Our host/colleague in Madrid, Jose Rodriguez-Martinez, has been just wonderful to us. Not only did he arrange our accommodation, pick us up at the airport and take us to a terrific flamenco performance (no pictures were allowed--darn!), he was our driver and tour guide to El Escorial and Segovia, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites about an hour from Madrid.
El Escorial built by Phillip II in the 16th century is a historical residence of the King of Spain in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, basilica, royal palace, pantheon, library, museum, university and hospital.
The area of the monastery is so vast, it's very hard to capture in pictures. And, pictures were only allowed outside and in very few inside places.
El Escorial main courtyard--such a beautiful setting!
Absolutely enormous!
Main entrance
Main inner courtyard
Through this courtyard was the entrance to the Basilica. Unfortunately, we couldn't see the Basilica because there was a military wedding that day.
Soldiers attending the wedding
Small chapel
Inner courtyard
Central staircase
The library houses a rare collection of more than 4,700 manuscripts, many of them
illuminated, and 40,000 printed books.
Library
Unfortunately, we couldn't take pictures of the kings' tombs, so I had to get one off the internet. Absolutely stunning.
Tombs of kings
After our 2-hour visit, it was off to lunch with Jose in a charming cafe across from the monastery.
Jose and Miles
Next stop: Segovia!
And what an entrance! The first thing you see is this AMAZING 1st century Roman aquaduct, one of the most significant and best-preserved ancient monuments left on the Iberian Peninsula.
Aquaduct
The BEAUTIFUL Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral was built in the mid-16th century.
Segovia Cathedral
Interior of cathedral
The other amazing site in Segovia is El Alcazar, one of the most distinctive castle-palaces in Spain by virtue of its shape – like the bow of a ship.--built around the 13th century. El Alcázar was originally built as a fortress but has served as a royal palace, a state prison, a Royal Artillery College and a military academy since then.
El Alcazar
Wonderful ceiling
Legacy of Spanish kings
Near an upper turret
El Alcazar maze
View from El Alcazar
Quite a landscape
What architects!
A VERY deep moat
We saw little evidence of a Jewish community in Segovia.
Sign in the pavement--Tzfarad--the Hebrew word for Spain
Very impressive! The aqueduct looks like it could still carry water. I assume your friend provided a translation but if not the last photo says: Occupied for centuries by members of the Jewish (Hebrew) community before they were expelled by order of the Catholic Kings xo M&M
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful. Love the Roman aquaduct. There was so much to take in and you covered it all. I admire your detailed itineraries.
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