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.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Toledo

One of our first stops was the medieval walled city of Toledo. This city was important to Ferdinand and Isabel in the reconquest of Spain in the 15th Century. Small shops, cobblestone streets and beautiful churches fill Toledo. The Cathedral is an important structure and is in excellent condition. It was begun in the thirteenth century and finished under Isabel and Ferdinand and modeled after the French cathedrals. While primarily Gothic, it beautifully incorporates many Renaissance and Baroque elements fluidly. The church is in remarkable shape, has beautiful proportions and is very light for its size.

The three portals above with respective sculptures of death, judgement and paradise

A view from the choir

One of the most remarkable aspects of the cathedral and reputed to be the finest example of Spanish Baroque in existence, El Transparente is a sculpture on the back of the choir with angels above appearing to burst through the ceiling revealing the Beatific Vision (pictured below)

A view of the abulatory

The reredo (or altarpiece) is one of the biggest in the world
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3 comments:

  1. UnknownJuly 31, 2009 at 8:55 AM

    John, Oly, and Isabel,
    Wonderful job on the blog! It's beautiful. I hope your trip has been amazing so far. We look forward to reading and viewing more. We mis you!
    Love, Viv and Kev

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJuly 31, 2009 at 9:43 AM

    Love the photos! Esp the one of Toledo -- you should turn that into a postcard! Looking forward to seeing you all in a few weeks! :) Jenna

    ReplyDelete
  3. G PeterJuly 31, 2009 at 11:42 AM

    Jon and Oli, thanks for doing this! Well done! And thanks for the prayers said along your pilgrim road.

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