre of the city, in the gate, called the gate of the Apostles with its pointed Gothic arch Plaza del Alcgzar (now the Plaza de Santa Teresa). It is a magnifi- and the Saviour in the centre surrounded by images in attitude of cent Romanesque monument of the same epoch as the former, but repose, and the West gate which has a Baroque addition of a fine of a purer style and with a beautiful rose-window in the principal limestone frontispice. The passage of the Renaissance has left admi- faqade of a most typical and peculiar character. rable traces upon the temple. That is so with the choir, the back- There are further minor churches of the 2ÿvila Romanesque style, choirs and paintings, of the i5th century, of the principal reredos, though inferior to the former as regards dimensions and beauty of said to be the work of Pedro Berruguete conjointly with Juan de art and style; they are: San AndrOs, San Segundo and Santo Domhlgo Borgofia and Santos Cruz; the tomb of Bishop E1 Tostado, behind all of them outside the walls of the town, and several others besides. the High Altar, by Vasco de Zarza. The interior of the temple shows, There are two Mudejar examples represented by Santa Maria de la in general, features of the I3th century Gothic (ogival). Cabeza and the Tower of San Martin. Palaces aÿd /orti/ied buildings, i4th to i7th centuries. The follo- The convent o[ Santo To- wing should be visited amongst others: that of the Ma.rquds de las rods is a monmnent of exÿ Navas (now, de Abrantes) in the square de la Fruta," of the Marquis traordinary value in the de Almarza (now of the Slaves of Mary); the palace of Superunda I5th century ogival. It was and that of Oflate (today, of Crescente), in which tapestry and furni- built by order of the Cathc- ture of'the epoch are perserved; the three palaces are in the square lic Sovereigns whose only of los Cepedas; Casa de los ÿguila (now of the Duques de Valencia), male off-spring, Prince Don and Casa de los Verdugo, in Ldpez-Ntifiez street, and the fine palace Juan, was buried in this de Polentinos (today the Academia Militar de Intendencia). In the magnificent church in a bea- Plaza de la Catedral are the palaces de Valderrgbano and of the tiful alabaster sepulchre, in MarquOs de Velada; and lastly, the palace de los Dearies (today the Renaissance, the work of normal school for schoolmistresses) and of Don Blasco Ntifiez Vela the Florentine sculptor Do- (Courts of Justice). menico Fancelli; it stands Museums a, nd Libraries. The provincial Museum installed tem- ill the centre of the church. porarily in the entrance of the Puerta de San Vicente. The provincial The principal reredos has Library, in the Institute, and the Teresiana Library, the only of this paintings, by Pedro Berru- kind, installed in the Palace of the Marquis de San Juan de Piedras guete, and the cloisters cal- Albas. led del Silencio, del Novi- Many interesting excursions can be taken from Avila to various ciado and de Reyes; they are places in the province. For views and fine scenery we must recall the remarkable pieces of work, Sierra de Gredos with Guisando, el Hornillo, el Arenal, Candeleda, etc., but the last one is the best. and for monuments as well as beautiful scenery: ArOvalo, Fontiveros, Photo \Vunderlich Santa Teresa, called com- Madrigal (with its circular walls, and the home of el Tostado and monly La Santa. It is a Isabel la Cat61ica); Cebreros (Herreian Church); Arenas de San Pedro The Cathedral, -- Interior building in Baroque style, (Monastery of San Pedro de AlcAntara); MombeltrAn (castle); Bonilla erected on the samÿ site de la Sierra and many other interesting places which should be visited. where the house stood in which the Virgin of ecstasy was born, the HOTELS: most illustrious of all female saints. The facade is divided into 1NGLE,.g, lull board from. 12 to 20 plas.- PARIS, ]tom 13 to 19,50 three bodies, and the interior has three naves. On the left the prin- peseÿts.--GRAN HOTEL, ]rom 12 to 15 ptas.--HOTEL JARDIN, cipal chapel is the door to what was the room of the foundress, and ]tom 10 to 12 Iltas. VASC'O, ]'rom 10 to 12,50 ptas. now it is the chapel with her image attributed to Gregorio HernAndez. Next to the chapel there is a room where some of her relics are kept: her finger, letters, a rosary, her walkingstaff and other belongings. This convent is in charge of the Community of barefooted Carmelites. Other Teresian places that one should not fail to see are: The convent of Augustine nuns of Gracia (where she was educated); La Encarnacidn, north, where she professed and was prioress, and whence she left to undertake the reforms of the Order.