Spain & Portugal 2023

》Part of the surrounding wall of the historic San Gil Barracks which was discovered during the redevelopment of the Plaza de España in central Madrid. It was moved to the surface as part of the renovated Plaza in 2021.

》Statue of Sister Juana Ines de la Cruz

1651-1695 , a self-taught scholar and poet of the Baroque school, and Hieronymite nun of New Spain Statue was dedicated in 1981 by the people of Mexico to the people of Madrid

》Church of Saint Theresa and Saint Joseph

The Church of Santa Teresa and San José is an eclectic church built between 1916 and 1928. When the convents burned down in 1931, it suffered serious damage. Finally, at the end of the Civil War, the building had to be completely restored following the fire that destroyed a large part of the church during the conflict. Today, the convent and the church belong to the order of the Barefoot Carmelites.

》Casa Gallardo (The House of Gallardo)

Projected by Federico Arias Rey, it is one of the relatively few modernista buildings preserved in Madrid. It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1997. It is located in calle de Ferraz 2, near the plaza de España.

》Monumento Cervantes

In the centre of the Plaza de España of Madrid we discover one of the most important monuments of Miguel de Cervantes of the City.  A monument full of symbolism that remind us to the most important writer of the Spanish and International Literature around the world.

The most well known literary work of Cervantes is the one that can be found at the front part of the statue “The history of the valorous and wittie Knight-Errant Don-Quixote of the Mancha ” (1606-1616) or “Don Quixote”
Therefore, at the front of the monument we find to The most well known knights in the Spanish History! Don Quixote of the Mancha and his most fellow squir! Sancho Panza!

And in the same way the novel spread around the World, The atmosphere created by the monument spreads all along the square by the olive trees…They are not typicall trees from Madrid, but they are the typical trees of the Mancha, the territory where Don Quijote celebrated its always crazy battles as errant knight and so the trees that inspired Cervantes to write his novel.

》Monumento a los Caídos en el Cuartel de la Montaña

A monument that was unveiled in 1972 is the work of Joaquin Vaquero Turcios. The image created represents a fallen defender of the mountain barracks, attacked during the bitter and bloody Spanish Civil Wall ,in an area of outstandingly beautiful architecture and peaceful park area's it's hard to believe the horrors that unfolded here and this striking image is a reminder of this sad chapter in the rich history of not just this beautiful city but of this magnificent country.

》Puerta del Sol (meaning The Sun's Gate in English)

One of the most renowned central squares in Madrid. The plaza was built in different stages. During the fifteenth century, La Puerta del Sol was originally one of the gates of the city wall and three centuries later, mid-eighteenth century, the Casa de Correos was established, today the headquarters of the Presidencia de la Comunidad.

Finally, between 1857 and 1862, the architects Lucio del Valle, Juan Rivera and José Morer gave it its definitive form. During the twentieth century, the fountain was placed in the centre of the square and part of it was pedestrianised.

The statue of the Bourbon King Carlos III It was placed at the center of the square as a gesture of Madrid’s appreciation for the improvements he commissioned for the city.Lue lisää