What follows is my attempt to chronicle and recreate a few of experiences in Spain and France this summer for those interested. Focus primarily will rest on history and religion, and in particular the history that lives in the churches and castles that line the pilgrim roads to Santiago Compostella in Spain.

The Muslim conquest of the Holy Land in the Seventh and Eighth centuries caused the traditional pilgrimage to Jerusalem to become increasingly dangerous. As the Middle Ages unfolded, the journey across the Pyrenees and into Spain to the traditional burial place of St. James became the dominant pilgrimage route. The results were dramatic. The first great wave of Christian churches in the Middle Ages sprung up along the pilgrim roads - the age of Romanesque was born. Architecture, spirituality, culture and politics would all be dramatically affected by the great mass of Medieval Christians on the road to Compostella.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Granada

The city of Granada was the last city conquered by the Spanish in their eight century Reconquista. The cathedral was built over the mosque and had tremendous architectural influence throughout the churches that would be built in the Americas. In fact, it became the model for all the Cathedrals built in north and South America.

Tradition says that when the city of Granada was finally conquered a nobleman from Castilla road to the door of the Mosque and with his dagger pinned a paper to the door which read, "Ave Maria". Now over the main door to the church (above) in stone is a large plaque inscribed with "Ave Maria" to commemorate the event. In addition the facade of the church is built around a triumphal arch in memorial of the Reconquista.

Inscription over a door dedicating the church to the Catholic kings who had given their lives for the victory.








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