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lunes, 30 de abril de 2012

SPAIN: SEGOVIA

The old city and the aqueduct of Segovia were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 and I understood why after visiting it. The roman aqueduct is really impressive, the Gothic cathedral is beautiful and I truly liked the Alcázar.

Besides there are a lot of lovely romanesque churches inside the old city of Segovia, like San Millán or San Martín churches.

I only could spent one day in Segovia and these are the places we visited there:

  • Aqueduct of Segovia 
  • Cathedral of Segovia 
  • Alcázar of Segovia
  • San Marcos romanesque church
  • Vera Cruz romanesque church
  • Santa Maria del Parral monastery
  • Old Synagogue
  • San Martin church and square
  • San Millan romanesque church

Unfortunately we didn't have time to enter the cathedral and the Alcázar.

Next you have some pictures of the places we visited in Segovia:


Aqueduct of Segovia
The impressive aqueduct of Segovia

Gothic cathedral of Segovia
Gothic cathedral of Segovia

Beautiful romanesque church in Segovia
Beautiful romanesque church of San Andrés in Segovia we found walking from the cathedral to the Alcázar

Alcázar of Segovia
The Alcázar of Segovia

Alcázar of Segovia
A closer image of the Alcázar of Segovia

Romanesque church of San Marcos in Segovia
The romanesque church of San Marcos in Segovia

Church of Vera Cruz in Segovia
The lovely church of Vera Cruz in Segovia


Monastery of Santa Maria del Parral in Segovia
Monastery of Santa Maria del Parral in Segovia

Monastery of Santa Maria del Parral in Segovia
Monastery of Santa Maria del Parral from the Alcázar of Segovia

Old Synagogue in Segovia
Old Synagogue in Segovia

San Martín square in Segovia
Torreón de los Lozoya and San Martín square in Segovia

San Millán romanesque church in Segovia
San Millán romanesque church in Segovia




We visited Segovia during a trip we took to Madrid on Easter. On this trip, in addition to Segovia, we visited too: 



Finally, other beautiful places you can visit in Spain are:



- Catalonia

- Basque Country

- Cantabria

- Granada

- Sevilla, Córdoba, Cádiz and Costa de la Luz

viernes, 27 de abril de 2012

MADRID: MARKETS, PARKS AND GARDENS

I spent a few days in Madrid for Easter and I would like to show you some pictures of the places I liked the most:

  • Temple of Debod
  • Royal Palace of Madrid
  • Sabatini Gardens
  • Campo del Moro
  • San Miguel Market
  • Retiro Park

As you will see, what I like the most in Madrid was its parks and gardens, which were really peaceful and quiet.


But before the pictures of the parks and gardens, the first place we saw in Madrid:


Atocha Station in Madrid
Atocha Station in Madrid

Temple of Debod


Temple of Debod in Madrid
Palms and Temple of Debod in Madrid


Temple of Debod in Madrid
An overview of  Temple of Debod in Madrid

Temple of Debod in Madrid
Fountain beside the Temple of Debod in Madrid

Almudena Cathedral from Temple of Debod
Almudena Cathedral from Temple of Debod in Madrid

Royal Palace


Royal Palace of Madrid
Royal Palace of Madrid


Sabatini Gardens



Sabatini Gardens in Madrid
Sculpture in Sabatini Gardens beside the Royal Palace


Campo del Moro


Royal Palace of Madrid from El Campo del Moro
Royal Palace of Madrid from El Campo del Moro

El Campo del Moro in Madrid
Flowers in El Campo del Moro in Madrid

El Campo del Moro in Madrid
El Campo del Moro was really quiet when we visited it. It's a really peaceful place in Madrid

San Miguel Market



San Miguel Market in Madrid
San Miguel Market in Madrid

San Miguel Market in Madrid
Enjoying red Wine and Iberian ham in San Miguel Market in Madrid

Retiro Park


Retiro Park in Madrid
One of the quiet paths in Retiro Park in Madrid


Retiro Park in Madrid
Pond in Retiro Park beside the Crystal Palace

Retiro Park in Madrid
People enjoying a lovely afternoon in Retiro Park in Madrid

Retiro Park in Madrid
Boats in Retiro Park in Madrid


Besides Madrid I also spent some days in the fantastic city of Toledo, another day in the Monasterio del Escorial and, finally, the beautiful city of Segovia was the town we visited in our last day in Madrid.

Restaurants in Madrid


- Mercado de la Reina (Tapas) in Gran Via 12


You can see more pictures of other beautiful places in Spain clicking on the next links:

Finally, other beautiful places you can visit in Spain are:


- Catalonia

- Basque Country

- Cantabria

- Granada

- Sevilla, Córdoba, Cádiz and Costa de la Luz


Finally, other great cities I have already visited are:

miércoles, 25 de abril de 2012

SPAIN: TOLEDO


Visiting Toledo, San Lorenzo del Escorial monastery and Segovia I enjoyed a sort of time travel to the Middle Ages. Churches, synagogues, mosques, convents, walls, bridges, towers are really well preserved in Toledo and there you can visit fantastic places. Get lost in its narrow streets, squares and gardens make your visit to Toledo a wonderful experience.

Below you can see the most interesting places I visited in Toledo:

Day 1

  • Alcántara bridge
  • Alcázar
  • Cathedral of Toledo
  • Zocodover Square
  • Church of Santo Tomé (Painting: Entierro del Señor de Orgaz)
  • Night tour
  • Evening meal in La Abadía

Day 2

  • Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca
  • Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes
  • Mosque of Cristo de la Luz
  • Sol Gate
  • Church of Santiago de Arrabal
  • Bisagra Gate
  • City Walls
  • San Martín bridge
  • Cigarral Venta del Alma
  • Views from the Parador

Day 3

  • Judería (Jewish Quarter)
  • Synagogue of Tránsito
  • Church of San Salvador
  • Círculo del Arte

As you will see in the following pictures, in Toledo you can visit wonderful buildings built in Mudejar art, in Islamic art, Christian art (gothic for instance) or Jewish art. So if you are interested in art, Toledo is your city.


Day 1

Alcántara bridge and Alcázar of Toledo
Alcántara bridge and Alcázar of Toledo


Alcázar of Toledo
Alcázar of Toledo

Cathedral of Toledo
Cathedral of Toledo


Cathedral of Toledo
Detail of the main entrance of the gothic cathedral of Toledo


Church of Santo Tomé in Toledo
Mudejar bell tower of the church of Santo Tomé, where you can visit the fantastic painting "El Entierro del Señor de Orgaz", masterpiece of El Greco



Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos (El antiguo) in Toledo
Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos (El antiguo) in Toledo. Here we bought succulent artisan marzipan


Street of Toledo lit at night
Street of Toledo lit at night



Tapas in La Abadía restaurant in Toledo
Tapas in La Abadía restaurant in Toledo

Cathedral of Toledo lit at night
Coming back to our hotel, we enjoyed this view of the Cathedral of Toledo lit at night

Day 2


Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca in Toledo
Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca in Toledo


Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes in Toledo
Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes in Toledo



Mosque of Cristo de la Luz in Toledo
Mosque of Cristo de la Luz in Toledo


Puerta del Sol in Toledo
Puerta del Sol (Sol Gate) in Toledo, another exemple of Mudéjar architecture



Puerta de Bisagra in Toledo
Puerta de Bisagra (Bisagra Gate) and, on the left, mudejar church of Santiago de Arrabal


Mudéjar church of Santiago de Arrabal in Toledo
Mudéjar church of Santiago de Arrabal in Toledo



City walls of Toledo
City walls of Toledo



San Martín bridge in Toledo
San Martín bridge in Toledo

San Martín bridge in Toledo
From San Martín bridge in Toledo you can see the monastery of San Juan de los Reyes


Cigarral Venta del Alma in Toledo
Cigarral Venta del Alma in Toledo, a beautiful and peaceful place you must visit in Toledo

Cigarral Venta del Alma in Toledo
We enjoyed a delicious tea in Cigarral Venta del Alma in Toledo


 Cathedral of Toledo and Alcázar from the Parador
Cathedral of Toledo and Alcázar from the Parador


Day 3


 Sinagogue of Tránsito in Toledo
Detail inside Sinagogue of Tránsito in Toledo


Círculo del Arte in Toledo
Círculo del Arte is a nice snack bar located inside a mudéjar church



I also would like to give you some useful information:

- Where to eat in Toledo:

  • La Abadía (here I saw Iker Casillas and Sara Carbonero)
  • Alfileritos 24

- Where to have a drink in Toledo:

  • Círculo del Arte
  • Parador of Toledo
  • Cigarral La Venta del Alma

Apart from Toledo, I also visited these towns and places during the days I was in Madrid:



Finally, other beautiful places you can visit in Spain are:


- Catalonia

- Basque Country

- Cantabria

- Granada

- Sevilla, Córdoba, Cádiz and Costa de la Luz