Monday, April 30, 2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Palacio de la Aljafería
The Aljafería Palace is a fortified palace built during the second half of the eleventh century in Zaragoza, as the residence of the Banu Hud dynasty during the era of Al-Muqtadir and reflecting the splendor attained by the kingdom of the taifa of Zaragoza at the height of its grandeur.
After the capture of Zaragoza in 1118 by Alfonso I of Aragon, the Aljaferia became the residence of the Christian kings of the Kingdom of Aragon and as such was converted into the focal point for spread of the Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon. It was used as the royal residence by Peter IV of Aragon and subsequently, on the principal building site, a renovation was carried out that converted these chambers into the palace of the Catholic Kings in 1492. In 1593, the structure experienced another renovation that converted it into a military base, first according to Renaissance designs (which today can be observed in its moat and gardens) and later as military quarters. The building suffered continuous alterations and considerable imperfections, above all with the Siege of Zaragoza during the Peninsular War until it was finally restored in the second half of the 20th century and currently it houses the Courts of Aragon.
La Seo Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Savior (or Catedral del Salvador in Spanish) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Zaragoza, Spain. The cathedral is located on the Plaza de la Seo and is commonly known as La Seo (Spanish for "see") to distinguish it from the nearby El Pilar, whose name (pillar) is a reference to an apparition of Mary in Zaragoza (also known as Saragossa). The two share co-cathedral status in metropolitan Zaragoza.
Nuestra Señora del Pilar
The Basilica-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar or Nuestra Señora del Pilar located in the city of Zaragoza, Aragon, is of great importance in Spain. The Pilar Basilica is one of two minor basilicas in the city of Zaragoza, and is co-cathedral of the city alongside the nearby La Seo Cathedral. The architecture is of baroque style, and the present building was predominantly built between 1681 and 1872.
The church is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title Our Lady of the Pillar. According to ancient local tradition, on January 2 of the year 40, the Mother of God appeared in the flesh to the apostle St. James the Greater alongside the Ebro River, while St. James was preaching the Gospel in Spain. She appeared upon a pillar, and the pillar is conserved and venerated within the present basilica.
The feast of Our Lady of the Pillar, celebrating the first apparition of Mary to Hispanic people, is on October 12. This coincides with the Dia de la Raza and the date of Columbus' discovery of the New World. Every Latin-American nation has donated national vestments for the fifteenth century statue of the Virgin, which is housed in the chapel. The statue is wooden and 39 cm. tall and rests on a column of jasper.
Numerous churches have been built upon this site through the years. First a small chapel was built to reserve the pillar. After the Reconquest of Zaragoza in 1118, a Romanesque style church was ordered to be built. This church was damaged by fire in 1434, and reconstruction began in the Mudejar-Gothic style. The present baroque edifice is a work of Francisco Herrera Hidestrosa, by commission of Don Juan de Austria.
In 1725 the Cabildo of Zaragoza decided to change the aspect of the Holy Chapel and commissioned architect Ventura Rodríguez, who transformed the building into its present dimensions of 130 meters long by 67 wide, with its eleven cupolas and four towers.
Santa Maria del Mar (Our Lady of the Sea)
Santa María del Mar is a Gothic church in Barcelona. It is located at the Ribera quartier and was built between 1329 and 1383. The architects in charge were Berenger de Montagut (designer of the building) and Ramon Despuig.
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