In 2003, we decided to take some days off, and make a reverse trip: while many Spaniards come to Portugal, running away from «farricocos»/«nazarenos» and company, we went the other way around to Andalucia. Against all forecasts, however, it was pouring cats and dogs! In May 2006, as Sevilla Fútbol Club - founded in 1905 - won the UEFA Cup, the rain was different!
"RAIN - On the road"
"PLAZA DE ESPAÑA - According to legend, Sevilla - Hispalis under the Romans and Isbiliya with the Moors - was founded by Hercules. The Plaza de España was created in 1929 for a 'Fair of the Americas', and now hosts mainly government offices. The semicircular complex is quite spectacular, with its tiles, fountains, and staircases"
"GIRALDA - The cathedral's minaret is one of the most magnificent buildings in Seville. Built as a minaret for the mosque under the Moors - it was used both for calling the faithful to prayer and as an observatory - it served as a model for the minarets at Rabat and Marrakech. It seems that the Moors wanted to destroy it before the Christian conquest of the city, but they were prevented from doing so by King Alfonso X. There is a magnificent view from the top"
"BARRIO SANTA CRUZ - This is the most picturesque part of the city - with its narrow streets with orange trees, and nice houses -, where one can sit outdoors, enjoy tapas and watch people passing. The area was formerly the Jewish quarter, and in some places the ancient houses lean so far towards each other that they almost seem to touch. Furthermore, there are the famous «patios» with iron gates!"
"ALCAZAR GARDENS - The gardens are a fresh green oasis in the middle of town. In fact, it is convenient not to forget that sometimes in Summer Sevilla reaches forty degrees centigrade and more..."
"ALCAZAR - Although it looks like a Moorish palace - it is one of the best surviving examples of Mudejar architecture - it must be noted that most of it was built for King Pedro of Castile and his mistress Maria de Padilla"
"TRIO - Photo taken while there was no rain..."
"PALACE BATHS"
"FARRICOCO/NAZARENO"
"SAN FRANCISCO SQUARE - Prepared for the Easter processions, which had to be cancelled at least in two days of the week, due to the inclement weather..."
"CATHEDRAL - On the site of a great mosque in the late 12th century, the Cathedral is now said, after new calculations, based on cubic measurements, have been made, to be the largest church in the world, ahead of Saint Peter's in Rome, and Saint Paul's in London. People always forget to mention the Basilique de Notre Dame de la Paix in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire, built by the former president Felix Houphouet Boigny... Anyhow, in Sevilla, the Cathedral covers an area of 11,520 square metres, and its central nave rises up to 42 metres"
"PASEO DEL GUADALQUIVIR - Nice buildings by the river"
"GUADALQUIVIR is the third longest river in Spain, after the Tagus and Ebro, and has its name from the Arabic al-wādĩ al-kabir (الوادي الكبير), 'the big river'. It runs for 657 kilometers from Vélez-Blanco, through Córdoba and Seville, borders Doñana National Park reserve, and ends in the Gulf of Cadiz, being the only navigable river in Spain"
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2 comments:
I hope your stage at spain were funny. Nice to receive nice visitors like you.
A little mistake at your comments: you put to one photo the title of "farricoco". This is a Mistake: farricoco is a word from Portugal, but nobody in Spain knows its mean. Farricocos may be another thing. The correct word in Spanish is "Nazareno".
Nice to meet you.
Sorry my horrible English expression
Hi, Thanks for the comment and for the information. You probably noticed that I used the word «farricoco» between inverted commas to mean that I was not using an English word; and as I was talking of a «reverse» trip, I used a word from my Portuguese mother language. Anyhow «Nazareno» has been added to the post to help better understanding of what it means.
Muchas Gracias!
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