Patricia in El Parador de Zamora...

Dedicated to Patricia.

We are saved here...the Guard is taking care of the Palace...;-)

From Parador

From Parador

The Hall is cosy...don't you think?

From Parador

From Parador

Come with me, Patricia... I want to show you your room...

From Parador

I think you will stay in the room 122...;-)

From Parador

Tomorrow morning...

From Parador

shall we meet in the terrace?

From Parador

We can enjoy the swimming pool ;-)

From Parador

Sleep well!!!

From Parador

The angels will care for you ;-)

From Parador

Zaragoza, Spain

Zaragoza, Spain

We arrived there in the evening, coming from Segovia...

Zaragoza, situated on the river Ebro, is the capital of Aragon, an autonomous Spanish community.

We had our dinner in front of the Basilica-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar, praised as Mother of the Hispanic Peoples by Pope John Paul II.

From Zaragoza

This Cathedral is reputed to be the first church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

According to the local tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared miraculously, in the first century, standing on a pillar, to Saint James the Great.

Today, 12 October, Zaragoza celebrates "Las Fiestas del Pilar".

Also today, Spain celebrates El Día de la Hispanidad (Columbus Day, literally Hispanic Day), since it's the day of the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus in 1492.

Here, two photos of the Cathedral surroundings...

From Zaragoza

From Zaragoza

I made this video on the following day, after visiting the Cathedral....



I hope you have enjoyed travel with me ;-) This is the last entry about my Summer vacation ;-) Stay well!! ;-)

Paco de Lucia, Entre Dos Aguas (1976)

Avila, Spain

Avila, Spain

We stopped there to have dinner on our way to Segovia...

From Ávila

This city is notable for its complete medieval city walls...

From Ávila

From Ávila

Below, the street where we had dinner...

From Ávila

A special moment when we arrived in Segovia...



Next stop: Zaragoza! See you there!

Segovia, Spain

This post is dedicated to Aledys and Anita ;-)

Segovia, Spain

We arrived in the evening to Segovia, in Spain, after driving about 7 hours, coming from Lisbon.

Look how exquisite is Segovia's Cathedral... ;-)

From Segóvia

This late Gothic style Cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is located in the main square of the city, La Plaza Mayor.
This Cathedral is known as "La Dama das Catedrais" or " The Lady of the Cathedrals" because of its magnificence.

From Segóvia

Magnificent is also Segovia's Aqueduct....

From Segóvia

Symbol of Segovia, this Roman Aqueduct is one of the most significant and best-preserved ancient monuments on the Iberian Peninsula.

From Segóvia

The city is beautiful with its streets and houses from the Middle Ages...

From Segóvia

From Segóvia

In the following day , we went to the Alcazar, one of the favorite residences of the monarchs of the Kingdom of Castile and also a key fortress in the defense of the country in the Middle Ages.

From Segóvia

The sharp slate spires were added in the major renovation of the Alcazar conducted by King Philip II after his marriage to Anna of Austria in 1570.

In 1474, the Alcazar played a major role in the rise of Queen Isabella I of Castile.

From Segóvia

Let's see some rooms of the Castle...

The Throne Room...

From Segóvia

La Sala dos Reys (King's Hall)

From Segóvia

and La Capilla (The Chapel)...

From Segóvia

From Segóvia

Wonderful Castle, isn't it? ;-)

Segovia is also known for its delicious gastronomy...;-)

When in Segovia, it's a must to eat....

Cochinillo de Segovia ...Very good!!

From Segóvia

and...

Tarta de Ponche Segoviano....so, so delicious!!!

From Segóvia

What a beautiful day we had in Segovia! I know I will treasure it forever!

:-)

From Segóvia

Zamora and the 867 years of Portugal

Zamora, Spain...

The door is opened to visit the beautiful city of Zamora...

From Zamora

This city is a "Museum of Romanesque Art" with its 24 characteristic Romanesque style churches of the 12th and 13th centuries....

From Zamora

From Zamora

Zamora is the city with the most Romanesque churches in all of Europe...

So, let's enjoy Zamora...

From Zamora

Walking or taking a coche...

From Zamora

We must stop in the Cathedral, one of the finest examples of Spanish Romanesque architecture, built between 1151 and 1174.

From Zamora

From Zamora

From Zamora

It was in this Cathedral, 867 years ago, at 5th of October 1143, King Alfonso VII of León and Castille recognized the Kingdom of Portugal in the presence of King Afonso I of Portugal, witnessed by the papal representative, Cardinal Guido de Vico.
Portugal became an independent Kingdom and the oldest nation in Europe by the Treaty of Zamora!
Congratulations, Portugal! Parabens, Portugal!!

And now, I must leave you... Enjoy the Cathedral!
Don't forget to go to the museum to see its fine Flemish tapestries of the 15th-17th centuries!!!

From Zamora

See you soon, in Avila and Segovia! ;-)

El Parador de Zamora, Spain

15th August 2010

I always wanted to visit Zamora, a Spanish city near the Portuguese frontier with Miranda do Douro.
We arrived in Zamora at dinner time, after a 9 hours travel. We were coming from Poitiers, France...
We stayed at Parador de Zamora, situated in a Renaissance Palace.

From Parador

From Parador

From Parador

We asked for the special menu of traditional Zamorana food... ;-)

Creme de Bacalao

From Parador

Sopa de Setas

From Parador

Bacalao a la Zamorana

From Parador

Arroz a la Zamorana

From Parador

In the next entry, I will publish the photos I took in this city, where in the 5th October 1143, the treaty that recognized the Portuguese independence from the Kingdom of León and Castile was signed.
Portugal, the oldest European nation, will be 867 years next Tuesday.