Huelva - the city

by Robert Bovington

Huelva is the most westerly of the Andalusian capitals. It is not as famous as other cities in Andalucía but, nevertheless, it has a long history and some splendid monuments to its rich heritage. 

Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Moors are just some of the peoples who have populated this historic town. Then in 1257, Alfonso X the Wise of Castile recaptured Huelva for the Christians. However, the most significant historical event for the people of Huelva was the discovery of America. It was from this area of Spain that Christopher Columbus undertook the first of his voyages to the New World in 1492. 

Huelva - Parque de las Palmeras - public domain

The Avenida Andalucía is the main artery of Huelva situated in the modern part of the city. It is a pleasant place to stroll with its parks and gardens. The main green space in the city, though, is El Conquero, an area of green hills with delightful views. Nearby is Parque Moret another attractive green area with fruit trees and water features. On the northernmost edge of El Conquero is the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Cinta. This 15th century church has been declared a site of Cultural Interest. It was here that Columbus allegedly prayed after returning from his first trip to the Americas.

Catedral de la Merced © Robert Bovington

There are many other religious buildings in Huelva. One of the most important is the Cathedral of La Merced, which began life as a church - the Convent of La Merced was constructed in 1605. It was converted to a cathedral in 1953. It also has been declared a site of Cultural Interest.

Just south of the cathedral is the historic part of the city, an area of narrow pedestrian streets located on both sides of Avenida Martin Alonso Pinzón. There are many beautiful buildings here including the neoclassical Town Hall and the Convento de las Agustinas de Santa María de Gracia. The latter is a bit of a mouthful but is a delightful convent with a Mudéjar courtyard.

Ayuntamiento Huelva - public domain

Not only did Carthaginians, Romans and Moors populate this city but also the British! Huelva has had a long mining tradition and, in the 19th century, British mining companies established themselves in the city. In the Barrio Reina Victoria area of the city there are some grand old English style houses - worth a visit for any of you Brits who are homesick! 

 

English-style houses in Huelva - public domain

Huelva is the fourth largest port in Spain. Near the port is the Columbus Monument, which was built in 1929 by the North American Columbus Foundation.




more blogs by Robert Bovington...

"Photographs of Spain"	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
"postcards from Spain"	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
"you couldn't make it up!"	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
"a grumpy old man in Spain"	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
"bits and bobs"	http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Expressions"	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Art"	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
"Books About Spain"	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

www.tablondeanuncios.com

Día de la Hispanidad

by Robert Bovington

Today is another Bank Holiday in Spain - Día de la Hispanidad or Columbus Day.

Why?

Firstly, Columbus was not Spanish - he was an Italian born in Genoa.

Secondly, he is credited with discovering America so we can blame him for the proliferation of fast food outlets like McDonalds.

Thirdly, most of the time he did not know where he was - he thought he was in the Orient when, in fact, he was in Central America.

Christoper Columbus arrives in America -  L. Prang & Co., Boston

Seriously, though, Christopher Columbus was a famous explorer who, convinced that the World was round when most thought it was flat, persuaded Ferdinand and Isabella to sponsor him on his voyages to the New World. Of course, he did not know it was the New World at the time - he thought that travelling in a westerly direction he would arrive in India. He did not bargain for the small matter that the continental masses of the Americas were in the way!

He set sail on his first voyage on 3 August 1492 in the Santa María. On 12 October he reached San Salvador island in the Bahamas - hence the celebration date. On further trips he discovered Dominica, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Trinidad and the east coast of Central America including Honduras and Panama.

Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451.

He spent several years as a mariner in the Portuguese marine. However, he yearned for more status and wished to accumulate riches for his family. He also believed that China and India could be reached by sailing in a westerly direction. Columbus sought sponsorship for his aims and, after a number of rejections, he finally obtained royal support from Spain - King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella agreed to bankroll his first voyage in January 1492.

He made four voyages and we know now that he did not reach India but, instead, discovered America - or part of it! It is widely believed that he was the first European to sail across the Atlantic Ocean and to set foot  on the American continent.

He discovered most of the islands of the Caribbean as well as countries in Central America including Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Venezuela. He established a base in Hispaniola - an island now divided into Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Christopher Columbus died in 1506 at Valladolid but his bones were taken to Hispaniola - to the Cathedral of Santo Domingo that is now in the Dominican Republic.



more blogs by Robert Bovington...

"Photographs of Spain"	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
"postcards from Spain"	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
"you couldn't make it up!"	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
"a grumpy old man in Spain"	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
"bits and bobs"	http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Expressions"	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Art"	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
"Books About Spain"	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

Día de la Hispanidad

Today is another Bank Holiday in Spain - Día de la Hispanidad or Columbus Day.

Why?

Firstly, Columbus was not Spanish - he was an Italian born in Genoa.

Secondly, he is credited with discovering America so we can blame him for the proliferation of fast food outlets like McDonalds.

Thirdly, most of the time he did not know where he was - he thought he was in the Orient when, in fact, he was in Central America.

Christoper Columbus arrives in America -  L. Prang & Co., Boston

Seriously, though, Christopher Columbus was a famous explorer who, convinced that the World was round when most thought it was flat, persuaded Ferdinand and Isabella to sponsor him on his voyages to the New World. Of course, he did not know it was the New World at the time - he thought that travelling in a westerly direction he would arrive in India. He did not bargain for the small matter that the continental masses of the Americas were in the way!

He set sail on his first voyage on 3 August 1492 in the Santa María. On 12 October he reached San Salvador island in the Bahamas - hence the celebration date. On further trips he discovered Dominica, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Trinidad and the east coast of Central America including Honduras and Panama.


Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451.

He spent several years as a mariner in the Portuguese marine. However, he yearned for more status and wished to accumulate riches for his family. He also believed that China and India could be reached by sailing in a westerly direction. Columbus sought sponsorship for his aims and, after a number of rejections, he finally obtained royal support from Spain - King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella agreed to bankroll his first voyage in January 1492.

He made four voyages and we know now that he did not reach India but, instead, discovered America - or part of it! It is widely believed that he was the first European to sail across the Atlantic Ocean and to set foot  on the American continent.

He discovered most of the islands of the Caribbean as well as countries in Central America including Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Venezuela. He established a base in Hispaniola - an island now divided into Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Christopher Columbus died in 1506 at Valladolid but his bones were taken to Hispaniola - to the Cathedral of Santo Domingo that is now in the Dominican Republic.

more blogs by Robert Bovington...

"Photographs of Spain"	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
"postcards from Spain"	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
"you couldn't make it up!"	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
"a grumpy old man in Spain"	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
"bits and bobs"	http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Expressions"	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Art"	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
"Books About Spain"	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

University of Salamanca

Salamanca's University was one of the greatest centres of learning in medieval times and Miguel de Cervantes and Hernán Cortés are just two of many famous Spaniards who studied there. Christopher Columbus lectured there. It is a pretty splendid building too, especially the façade facing the Plaza Patio de Escuelas Menores.

University viewed from Plaza Patio de Escuelas Menores

Robert Bovington

November 2011

Día del Hispanidad

October 12 is another Bank Holiday in Spain - Día del Hispanidad or Columbus Day.

Why?

Firstly, Columbus was not Spanish - he was an Italian born in Genoa. 

Secondly, he is credited with discovering America so we can blame him for the proliferation of fast food outlets like McDonalds. Thirdly, most of the time he did not know where he was - he thought he was in the Orient when, in fact, he was in Central America.

Christoper Columbus arrives in America - L. Prang & Co., Boston

Seriously, though, Christopher Columbus was a famous explorer who, convinced that the World was round when most thought it was flat, persuaded Ferdinand and Isabella to sponsor him on his voyages to the New World. Of course, he did not know it was the New World at the time - he thought that travelling in a westerly direction he would arrive in India. He did not bargain for the small matter that the continental masses of the Americas were in the way!

He set sail on his first voyage on 3 August 1492 in the Santa María. On 12 October he reached San Salvador island in the Bahamas - hence the celebration date. On further trips he discovered Dominica, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Trinidad and the east coast of Central America including Honduras and Panama.

Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451.

He spent several years as a mariner in the Portuguese marine. However, he yearned for more status and wished to accumulate riches for his family. He also believed that China and India could be reached by sailing in a westerly direction. Columbus sought sponsorship for his aims and, after a number of rejections, he finally obtained royal support from Spain - King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella agreed to bankroll his first voyage in January 1492.

He made four voyages and we know now that he did not reach India but, instead, discovered America - or part of it! It is widely believed that he was the first European to sail across the Atlantic Ocean and to set foot on the American continent.

He discovered most of the islands of the Caribbean as well as countries in Central America including Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Venezuela. He established a base in Hispaniola - an island now divided into Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Christopher Columbus died in 1506 at Valladolid but his bones were taken to Hispaniola - to the Cathedral of Santo Domingo that is now in the Dominican Republic.

Robert Bovington

https://plus.google.com/118235640981670233395/posts

Día del Hispanidad

Today is another Bank Holiday in Spain - Día del Hispanidad or Columbus Day.

Why?

Firstly, Columbus was not Spanish - he was an Italian born in Genoa.

Secondly, he is credited with discovering America so we can blame him

for the proliferation of fast food outlets like McDonalds.

Thirdly, most of the time he did not know where he was - he thought he was in the Orient when, in fact, he was in Central America.

Seriously, though, Christopher Columbus was a famous explorer who,

convinced that the World was round when most thought it was flat,

persuaded Ferdinand and Isabella to sponsor him on his voyages to the

New World. Of course, he did not know it was the New World at the time - he thought that travelling in a westerly direction he would arrive in

India. He did not bargain for the small matter that the continental

masses of the Americas were in the way!

He set sail on his first voyage on 3 August 1492 in the Santa María. On

12 October he reached San Salvador island in the Bahamas - hence the

celebration date. On further trips he discovered Dominica, Puerto Rico,

Jamaica, Trinidad and the east coast of Central America including

Honduras and Panama.

Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451.

He spent several years as a mariner in the Portuguese marine. However, he yearned for more status and wished to accumulate riches for his

family. He also believed that China and India could be reached by sailing in a westerly direction. Columbus sought sponsorship for his aims and,

after a number of rejections, he finally obtained royal support from

Spain - King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella agreed to bankroll his first

voyage in January 1492.

He made four voyages and we know now that he did not reach India but, instead, discovered America - or part of it! It is widely believed that he was the first European to sail across the Atlantic Ocean and to set foot

on the American continent.

He discovered most of the islands of the Caribbean as well as countries

in Central America including Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and

Venezuela. He established a base in Hispaniola - an island now divided

into Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Christopher Columbus died in 1506 at Valladolid but his bones were taken to Hispaniola - to the Cathedral of Santo Domingo that is now in the

Dominican Republic.