Tucked into a hillside deep in the Asturian countryside, you’ll find the Santa Cueva de Covadonga.
A staircase leads to the chapel and it is worth the climb.
The photo above gives some perspective to the terrain here, which is quite mountainous. Pulling back a little, you can see the altar to the right of the chapel.
This is a place of pilgrimage for many believers. It was impressive to see their devotion and respect.
Pelayo won a great victory in Covadonga, taking advantage of tactics and terrain to save his kingdom from conquest. As a result, shrines were built and later a massive church.
You can see how the church stands upon an outcropping in the valley. Here’s the statue of Pelayo:
And check out the mountain in the background. The scenery in this part of Spain is nothing short of stunning. Here’s another perspective on the church.
I’ll have another post soon that shows the tiny chapel built into a hillside cave. Check back frequently.
Anton Gaudí designed exotic structures no doubt about it. I had the good fortune to visit the Capricho in Comillas, Spain recently. It was built as a country house for an industry magnate. Here’s a look at the main entrance.
As you can see, this is not exactly a mansion, but a building with many interesting attributes, such as a solar orientation to warm the house and support an integrated greenhouse seen in the next photo.
Note those amazing hardwood floors in the photo above. Below, another photo shows the side of the house.
Gaudí integrated the wrought iron benches into the railings on the porches as seen in the next photo:
The sunflower detail was carried through the entire building, including with exterior tiles:
Gaudí was a master, and his structures prove it. If you have the opportunity, visit them. One more look at the tower.
More Spain posts to follow. Stay tuned.
On the Basque Coast of France, Chateau d’Abbadia stands on a bluff above the sea. It’s an impressive building built in the 19th Century by a fellow who liked to explore the world and beyond. Here’s a look at the main entrance:
And a look at the south side for a better sense of scale.
Sadly, no photography was permitted inside the building which featured a handsome library, a telescope, countless beautifully furnished rooms, not to mention interesting artifacts.
The photo above is a look at the chapel wing. The chapel itself was quite impressive in scale and decor. Clearly, the architect knew what he was doing, as did the builders. If you’re in the area of Hendaye, France, I highly recommend a visit here. Guide is in French with a written handout in other languages including English.
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