(...)
Having strolled along the estuary around the Ribera area for a while I sighted a rather interesting building, said to have been a former house-creche (day care centre for small children of works) in which the well known architect Ricardo Bastida, who introduced some modern elements in Bilbao public building projects combined stone, brick and decorated tiles.
Right behind San Anton church San Juanes Plaza a rather peculiar square and a little further along the outstanding Atxury station, built in 1913 in what is commonly known as "Neovasco" style, which has been turned into the terminal for the Bilbao trams.
As I reached Santiago Plaza there stood today's Gothich church cathedral of Bilbao, which is said to have been built on the site of an old shrine dating from the time of the Jacobean pilgrim ages, althought the façade and tower which we can see today were built in the 19th century. The crypt is located where the original shrine stood and incorporates its walls as part of the construction, thus having two façades, one Renaissance and the other Neo-Classical.
A little further on the right the Baroque-Classicist Saint Juanes church, dating back to the 17th century.
I made my way back into the Arenal area before heading to the pension. Arriaga Theatre stood out wherever one looked at. This 1890 Neo-Baroque style building, whose name was given after Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga, known in his time as the Spanish Mozart, was clearly inspired by the Opera of Paris.
I was beginning to feel tired but still I continued walking, almost non-stop so as to take advantage of the limited amount of time I had and also the good weather, which strongly contrasted with the weather I had left behind (Lisbon had recently been under rain and strong winds).
Right behind San Anton church San Juanes Plaza a rather peculiar square and a little further along the outstanding Atxury station, built in 1913 in what is commonly known as "Neovasco" style, which has been turned into the terminal for the Bilbao trams.
As I reached Santiago Plaza there stood today's Gothich church cathedral of Bilbao, which is said to have been built on the site of an old shrine dating from the time of the Jacobean pilgrim ages, althought the façade and tower which we can see today were built in the 19th century. The crypt is located where the original shrine stood and incorporates its walls as part of the construction, thus having two façades, one Renaissance and the other Neo-Classical.
A little further on the right the Baroque-Classicist Saint Juanes church, dating back to the 17th century.
As both churches were closed I decided to come back the following day so as to see and photograph their interiors, once I had only been able to photograph their façades.
Upon reaching the heart of Casco Viejo I came across a house that is supposed to have lodged Simon Bolivar and somewhere along the same route the Liberal Society, referred to as "El Sítio", whose profusely decorated façade was worth looking at. Founded in 1875 it has already housed a Casino, having become property of the Spanish Government after the Civil War. Following a thorough reformation it was turned into the City Library and the Historical Archive.
I made my way back into the Arenal area before heading to the pension. Arriaga Theatre stood out wherever one looked at. This 1890 Neo-Baroque style building, whose name was given after Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga, known in his time as the Spanish Mozart, was clearly inspired by the Opera of Paris.
I was beginning to feel tired but still I continued walking, almost non-stop so as to take advantage of the limited amount of time I had and also the good weather, which strongly contrasted with the weather I had left behind (Lisbon had recently been under rain and strong winds).
(to be continued)
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