Thursday 15 December 2016

A delightful oasis of peace in the centre of Benalmadena

by Robert Bovington

Occasionally I yearn for some peace and solitude away from the noise and bustle of the Costa del Sol. One of the places I head for is Parque de la Paloma in Benalmadena.
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It is delightful.

There is a lake In the middle of the park. It is inhabited by swans, gulls, ducks, mallards and turtles. And, of course, fish. 
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The path around the lake makes a pleasant walk especially for the elderly – or should I say older people than me! There are many paths that criss-cross this attractive park, some with a bit of a gradient but not too steep.


Little animals roam freely. These include hens, chickens, roosters, pigeons, sparrows and rabbits. There are also ibex and ostriches but these are penned in.


There are a variety of trees, deciduous and evergreen which include eucalyptus, weeping willow, palm and cypress. There is also a cactus garden with other species as well as cactii.
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Los niños are catered for with a playground and other areas where they can be let loose safely. Some areas of the park are closed to dogs.


On my last visit in April 2016, I visited the little cafe near the south-east corner of the park for a beer. And very pleasant it was too.
 
The park is located in the centre of the town only 200 metres from the windmill roundabout on the seafront. I parked nearby without difficulty.

Robert Bovington


www.tablondeanuncios.com
more blogs by Robert Bovington…
“Photographs of Spain”
“postcards from Spain”
“you couldn’t make it up!”
“a grumpy old man in Spain”
“bits and bobs”
“Spanish Expressions”
“Spanish Art”
“Books About Spain”

Walking is thirsty work!

The fuentes of Berja
by Robert Bovington

Quite often my wife and I travel from Roquetas to the beautiful Alpujarras and often we stop in or near the attractive town of Berja for a coffee break.
However, occasionally we visit Berja because we like the town and like strolling along its quaint historic streets.
One of the noticeable features of Berja is its fuentes (fountains) –  there are more than thirty of them scattered around the town and its nearby environs! When you think that the province of Almería is the sunniest, driest part of Spain, you might wonder where the water is coming from! In the past, the Sierra de Gádor was heavily mined, mainly for lead and silver but now water is its biggest treasure. The mines were abandoned in the early nineteenth century but water, surprisingly, still appears to exist in sufficient quantities.
In villages like Berja there are numerous fuentes where water can be obtained – the meagre rainfall and the melted snow from the high sierra is efficiently stored and purified before being released as pure clean water.
So, a walk that takes in some of these fuentes is not a bad idea.
The place to start is the tourist office – the young lady there is most helpful and will provide leaflets in Spanish and English. One of the leaflets features the famous fountain routes – you don’t have to do them all in one day especially as some of them are rather off the beaten track.
Go in Spring or Autumn – it’s best to avoid going in the heat of summer – even winter can be pleasantly warm at times! Take a container to fill with water – it’s free and probably tastier than bought water!
Not far from the tourist office is the main plaza where the Town Hall and church (Iglesia de la Anunciación) are situated as well as one of the fountains  – the fuente de los 16 caños.
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Enjoy your walkl(s)!

Tuesday 13 December 2016

Málaga – the Costa del Sol’s cultural centre

by Robert Bovington
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Málaga, the second largest city in Andalucía, is surprisingly attractive given its close proximity to the Costa del Sol. In recent years, it has made some concessions to tourism but the changes made have only further enhanced the city’s reputation as a cultural tourist destination. For example, the Picasso Museum has recently been opened. Pablo Picasso was born in Málaga and the new museum has an extensive selection of his works. 
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Picasso Museum, Málaga
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Only a short walk away is the Renaissance Cathedral. It was begun in 1528 on the site of a mosque. However, the building is still incomplete, as one of the two towers remains  unfinished. To be fair most of the building – the interior, the main facade and one of the towers – were completed in 1782, a mere 254 years later! It was worth the wait for the building is quite splendid especially the Baroque façade which faces the Plaza del Obispo. Whilst the exterior is quite exuberant, the interior is rather solemn – mostly Renaissance but with some Baroque embellishments.
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Málaga Cathedral © Robert Bovington
Málaga – El Sagrario
© Robert Bovington
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Next door to the Cathedral are two more historic buildings – El Sagrario and the Palacio Episcopal. The former is a 16th century church that actually stands in the gardens of the Cathedral. The 18th century Bishop’s Palace stands in the Plaza del Obispo. Its pink and grey doorway is especially attractive.
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Málaga – Bishop’s Palace © Robert Bovington
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an alleyway in Málaga
© Robert Bovington
This area of the city has many monuments dating from the Christian era yet there are many little alleyways and tiny streets with a decidedly Moorish feel to them. There are numerous bars and cafés here, so it is a good place to obtain refreshments, which you’ll need if you intend to visit the Alcazaba and the Castillo de Gibralfaro! These monuments are but a short walk from the cathedral – along Calle Cister to the Plaza de la Aduana.
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Málaga is a big city but most of its main attractions are in close proximity.
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The Plaza de la Aduana is where the Teatro Romano is situated. Following extensive restoration work, the theatre was opened to the public in 2011. 
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Overlooking the theatre is the Alcazaba which stands near the foot of Gibralfaro Hill. From Calle Alcazabilla, a series of zigzag walkways gradually wind their way up to the fortress. The Moors built it between the 11th and 14th centuries when Málaga was part of the Kingdom of Granada. It is a delightful place to stroll. Bougainvillaea, jasmine and honeysuckle adorn its courtyards and gardens and there are views of the city and the port from the ramparts of the fort. 
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Málaga Alcazaba © Robert Bovington


Málaga Gibralfaro
© Robert Bovington
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For really spectacular views, however, a visit to the Castillo de Gibralfaro is necessary! The remains of the 14th century castle overlook the Alcazaba as well as the city that, from this height, looks rather attractive with its ribbons of greenery. 
Paseo del Parque fuente
© Robert Bovington
The Paseo del Parque, in particular, is a pleasant place to visit. A splendid way to get from the Alcazaba to the harbour is to walk the length of this verdant botanical garden. It is a quiet oasis amidst the bustle of the surrounding streets. 
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There are many other interesting places to see in Málaga – churches, museums and attractive squares like the Plaza de la Constitucíon. 
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One particularly fascinating place to visit is El Cementario Inglés. This English cemetery was the first Protestant burial place in Spain. It was founded in 1831 and among its famous visitors was Hans Christian Anderson. He visited in 1862 but didn’t stay – unlike Gerald Brenan, the English author, who did and is buried there! 
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Most English people who fly to the busy Málaga airport miss the opportunity of sampling the delights of this fascinating city. Instead, they head for Torremolinos, Fuengirola and Marbella and good luck to them! It has meant that depite its close proximity to the Costa del Sol, the city of Málaga has retained its Spanishness. Amidst the high-rise blocks of the modern town can be found fascinating old buildings, leafy parks and tiny bars where the locals gossip over a glass of fino and a tapa.

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Málaga © Robert Bovington

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more blogs by Robert Bovington… 
“Photographs of Spain”
“postcards from Spain”
“you couldn’t make it up!”
“a grumpy old man in Spain”
“bits and bobs”
“Spanish Expressions”
“Spanish Art”
“Books About Spain”

Andalucía in photographs

by Robert Bovington
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Andalucía is the southernmost region of mainland Spain. It is the land of bullfighting, flamenco and gypsies. It is the land of high sierras, charming white villages and magnificent cities.
Check out my Panoramio site for photos of this great region.

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Robert Bovington
December 2016

Ronda in photographs

by Robert Bovington

Ronda is located in one of the most dramatic locations in Europe – perched 750 metres above sea level, on an inland plateau, sliced in half by the 100-metre deep Tajo gorge.
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The town is a photographer’s dream – or a nightmare if there is insufficient film or lack of space on the digital camera’s memory card. Throughout Ronda there are delightful buildings like the ‘Palacio de Mondragón’ and the Casa del Marqués de Salvatierra’.
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Casa del Marqués de Salvatierra
© Robert Bovington
Palacio de Mondragón
© Robert Bovington


For my full article:-
http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/2012/03/ronda-article-by-robert-bovington.html
OR
http://bovingtoninspain.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/ronda-an-article-by-robert-bovington/ 

For photographs of Ronda click on the following link:-
http://www.panoramio.com/user/2391258/tags/Ronda
Robert Bovington
https://plus.google.com/118235640981670233395/about

Saturday 10 December 2016

Teruel

by Robert Bovington
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Once upon a time, in the city of Teruel, there lived a young man and a young woman who were very much in love. Diego de Marcilla and Isabel de Segura had been childhood playmates and both had belonged to wealthy and important families. 
Around the time that Diego and Isabel were eligible to marry, Diego’s family had fallen on hard times. Isabel’s father, the richest man in all Teruel, prohibited the union until the youth had found fame and fortune – a time limit of five years was agreed upon. 
Five years passed and not a word was heard of Diego de Marcilla.
On the fifth anniversary of the agreement, Isabel’s father gave her hand in marriage to an older man and, the very next day, the wedding was celebrated. Diego burst onto the scene. He triumphantly announced his return only to discover that he was too late – there had been a misunderstanding – according to Isabel’s father, the five years included the day of the agreement and not the day of departure! Being of a virtuous nature, Isabel would not betray her husband of a few hours and consequently refused the desperate Diego a last kiss. This was too much for the poor lad – for five long years he had yearned for the day that he would marry his childhood sweetheart. Now his dreams were shattered.
Heartbroken, Diego collapsed and died on the spot. At his funeral, Isabel was grief stricken and, bending over to kiss Diego’s lips, she dropped dead, falling over the body of the man she had loved.
 

Escalinata – “los amantes de Teruel”
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This story is known as “los amantes de Teruel” – the Lovers of Teruel and it has inspired a number of writers. It also inspired the citizens of Teruel who demanded that the two be buried side by side so that “what was denied them in life could be given to them in death”. 
Later, the mummified bodies of Diego and Isabel were exhumed and placed in the tombs where they now rest – in the cloisters of the Gothic church of San Pedro. They can be seen today, along with the exquisitely sculptured lids featuring the couple, both with an arm outstretched and their hands almost touching but not quite. Religious piety precluded them touching since Isabel was married to another! They are the work of sculptor Juan de Ávalos.
The “los amantes de Teruel” is just one of many interesting monuments in the city. 
Teruel is the capital of the province of the same name in the autonomous community of Aragón. Despite the fact that it is one of the least known places in Spain, it really is an attractive and historic city. “Teruel existe” was the slogan used by a campaign group a few years ago. They lobbied for greater recognition and investment in the city and the province. Connections to Teruel have improved but it still remains the only provincial capital in Spain without a direct railway link to Madrid.
Teruel certainly does exist and when I visited I enjoyed exploring the old town with its medieval buildings and, in particular, the Mudéjar architecture. 
Alfonso II of Aragón captured Teruel from the Moors in 1171 but many Muslims chose to remain in the city. This resulted in the Mudéjar style of architecture that is still visible today. 
Of special importance are the towers, which are quite splendid and UNESCO think so too – they have included them in the Mudéjar Architecture of Aragón World Heritage site. They include the Belfry-Tower of the Cathedral of Santa María, the towers of the churches of San Pedro, San Salvador and San Martín.
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 Teruel towers
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The Cathedral is quite splendid. Apart from the World Heritage featured tower, there is a richly decorated Mudéjar ceiling and a Plateresque altarpiece. Adjacent to the Cathedral is the Episcopal Palace, which houses the Diocesan Museum. Nearby is the 16th-century Palacio de la Comunidad. It was the old government building but it now houses the Provincial Museum. The current Town Hall is also located in the Plaza de la Catedral.
modernist building
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A number of tiny streets lead from the Cathedral to the main square – the Plaza del Torico, one of Teruel’s best-known monuments, is to be found here. Perched at the top of a tall column is a small sculpture of a bull and a star. It is the statue of El Torico and is the symbol of the city. Unfortunately, on my visit the square was a building site – one of a number that I stumbled into on my walk. The good news is that it was part of a programme of restoration within the city. When I peeked through the partitioning that the builders had erected I could see that the travel guide’s description of  “fine Modernist buildings lining the square”  was accurate.
There are a number of other attractive places to visit – most only a short walk from the city centre. They include a number of religious buildings like the Gothic church of St. Francis, the 12th-century church of San Miguel and the Church of La Merced, which also includes a tower in Mudéjar style. The Paseo del Óvalo is one of the main thoroughfares in the city but it is only a few minutes walk from the Tower of San Salvador.
It is worth the detour in order to view the beautiful Escalinata – a staircase that climbs the hill from the railway station to the city centre. It is quite a recent addition to the city’s fine architecture but quite splendid for all that – it was designed by José Toran in 1920. It is decorated with ceramic tiles and is in mock Mudéjar style. The Escalinata includes a beautifully carved embossed relief depicting a scene from the legend of the Lovers of Teruel. 
Another important landmark is the viaduct – the Acueducto de los Arcos that was constructed in the 16th century. Modern and Medieval Teruel are separated by a ravine so a bridge was needed to connect the two areas.
On my visit to the town, I stayed in the Hotel Reina Cristina, which was comfortable and also very convenient, being located on the Paseo del Óvala and about 50 metres from the Tower of El Salvador. Another option would have been to stay at the Parador de Teruel. It is a small Mudéjar inspired palace but the downside is that it is on the outskirts of the city.

Granada

by Robert Bovington
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Granada is a city in the autonomous region of Andalucía, situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. It is one of the great cities of Spain if not the World.
When visiting Granada it is tempting to spend all one’s time admiring the Alhambra. From afar one can admire the beauty of its red walled parapets contrasting with the snow capped Sierra Nevada whilst once inside one can absorb oneself in the sheer splendour of its fantastic palaces and its tranquil gardens. However, Granada has much more to offer the visitor.
It is a city where both Moorish and Christian history is visible in art and architecture.
Moorish Granada is exemplified by the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Alhambra, the Generalife and the Albaicín district whilst the Capilla Real and the Cathedral represent Christian Granada.
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Granada - Alhambra © Robert Bovington

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for more photographs of Granada click on the following link….
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Robert Bovington
December 2016

Málaga

Málaga, the second largest city in Andalucía, is surprisingly attractive given its close proximity to the Costa del Sol. In recent years, it has made some concessions to tourism but the changes made have only further enhanced the city’s reputation as a cultural tourist destination…
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Málaga Cathedral © Robert Bovington
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my complete article is at:-
http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/2012/03/malaga.html

my photographs of Málaga:-
http://www.panoramio.com/user/2391258/tags/Málaga

Robert Bovington
December 2016

Andalucía in photographs


by Robert Bovington
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Andalucía is the southernmost region of mainland Spain. It is the land of bullfighting, flamenco and gypsies. It is the land of high sierras, charming white villages and magnificent cities.
Check out my Panoramio site for photos of this great region.
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Robert Bovington
March 2012

Ronda in photographs

Ronda is located in one of the most dramatic locations in Europe – perched 750 metres above sea level, on an inland plateau, sliced in half by the 100-metre deep Tajo gorge.
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The town is a photographer’s dream – or a nightmare if there is insufficient film or lack of space on the digital camera’s memory card. Throughout Ronda there are delightful buildings like the ‘Palacio de Mondragón’ and the Casa del Marqués de Salvatierra’.

Casa del Marqués de Salvatierra
© Robert Bovington
Palacio de Mondragón
© Robert Bovington
. For my full article:-
http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/2012/03/ronda-article-by-robert-bovington.html
OR
http://bovingtoninspain.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/ronda-an-article-by-robert-bovington/ 

For photographs of Ronda click on the following link:-
http://www.panoramio.com/user/2391258/tags/Ronda
Robert Bovington
https://plus.google.com/118235640981670233395/about

Salamanca Cathedral

by Robert Bovington
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The New Cathedral is one of a pair, aptly named Catedral Nueva (new) and Catedral Vieja (old).  They are physically connected to each other -the new one was begun in 1513 when it was decided that the old cathedral wastoo small. The Catedral Vieja was started in the 12th century in Romanesquestyle. It was completed a century later and one of its main attractions is itshighly intricate 15th-century altar – the work of Nicolás Florentino. TheCatedral Nueva was built in late Gothic style with Renaissance and Baroquedecoration. Inside there are eighteen chapels but the Capilla Dorada is thebest, housing as it does over a hundred sculptures.
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Salamanca Cathedral © Robert Bovington
Salamanca Cathedral © Robert Bovington
Salamanca Cathedral © Robert Bovington
Salamanca Cathedral © Robert Bovington

Palencia Cathedral

Palencia Cathedral is one of the city’s monuments to its rich history. It is known as ‘La Bella Desconocida’ (The Beautiful Unknown One). Perhaps it is because of the treasures inside the cathedral that it has been given such a curious title. El Greco’s ‘St. Sebastian’ is just one of the valuable paintings to be found here.
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photo: public domain (Fmanzanal)
photo: public domain (Fmanzanal)
photo: public domain (allmennheten)
photo: public domain (Zarateman)
photo: public domain (Zarateman)
photo: public domain (Zarateman)
El Greco’s ‘St. Sebastian’ photo: public domain

 more blogs by Robert Bovington…

“Spanish Impressions”
“postcards from Spain”
“you couldn’t make it up!”
“a grumpy old man in Spain”
“bits and bobs”
“Spanish Expressions”
“Spanish Art”
“Books About Spain”

Nerja - a coastal town


by Robert Bovington

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Nerja is a coastal town in the province of Málaga. It is a popular destination for tourists mainly because of its caves but it also has several fine beaches set amidst charming coves beneath steep cliffs.

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 The Balcón de Europa is a nice place to visit. It is in the centre of the old town and is a mirador or viewpoint that provides stunning views along the coastline.
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The caves are about five million years old and were formed by rainwater seeping through the cracks and fissures in the rock, eroding the layers below to produce cavities and hollow channels. Over a long period the cavities got larger creating enormous chambers. The dripping water also formed stalactites and stalagmites.
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more photos of Nerja….
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even more photos of Nerja:

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.more blogs by Robert Bovington…
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“Spanish Impressions”
“postcards from Spain”
“you couldn’t make it up!”
“a grumpy old man in Spain”
“bits and bobs”
“Spanish Expressions”
“Spanish Art”
“Books About Spain”

Nacimiento nr Laujar de Andarax


by Robert Bovington 
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a lovely place for a picnic
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