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The illustrated Talk looks at the history, character, tradition and buildings of these cities.
In
1561 when Philip II moved his Court from Toledo to Madrid, it was no more than a
little village with excellent hunting grounds and a royal lodge. Madrid has come
a long way from those early days, and today we are more likely to watch the
world go by over some tapas and wine in the splendid Plaza Mayor.
Madrid has much to offer, its old historical quarter with its overhanging wrought iron balconies, art, theatres, music, museums, good restaurants and bars in a great atmosphere, the lovely Park of El Retiro with its boating lake, the Sunday Flea Market for shopping. In this City you do not see skycrapers amongst 18th century buildings - The Madrileños, although proud of their modern status in Europe, decided that “their” City would have no modern buildings in the centre.
Toledo
and Segovia are real gems. Both cities are medieval, perched high on rock
and well preserved, but at the same time living cities. It is very easy to
wander along winding and narrow lanes and come across a hidden local bar, enter
it and discover it has a fantastic patio restaurant, where one can enjoy a good
cheap meal surrounded by plants and character.
The impressive Roman aqueduct in Segovia takes the breath away, with two rows of arches, almost 30 metres high and 700 metres long, in use until the 1960s. Walk the winding lanes and you will come across the fairy-tale Alcázar, castle-style, with its array of battlements and turrets built in the 12th century.
Aranjuez
was converted in the 18th century by the Bourbon monarchs into their Spring
retreat, away from the heat of Madrid. Here they built a grand palace with many
fountains. Aranjuez is still today the retreat of the present Prince of
Asturias, the heir to the Spanish throne. Concerts are often given here in the
summer and The Concierto of Aranjuez by Joaquin Rodrigo often features amongst
the pieces played.