Category: Europe

Enclosures of Talavera de la Reina, Toledo, Spain

rose Leave a comment

The walls and the towers ‘albarranas’ of Talavera de la Reina is a defense system that protected the town in the province of Toledo, Spain, and counted on three walled enclosures, the roads were tangential to the Arab fortress but nowadays, there is only a large part of the first enclosure, the oldest, and some remains of the second. “La Villa” (first enclosure) was built in the IX-X centuries by Arabians possibly following the path of a Roman or Visigoth wall. Its main material are stone blocks, there are a lot of reused Roman remains there, even printed stones of that time; and rough stones. We also find semi-circular and square towers; these being the oldest towers and other flanking the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Unfortunately, the doors do not exist except for the remains of one of the semi-circular towers of the Door of Mérida. There still has a shield and a Virgin who presided the Door of  St-Peter, but they were put in the Basilica of Prado. The second walls (XII) protected the Major cities or New ones and the third (XIII) surrounded the old towns. The second enclosure still retained some of the early ones alongside the citadel, and the door of Seville (XVI); the Powder Tower, a part of the door Zamora and a tower in San Miguel Square. The third will keep several coats of arms of the Door of Cuarto and some traces of the foundation. This kind of construction attached to the first fortifications meant that Talavera was considered one of the safest cities for centuries.

Tips

The walls and towers are on free access. It is a walk that can be done without a guide as there are indicators and panels with photos and explanations.
Talavera de la Reina has a tourist office where you can request more information.

Invalid Displayed Gallery

Neuschwanstein Castle, Allgäu, Germany

rose Leave a comment

Neuschwanstein Castle is located on a high rocky outcrop 200 meters near Füssen, in the Allgäu, Germany. Louis II of Bavaria order to build it in the 19th century, at the site of two ancient castles. He asked Richard Wagner, his friend, to come to live with him. In 1884, Louis II stablished in the Palace but died two years later. After his mysterious death, the castle was opened to the public, although it was not yet finished. The initial project was more ambitious, but the Bavarian State decided not to pursue the work after the death of the King. It was built largely in the late Romanesque style from the beginning of the 13th century. Noted in the construction of the building as well as in its ornamentation: portals arches, arcades of windows and towers, the position of columns and pinnacles. The housing of the king rooms and rooms of pageantry of the third and fourth floors were more or less completed at his death. The rooms on the second floor are always bare brick and are not visited. The castle is an example of eclectic architecture of the romantic era. Walt Disney is inspired by this castle to create the castle at the first Disneyland opened in California in 1955, becoming also the logo of Walt Disney Studios and its subsidiaries. It receives over one million three hundred thousand visitors per year.

Tips

Before going to the Castle, you will need to get the tickets in Hohenschwangau castle below. The ticket you will make a guided tour (only way to be able to visit it) has the right time you must respect, in case of delay, you may not participate.

If you like taking pictures, you can just do it outside the Castle, even for video-films.

Big bags, luggage, strollers-children, are not allowed in the Castle.You should leave your belongings in a small space but nobody assumes responsibility for these objects.

Children and young people under the age of 18, do not pay.

If you like castles, there are annual or multi-year tickets that will allow you to visit more than 40 places of Bavaria.

If you wish, you can see a film about the life of the King at the end of your visit.

Invalid Displayed Gallery

Gallarate, Varese, Lombardy, Italy

rose Leave a comment

Gallarate is a town located in the province of Varese, in the Lombardy region, in the Northwest of Italy. The territory belongs to the Lombard Park of Ticino, it is essentially a plain territory, with in limits, the morainic hills of Ronchi and Crenna. The city is crossed by the Arno River. Increasing urbanization tends to form a unified urban nucleus comprising other neighbouring urban centres of the High Milanese to Legnano. Founded by the Gauls and the Romans conquered later, Gallarate was mentioned as an important vicus (village) in a document dated from the time of the conquest by the Romans which was then called Cisalpine Gaul. At the end of the first half of the 19th century the modern so-called industry has begun to spread in numerous regions of Italy. In a few decades, Gallarate confirms a long-standing vocation and became an industrial city which is strongly involved in the economic development of the Lombardy. The huge industrial complexes of the past disappeared but their high chimneys. can still be seen. These complexes have been transformed into modern shopping centres, craft centers and shops. Very near from the Milan-Malpensa airport, the city has taken advantage of its position between Varese and Milan, turning into a tertiary and commercial center more important. Many air transport companies are installed (Air Europe, Air Italy, Blue Panorama, etc) even as multinational companies (Louis Vuiton, Yamamay, etc.). Expo 2015 in Milan, will be installed next to FieraMilanoCity, well connected to Gallarate. To see: the Romanesque church Saint-Pierre (XI – XIII century), the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, the baroque Church of Sant’Antonio Abate, the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Campagna, the historical pharmacy Daho, the Crocetta (emblematic cross of devotion of the municipality erected in 1694 by Cesare Visconti in honour of the Virgin of the Pillar of Zaragoza), the former convent of St. Francis among others.

Tips

Due to its location, you’ll be comfortable to move in public transport and by car. The railway station is connected to all the most important cities in the region, very close to Milan and Varese, with service of train or bus to the airport which is located just a few minutes from the city.
The local cuisine has dishes that you should try at least once in your life, the cassole, the risotto, the polenta and the bruschetta are the best known dishes. But the city stands out for its amaretti, a kind of macaroon, elongated, very different from those, dry and round known in several countries, that have been registered in the list of traditional agri-food products of Lombardy. The most famous are those from the Bianchi pastry . So, go ahead on the spot drink a very good coffee and enjoy this delight.