Spain - Ron Hurt's Photos

The Royal Alcazars of Seville, a World Heritage Site, is Europe's oldest palace still in use. The second story is reserved for Spain's royal family. In the 11th century, the Muslim rulers of Seville build a residential fortress here. Protected by a wall, the Alcazar site is made up of diverse palaces and gardens designed during different historical periods. Spain reclaimed Seville in the 13th century. Since then, many changes have been to the structure and the grounds and today the Alcazar combines Muslim, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Romantic art. It is the best example of a mix of Islamic and Christian architecture.

Spain

In 2015, we had the good fotune to tour Spain with two Austin couples who had lived in Spain and were our hosts and guides. Frank and Sharon Foerster lived in Seville for four years while Bill and Pat Jobe had been there for a year during that time. We spent time in Seville, meeting their Spanish friends and revisiting favorite places. Later, we left Seville with the Jobes to explore other places in the country. The fact that both couples spoke Spanish made our three weeks in Spain even more meaningful.

While in Seville we stayed with the Foersters in an apartment they had rented for the summer. We stayed there for a few days with the Jobes and Peter and Toby Simon while we got to know the city.

The Torre del Oro is the tower of gold in Seville. Built by the Moors it was to help control shipping on the Guadalquivir River. Later, when the Spanish were bringing gold back from the New World, they would unload their cargo here.

Skulling on the Guadalquivir River as seen from the Triana Bridge.

Luis LaPlaza, a longtime friend of the Foersters, was often our guide in finding excellent cuisine.

Another friend of both couples was Nuria Fernandez, who entertained us one evening in a jazz bar.

This is how the bartender kept the tab for Frank's birthday.

The Inquisition Alley is just outside the Triana market. It may have been one of the last thing a person judged a heretic may have seen before torture and death by fire.

We climbed to the top of the Metropol Parasol, as it was originally named. The locals now call it Las Setas (The Mushrooms). It is a wooden structure that is 150 feet by 70 meters and 26 meters tall. It's supposed to be the largest wooden structure in the world. From the top you have a nice view of Seville as it spreads out in front of you.

The Plaza de toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballeria de Sevilla. My first and last bullfight.

These riders lead the processions of the participants.

The picadors await their turn.

And then the matador.

The bull is vanquished and the matador takes a bow.

Welcome to Madrid. Bill had found a small hotel in a great location for walking the city.

Bill and Pat planning our first day in Madrid.

We enjoyed breakfast several times in this cafe around the corner from our hotel. Whole bone-in ham hanging up, or Jamon con Hueso.

Window shopping in Madrid.

We spent several days in picturesque Ronda, one of Spain's White Villages. The White Towns of Andalusia, or Pueblos Blancos, are a series of whitewashed towns and large villages in southern Spain. Hemingway use to come here for the bullfights.

A deep gorge at Ronda divides the two sections of the town.

And this massive bridge keeps the two sides connected.

After Ronda, we spent one night in Cordoba to see the famous Mezquita-Cathedral. This is the tall bell tower of the cathedral portion.

The Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral is Cordoba’s most famous sight. It was originally built as a Mosque in the 700s when Cordoba and many towns, in what is now southern Spain’s Andalusia region, were under Islamic control.

After hundreds of years as an Arab capital, the Christians seized control of Cordoba. As a result, the Mosque was Christianized in the Middle Ages, and eventually, converted into a Cathedral. Today, the Mezquita is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a cornerstone of Cordoba history.

Although the Mezquita is now a Christian place of worship, most of the Islamic architecture remains.

The Spanish Christians added this beautiful altar to the original mosque.

The Moors used color and design rather than the more elaborate Christian decor.

Cordoba doorway.

Cordoba. Nice window dressing.

Next stop was Barcelona. Spanish cities are good places to walk. I especially like the narrow streets and interesting sights in this city.

This walkway reminded me of the Bridge of Sighs in Venice.

The entrance to the Santa Maria del Mar, also known as the Cathedral of the Sea. It is a gothic church that was built in the 14th century. However, unlike most of the churches built during this time, it was built by the people, many of them sailors, who contributed time and money during its construction.

This was my first view of the Santa Maria del Mar. I wanted to see this church after reading "Cathedral of the Sea," a book of fiction by Ildefonso Falcones about the building of the church.

The width of the church interior is unique. Its width is almost equal to its height. Lack of imagery in the church also sets it apart from most churches built during 14th century.

The most famous church in Barcelona is the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, know more simply as the Sagrada Familia, designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi.

A portion of the ceiling of the Sagrada Familia (Holy Family). Once inside the church you are almost overwhelmed with the colors, textures and images.

La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona.

Gaudi's artistry and imagination had no boundaries as shown by this representation of Jesus.

The exterior of the church is also decorated with Gaudi's work.

This young girl was interested in some of the smaller details.

This is what she was photographing. You have to look closely or you'll miss something.

More of Gaudi's Barcelona work is shown across town at Park Guell.

Park Guell. You could fill a photo book with Gaudi's use of form and color.

Guell Park, Barcelona. Gaudi's multicolored mosaic salamander is known as el drac, the dragon.

Park Guell, Barcelona.

From Barcelona, we take the train to Santiago de Compostela in far northwest corner of Spain.

The Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is one of the most important religious structures in Spain because it is the end of the 490 miles that make up the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

When pilgrims see this marker in front of the cathedral, they know their journey is over.

The plaque on the wall commemorates a military company composed of students from the University of Santiago de Compostela. They fought against the Napoleon's army in the Spanish War of Independence, 1808 to 1814.