Elmira College Spain 2015: April 2015

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

We visited the Alcazar today, which is a fortress that was built in the 12th Century. It also housed visiting royalty, and was the first of a network of castle/fortresses built throughout Spain. This is where the Catholic Kings (Isabel & Fernando) signed the contract that united Spain. The main tower, called el torre de Juan II was used as a dungeon. We climbed the 152 steps to the top! Josh struggled with the low archways. The Alcazar was built on the Roman foundation of a much more modest fortress. This was a favorite spot of Enrique IV, king of Spain, 1454-1474, and half brother of Isabel la Catolica.

In the 19th century the aqueduct suffered a fire and lost its original furniture, wooden ceilings (gold leaf and polychrome), and all the artwork except for a painting of the Magi. In the 20th century it inspired Cinderella's Castle created by Walt Disney.

More Aqueduct

Do you even lift?

1. How many arches are there in this aqueduct?

2. In the city of Segovia, what's the aqueduct's tallest point?

3. What's the name of the main square next to the aqueduct?

4. What are the two types of arches used in the aqueduct?

5. How can you tell the difference?

Bonus: What two fast food restaurants adjoin and sit near the aqueduct?

Answers:

1. 167 2. 28.5 meters 3. Azoguejo 4. Gothic & Roman 5. The curve on the Gothic is more pointed and on the Roman it's more curved

El Acueducto de Segovia

Hiere we are at the beginning of the aqueduct as it enters the historic part of Segovia. We're sitting in front of the building that would purify the water. This aqueduct was used to carry water from the Guadarrama mountains to the city of Segovia during Roman times up until the 1800s. It is no longer used, but it could function if need be. From the mountains into Segovia the aqueduct declines at 1% grade.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Casa Museo Antonio Machado

The boardinghouse where Machado stayed in Segovia from 1919-1931. Besides writing, he taught French at the Institute of Segovia, and worked in pedagogical missions. He went to France in 1938 with other republican intellectuals, but he died in 1939 at 63 years of age. He was a great Spanish poet of the Generation of '98.

Pensión donde se quedó Machado en Segovia 1919 -1931. Además de escribir, ensenó francés en el Instituto de Segovia, y trabajó en las misiones pedagógicas. Se fue a Francia en 1938 juntó con otros intelectuales republicanos. Murió allí en 1939 con solo 63 años. Fue un gran poeta español de la Generación del 98.