Hi all 😊
With this post I’m joining in at the Wednesday Walk challenge and Make me Smile challenge. That are hosted by @tattoodjay and @elizacheng every week on Wednesday. Have a look: Here in the Wednesday Walk Community!
Today I want to share with you my walk through the City of Medina-Sidonia in the Cádiz province, Spain.
I walked it 25 April 2021, not a lot of people or tourists were there (because of the pandemic) the weather was moody and dark clouds went over, I didn’t get any rain luckily.
As you may know from my other posts, I like moody photographs. They give this “something extra”… I think it’s special to have no bright blue skies and sunny photographs, as southern Spain is known for 😉 Photos are taken with my iPhone.
The little history below, about this city can be found in This source.
People think it is one of the oldest cities in Europe.
”This city was most likely ancient Asido, an Iberian settlement which may have been founded by the Phoenicians, hence the later name Sidonia reflecting its foundation by Sidon.
The city’s name comes from Medina (Arabic for city) and Sidonia (of Sidon), meaning "City of Sidon".
The Provincial Tourism board of Cádiz has This following information for you about the city of Medina-Sedonia.
” Founded by the Phoenicians, it became an important Roman colony and was also capital of the Muslim district of Sidonia. In the mid-15th Century it became part of the domain of the Dukes of Medina Sidonia.
The city was Declared a Historical Site and was awarded the Prize for the Beautification of Andalusian Towns. The area boasts numerous artistic pieces attesting to its rich past.
The Santos Mártires hermitage is the oldest example of Visigoth art in Andalusia. Medieval remnants include the ruins of the Castle, erected on the old Muslim fortress, and Torrestrella Castle (both dating from the 12th-14th Centuries).
Noteworthy medieval arches dating from the period of Muslim occupation and before the conquest include the following arches: Arco de la Pastora (10th Century), Arco del Sol (10th-13th Century see photo below) and Arco de Belén (12th-15th Century).
The city boasts countless examples of religious architecture. The Santa María la Mayor Coronada parish church is a magnificent example of Gothic and Plateresque architecture.
Other churches worth visiting are the Victoria, San Juan de Dios and Santiago”.
Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor Coronada
Let’s walk through the city now.
We start with “La Muralla de La Fuente Salada”, Arco de La Pastora and the towers Gate.
The construction of the gate was to lead the cattle trough into the city.
The section of this wall named after Arco de la Pastora and Fuente Salada is the longest and best preserved from the city walls of Medina Sidonia. It consists of a tower-gate, the andalusí Arco de la Pastora, and two flanking towers. As can be read on the signs.
Here a view from the other side of the cities towers gate.
After going through the gate we see steep little streets in all directions.
Sometimes doors are open and you can have a glimpse of the courtyards hidden behind the houses façades.
View up towards the Santa María la Mayor Coronada parish church.
Little streets down.
And lots of steps down or up. I must tell you, you need to be fit to walk through all these streets to see all the sights, especially in hot summer months 😉☀️
We arrive at the “Plaza Iglesia Mayor”. And find the Parish Church of Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor Coronada.
In the first half of the 16th century the present church was (re)built in Gothic-plateresque style with Mudejar nuances.
Source here:
The details are just stunning. Have a look 😎
We walk now up the hill next to the church and have these views:
The city of Medina-Sidonia below us.
I found some cute wildflowers…
The view in the distance… the city is not surrounded by many other towns and cities. It’s open around it, fields and the rolling hills can be seen.
The city centre below.
We reach now the castle ruins, the castle grounds itself were closed of for the public due to restoration works. So I couldn’t enter. But found a few little ruins next to it.
Like this ruin.
Do you spot the eagle?
A little to the left on a long path we see these tower ruins.
The view around us from this point:
Let’s walk back towards the city again.
On the path down I see the church again:
In the foreground you find archeological Roman remains, I couldn’t find more information about this.
Path back down.
I take the steps route through the gardens, you see on the left of above photo, and find these little look throughs.
Let’s zoom in a bit.
Last steps.
We see the next Arch.
This is the Arche of Bethlehem in Spanish “Arco de Belén” from late 16th or early 17th century.
On the other side, we can see the church through it 😎
The streets I walk through.
Until I reach the heart of the city.
“Plaza de España” with the town hall of Medina-Sidonia.
I walk, after having a cup of coffee in one of the bars, on the outside of the town back to the car. (Outside of the city walls.)
I have these views:
And with this last photo , I finish our walk and end my #WednesdayWalk and #Makemesmile… post.
Hope you enjoyed my photographs of this beautiful walk in this part of the world 🤩 Cádiz province: The city of Medina-Sidonia!
Thank you for looking and reading 😊 and if you liked my post, an upvote or re-blog is always welcome 🙏🏻
Any questions or comments, let me know. Always happy to help.
Have a great Wednesday all 😎
Grtz Jackie
Unless stated otherwise: All art and photos used in my posts are taken, created and owned by me. If you wish to use any of my photographs, please contact me first. As I have used some commercially myself. We don’t want that you or somebody else gets into trouble 😉 So please don’t use them without my consent.