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четверг, 29 ноября 2018 г.

Cardona

Cardona (cat. Cardona) is a city and municipality in Spain, included in the province of Barcelona as part of the autonomous community of Catalonia. The municipality is part of the Bajes district. It covers an area of 66.70 km². It had a population of 5182 people in 2010.
Cardona is located in the valley of Salina. Salina Valley (La Vall Salina) is a place where natural salt layers have formed over several million years. The mountain range has the shape of an elongated ellipse. The massif borders the Cardener River in the east, the Tresserres mountain range (Tresserres) in the south, Gran Bofia (la Bòfia Gran) in the west and the Sierra (the city itself and Cardona Castle) in the north. In total, the valley area encompasses 100 hectares. The whole territory is included in the State Plan of Natural Interests of Catalonia (el Pla d’Espais d’Interès Natural de Catalunya).
Mining has long been a crucial part of the location of the city and the castle of Cardona. The exploitation of salt deposits and the establishment of the viscountcy Osona (vescomtal d’Osona) in the castle led to the fact that Cardona Castle and the city created a powerful jurisdiction in the Cardenar River region between the 12th and 14th centuries. By the 15th century, the power of Cardona extended over a vast territory about 60 km long and about 50 km wide. Read more about the history of the region here.
Tourism and attractions in Cardona
Today Cardona with a population of 5,000 is one of the tourist centers of Catalonia. Every year more than half a million tourists visit the city, mainly from Spain and France.
Among the main attractions is the Castle of Cardona (El Castell i la Colo • legiata de Sant Vicenç).
Since ancient times, man has sought places on high ground to build fortresses that would allow him to control a territory. In Cardona, the geographical location of the castle corresponds to the need to protect access to the salt deposit and control over the valley of the Cardener River.
Built on top of a mountain to control the land around the Cardener River Basin, Cardona Castle was from the 11th to the 15th century the main residence of the Lords of Cardona. The castle complex is divided in half between the majestic pavilions and the canonical Romanesque chapel of Sant Vicenç. The architectural complex includes the Tower of Minion (Torre de la Minyona), the Ducal Palace (Pati Ducal), and numerous defensive bastions.
Cardona Castle is an excellent example of military fortification, which shows the evolution of military art from the Middle Ages to the modern era. The castle was home to one of the country’s most important noble families, and protecting the exploitation of salt mines meant that its fortification was impregnable. The power of the castle as a military fortification is proved by the fact that the castle was taken only once during the war for the succession of the Spanish king, Felipe 5 (1711-1714).
The chapel of Sant Vicenç is original, dating from the 11th century, and was consecrated between about 1029 and 1040. This is a magnificent example of Romanesque architecture which has a three-nave basilica plan. In the chapel there are also several tombs and pantheons belonging, in particular, to Duke Ferran I and Count Joan Ramon Folt I.
Currently, the castle is a four-star hotel, restaurant and cafe with a great view over the valley.
The castle is open to the public; however, guided tours are possible only on Saturdays and Sundays (tel. 93 869 24 75).
Among the museums of Cardona is the medieval center (Center Cardona Medieval) – another attraction of the city. Located on the Plaza de la Fira (plaça de la Fira), opposite the Cardona Town Hall, this center helps to highlight the city’s history and cultural heritage. The permanent exhibition with extensive graphic and audiovisual accompaniment explains the emergence and evolution of the city, and the construction of the fortress of Cardona, which has defended the city for over five hundred years.
A virtual tour offers a visit through the most significant historical sites, including visiting the parish church of San Miquel with its magnificent Gothic nave. The Church of Sant Miquel is an example of Catalan Gothic architecture. The church was consecrated in 1397. Inside the temple there are two side altars and crypts of holy martyrs.

History of Spain: Cardona – one of the main strongholds of independence of Catalonia

History of Spain: Cardona – one of the main strongholds of independence of Catalonia
For centuries, Cardona played a leading social and political role that left a legacy of monumentality and grandeur in general, which is especially valuable and attractive to current residents of the city and its tourists.
The first documented mention of Cardona is dated April 23, 986. On that day, Earl Borrell II provided the so-called Second Settlement Letter, which is currently preserved in the city’s historical archive. Archaeological excavations, however, prove that settlements in this place already existed before, as evidenced by the Iberian remains. They were found in the Salina Valley (Salina), which later became the center of Catalonia and enriched the local lords, defining the lineage of modern Cardona. The lords, viscounts, and dukes of Cardona subsequently were in power over this jurisdiction, and this is 6% of the territory of Catalonia.
The city of Cardona, found at the foot of the castle, was born by the end of the 10th century. The appearance of the castle and the city has determined the strategic situation in the region on the border with Al-Andalus: this is the intersection of paths between the province of Urgell, Cerdanya-Berga and Osona-Barcelona. The geo-strategic position, as well as the extraction of salt and its commercialization in Europe, will later turn Cardona into the political and commercial center of Catalonia.
The exploitation of salt deposits and the establishment of the viscountcy Osona (vescomtal d’Osona) in the castle led to the fact that Cardona Castle and the city created powerful jurisdiction in the Cardenar River region between the 12th and 14th centuries. By the 15th century, the power of Cardona extended over a vast territory about 60 km long and about 50 km wide. This is a region from the Valley of Lords (Vall de Lord) to Segarra within a radius of about 40 km around the castle and the city of Cardona. So the dynasty was born: first the barons of Cardona, later in 1319 the viscount appeared, in 1375 the county, later in 1491 the duchy of Cardona was formed.
Thus, Cardona became the site of the most important jurisdictional authority of the Principality, outside the early counties of the Carolingians. From here the fiscal and judicial administration of this vast territory was carried out.
The cornerstone of this administration was the court or ducal curia, around which various officials acted in the service of lords, such as the treasurer, judge and bailiffs, all of whom were headed by the prosecutor general or governor-general.
State power in the county duchy of Cardona was carried out using three “batlies”, or judicial demarcations, which divided the territory between the cities of Cardona, Solsona and São Llorenç de Morunys, to which was also attached Vegueria de Segarra, controlled from the cities of Calaf and Torà.
However, in the mid-15th century, the constant absence of lords in the castle led Cardona to lose political power in favor of other growing political and economic centers – the cities of Manresa, Servera, and Berga. In the following centuries, Cardona was destined to lose its empire during the economic, social and political events that took place throughout Catalonia. As a result, by the middle of the 17th century, the area under the control of the Lords of Cardona was reduced to 608 sq. km, while the population was not more than 2000 people, of which 45% lived in Cardona itself, and 55% on the surrounding land.

Best Mediterranean resorts: France and Spain

вторник, 20 ноября 2018 г.

The history of Catalonia: the city of Ripoll and the Romanesque monastery of Santa Maria

The history of Catalonia: the city of Ripoll and the Romanesque monastery of Santa Maria
The first mentions of the presence of people in Ripoll belong to the Bronze Age (1500-600 BC). This information refers to small, disparate settlements near the Ter and Freser rivers, surrounded by mountains. The findings of bronze objects and tools confirm these assumptions.
In the IX century, residents of the surrounding areas began to concentrate around the place that today is called the city of Ripoll. The initiator of the settlement in this area was Count Wilfred the Hairy (Guifré el Pelós) (840-897).
This historical character of French origin, considered one of the fathers of the Catalan nation, founded in 879 the Romanesque monastery of Santa Maria. The monastery was governed by a community of monks on the orders of St. Benedict. The first head of the monastic community was Abbot Oliba, whose name is associated with the main stages of the formation of the monastery as the center of lands in the area of Ripoll. These works were closely associated with the increase in the political, economic and jurisdictional power of the monastery in Catalonia.
For the sake of their security, the Ripolians settled near the monastery, which built a wall in the XIV century in order to guarantee peace for the population and not to be attacked from the outside. Security, as well as the construction of a water channel from the Fraser River, provoked the development of trade in the region. The water channel became the most powerful economic engine for the population and contributed to the development of industries such as iron processing, weaving, and woodworking.
In 1428, however, the monastery and its walls suffered serious damage as a result of an earthquake. The restoration of the monastery, which took place in the 15th century, led to the appearance of arches and vaults already in the Gothic style. However, the structure of the church has not been changed.
The city itself continued to develop beyond the destroyed walls of the monastery, when two new districts and new quarters appeared. And the precipice on the other side of the river Ter, formed as a result of the earthquake, was chosen by the abbot Climent Mai in 1573 as the site for the construction of the first Ripoll hospital.
Despite the fact that the population respected the monastery, confrontations between the monastery and the villagers, who in one way or another wanted to get rid of economic control and pressure from the abbey, were not uncommon in that era.
This situation was exacerbated by the consequences of military conflicts. First of all, we are talking about the so-called Spanish-French War of the Reapers 1640-1659 (Guerra dels Segadors) and the presence of French troops in the territory of Ripoll.
During the 16th and 18th centuries, Ripoll experienced rapid economic growth, in particular, thanks to the manufacturing of firearms (cannons, muskets). This fact made Ripoll one of the main weapon centers of both Spain and all of Europe.
In parallel, the city developed textile production, a chocolate factory appeared, and mills were built for the production of flour. This situation persisted until the beginning of the XIX century. During the War of Independence (1808-1814), the French often attacked Ripoll. The walls of the city suffered serious damage.

The cradle of Catalonia: Ripoll and its tourist attractions

The cradle of Catalonia: Ripoll and its tourist attractions
Ripoll (Catalan version – Ripoll) is a municipality in Spain, which is part of the province of Girona in the autonomous community of Catalonia. The municipality is part of the Ripollès district.
The city is located in a picturesque green mountain gorge where you can find the confluence of two rivers: Ter and Freser.
The first mentions of the presence of people in Ripoll belong to the Bronze Age (1500-600 BC). This information refers to small, disparate settlements near the Ter and Freser rivers, surrounded by mountains. The findings of bronze objects and tools confirm these assumptions.
In the IX century, residents of the surrounding areas began to concentrate around the place that today is called the city of Ripoll. The initiator of the settlement in this area was Count Guifré el Pelós (840-897).
Ripoll, because of its strategic location at the crossroads and because of its early industrial and business activities — the cradle of Catalonia’s industrialization — has always been the focus of French and Spanish military conflicts throughout history.
Throughout its history, Ripoll served as a major industrial center, primarily associated with metallurgy and iron processing. For example, in the 16th and 18th centuries, the city was known throughout Europe for its connection with the production of firearms, mainly cannons and muskets.
However, the equally important role of the city is the cultural heritage of Catalonia. Not without reason, at the end of the 19th century the phrase “Ripoll – the cradle of Catalonia” appeared. And one of the best Catalan writers of all time, Jacint Verdaguer, in his Canigó poem describes the city in the 11th song:
“In Ripoll, we discover the quintessence of modernism in architecture, created during technological progress and industrialization in the vicinity of the Ter and Freser rivers”.
Major tourist attractions and what to see:
The main architectural landmark of the city is the monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll. This is one of the most famous and memorable historic buildings in Catalonia. Gothic basilica, vaults and arches make it a must-visit for art lovers. Many famous names in Catalan history are associated with the monastery: Count Gifre the Hairy (Guifré el Pelós), considered as one of the fathers of the Catalan nation, Abbot Oliba, Count Ramon Berenguer III and IV, Bishop Josep.
Opening hours:
Summer schedule (from April 1 to September 30)
Morning: from 10:00 to 14:00.
Afternoon: from 16:00 to 19:00.
Sunday and public holidays: from 10:00 to 14:00
From June 26 to September 11
On Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00.
Winter hours (from October 1 to March 30)
Morning: from 10:00 to 13:30.
Afternoon: from 15:30 to 18:00.
Sunday and public holidays: from 10:00 to 14:00.
December 25 and 26 and January 1 and 6: CLOSED
December 24 and 31 and January 5: from 10:00 to 14:00.
The Ethnographic Museum of Ripoll is also a must-visit as it is considered to be the main ethnographic museum in Catalonia.
The museum, in particular, features the L’Scriptorium Archive, an important tourist attraction in Ripoll. The archive contains the original manuscripts written by the Benedictine monks of the monastery of Santa Maria. Many of the documents date back to the 10th, 11th, and 12th centuries. The archive in Ripoll is named as one of the most important artefacts of Europe from a paleographic, textual and artistic point of view. In particular, in the archive you can see the originals of two great handwritten Bibles from the 11th century.
The L’Scriptorium Archive is a permanent exhibition that, interactively and didactically, makes it possible to discover the cultural past of the Monastery of Santa Maria.
Opening hours:
September to June
From Tuesday to Saturday: from 10:00 to 13:30 and from 16:00 to 18:00
Sunday and public holidays: from 10:00 to 14:00
July August
From Tuesday to Saturday: from 10:00 to 13:30 and from 16:00 to 19:00
Sunday and public holidays: from 10:00 to 14:00
* Mondays of August: from 10 to 14 hours
Prices: 4 euros. The last Sunday of every month is free.
Address: Plaça de l’Abat Oliba s / n 17500 Ripoll, telephone: 972 703 144

понедельник, 1 октября 2018 г.

News update 11/09/2018 1


De gamla indianerna föreställde sig Vishnu som en vacker ung man som lutade sig tillbaka på den mytiska ormen Shesha, som simmar i det kosmiska havets vatten. Vishnu har fyra armar, i vilka han håller en snäcka, ett hjul, en klubba och en lotusblomma. Vishnu har gåvan att förvandla sig själv till djur och människor. En gång, förvandlades till en dvärg, kom Vishnu till demonkungen Bali och bad honom att ge honom så mycket land som han kunde täcka i tre steg. Skrattande gav Bali villigt tillstånd, men ångrade det snart: dvärgen växte till en gigantisk storlek och täckte himlen med det första steget och jorden med det andra. När den storsinnade Vishnu såg Balis fasa tog han inte det tredje steget.

Högt uppe i Himalaya på berget Kailash bor guden Shiva. Hans utseende är formidabelt - Shiva är sammanflätad med kobror, klädd i tigerskinn, bär ett halsband av dödskallar. Han är mångsidig och mångbeväpnad, på hans panna finns ett helt vissnande tredje öga. Som legenden säger, för att rädda människor, drack Shiva gift och hans hals blev blå. Därför kallas den ofta för "Blåstrupig". Shiva har en treudd i handen, och han uppträder alltid tillsammans med tjuren Nandin. Shiva och hans fru Parvati, som betyder "Goryanka", har två söner. Den första är den fyrarmade Ganesha, en man med elefanthuvud som rider på en råtta. Fram till nu är Ganesha vördad som visdomens och lyckans gud. Hans bror, krigsguden Skanda, har sex huvuden. Han rider på en enorm påfågel, håller en båge i ena handen och pilar i den andra.

De gamla indianerna gudade djur. Den heliga kon Surabhi var särskilt vördad, vilket betyder "godluktande" i översättning. Enligt legenden bor denna ko i guden Indras paradis. Indianerna dyrkade ormar - nagas. I det moderna Indien finns en stat som heter Nagaland - "Ormarnas land".

I det antika Indien var det vanligt att besöka heliga platser. Det ansågs vara en speciell dygd att besöka Hardvar, platsen där Gangesfloden rinner ut på slätten, och åtminstone en gång i livet, oavsett hur långt en person bor, att bada i dess heliga vatten.
Det ovärderliga arvet från den stora indiska kulturen är Mahabharata - en enorm samling legender, sagor, traditioner, religiösa och filosofiska texter. Författaren till detta storslagna verk är okänd. Det finns många berättelser i Mahabharata, varav den viktigaste berättar om kampen mellan två kungafamiljer - Pandava och Kaurava. I en lång dispyt vann bröderna Pandava, men inte utan gudomlig hjälp: en av dem, den modige och mäktiga Arjunas vagn, styrdes av hans mentor, den store Krishna. Samtalet mellan Krishna och Arjuna före striden skildras i Bhagavad Gita (gudomlig sång), som anses vara den heligaste delen av Mahabharata. Vissa delar av Bhagavad-gi-you låter ganska modernt:

Den som har besegrat sig själv är sin egen bundsförvant. Den som inte kontrollerar sig själv, han är fientlig mot sig själv.

Den episka dikten Ramayana, i motsats till Mahabharata, är ett enda och sammanhängande verk som tillskrivs poeten Valmiki. Ramayana berättar om kung Dasarathas äldste son, Rama, som på grund av en av de kungliga fruarnas bedrägeri tvingas gå i exil med sin bror Lakshman och hans trogna hustru Sita. De bodde i skogen och åt rötter och frukter. Demonernas kung, den onde Ravana, kidnappade Sita och förde bort honom. I ett fruktansvärt raseri dödar Rama, förenad med apledaren Hanuman, kidnapparen och befriar den vackra Sita. När han återvänder till huvudstaden blir Rama kung.

"Ramayana" och "Mahabharata" kan kallas ett uppslagsverk över livet i det antika Indien: det finns så mycket information om landet, folks seder, regering och kultur.

De gamla indianerna var inte bara bevandrade i litteratur, utan också i matematik, astronomi och medicin. Det var de som gav världen schack.

Vetenskapen om healing kallades Ayurveda – "vetenskapen om långt liv." Den forntida indiske läkaren var på samma gång en botaniker, en farmakolog, en biolog och en psykolog. Skickliga kirurger tog inte bara bort pilar från sår nästan smärtfritt för patienten, utan återställde till och med den korrekta formen på näsor och öron som var förlamade i strid, d.v.s. gjorde plastikkirurgi. Tja, vid behandlingen av ormbett kände indiska läkare ingen like!
De mest intressanta monumenten av arkitektur har kommit ner till oss från antiken. Buddhistiska helgedomar-stupor liknar till det yttre mycket en klocka. När man tittar på dem uppstår tankar om deras kosmiska ursprung omedvetet - de är så ovanliga. Deras grund är en konstgjord hög, fodrad med tegelstenar eller täckt med vitkalkad gips. Den övre delen av strukturens kronor

fyrkantig terrass "harmika" ("gudarnas palats"). En spira rusar uppåt från dess mitt, på vilken paraplyer (tre eller sju), kallade "amalaka", är uppträdda. Sju paraplyer symboliserar sju steg från jorden till himlen, och tre - antalet himmelska sfärer. Inuti finns en liten kammare (ibland mer än en) med resterna av Buddha eller buddhistiska helgon. Alla böner och ritualer utförs endast utomhus.

Den mest kända är stupa helgedomen i Sanchi, som byggdes från 3:e till 1:a århundradet f.Kr. FÖRE KRISTUS. På dess berömda fyra portar, kallade "torana", är hela Indien representerat: natur, arkitektur, traditioner och legender förknippade med livet för gudar och människor, fantastiska varelser, vilda djur, träd och blommor, Buddhas biografi. Du kan titta på porten i timmar - hur man läser en fascinerande bok.

Forntida indisk civilisation hade en enorm inverkan på många länder i öst. Det är omöjligt att förstå eller studera historien och kulturen för folken i Syd- och Sydostasien utan att känna till det antika Indiens historia. Hon lär ut mycket idag. Glöm inte Vedaernas visdom:

Låt det inte finnas något hat
Från bror till bror och från syster till syster!
Vänder sig till varandra
efter ett löfte, Säg ett gott ord!
https://all-andorra.com/tarragona-history-tourism-and-what-to-do/
https://all-andorra.com/roman-forum-circus-and-pretori-tower-tarragona-unesco-sites/
https://all-andorra.com/roman-arches-arch-de-bera-20-km-north-of-tarragona-approximate-age-1-2-century-ad/
https://all-andorra.com/les-ferreres-aqueduct-pont-del-diable-devils-bridge-tarragona/
https://all-andorra.com/monastery-of-montserrat/
https://all-andorra.com/salou-costa-dorada/
https://all-andorra.com/reus-antonio-gaudi/
https://all-andorra.com/calafell-the-best-seaside-resort-in-catalonia-for-holidays-with-children/
https://all-andorra.com/sitges-the-most-elite-seaside-resort-in-the-costa-dorada-catalonia/
Det antika Kina... Där har jorden sedan urminnes tider varit gul. Och det gula vattnet i den stora floden, som de kallade så - Yellow - Huang He. Sittande på dess strand skulpterade gudinnan Nuwa små män av gul lera. De gled ur hennes livgivande händer och befolkade detta land. Deras herre kallades den gule suveränen - Huangdi. Så berättar legenden.

Fertil jord och ett överflöd av vatten bestämde huvudsysslan för de gamla invånarna i Huang He-dalen - jordbruk. Genom att utforska nya länder långt från vatten, lärde sig människor hur man bevattnar dem genom att lägga kanaler.

De började få en större skörd när verktyg började tillverkas inte av sten, som tidigare, utan av brons och järn. En pil med en metallspets istället för en flinta eller ben och ett järnsvärd istället för en sten eller klubba var mycket bekvämare för jakt och i strid. Möjligheten att använda dem för att tillägna sig grannars egendom, för att annektera främmande länder gav upphov till frekventa krig mellan olika klaner och stammar. Sammandrabbningar med grannar-utlänningar fortsatte med tillkomsten av statsbildningar: öden, furstendömen, kungadömen.

Shang-stammen med vidarebosättning i Huang He-dalen började kallas Yin. Den slog sig ner på nya länder efter en blodig kamp och drev ut Qiang- eller Xia-stammen som bodde här tidigare.

Shang-yin äldste förvandlades från stamledare till ensamma härskare. Bland ämnena stärktes idén om dem som "himlens söner", som fick makt på uppdrag av gudomliga krafter. Detta var en vändpunkt i bildandet av staten på Central Plain, som Gula flodens dal har kallats länge. "Zhong Guo" - "Mellanstaten" - så här började folket i Kina själva kalla sitt land.

Staten Shang-Yin, som funnits från 1766 till 1122 f.Kr., föll under Zhou-stammens styre, vars härskare, som regerade från 1122 till 247 f.Kr., kallade sig Vans - kungar. Den första av dessa var U-van – "King Warrior". Han delade ut land och titlar till sina vapenkamrater: "pistol", "hou", "bo", "zi", "nan", som liknar den europeiska "hertigen", "prinsen", "greve". ”, ”baron”, ”baronet”. Under angrepp från närliggande stammar och deras egen stamadel bröt Zhou-riket upp i öden. Den här gången (från 770 till 403 f.Kr.) kallades invånarna i Mellanstaten ibland "vår och höst".

среда, 7 марта 2018 г.

Ski resorts of Spain: Masella and la Molina

 resorts of : Masella and la Molina. . Pyrenees.
ALP 2500 – this is the name of one of the most popular ski  in Spain which brings together two ski stations on the Pyrenees – Masella and la Molina. It consists of 117 slopes of different levels (22 “green”, 40 “blue”, 39 “red” and 16 “black”) with a total length of 135 km.
Ski resort is located only 150 km from Barcelona and 70 km from Andorra.
Masella is located in the middle of a pine forest, the majority of the ski slopes turned to the North and at the same time to the sunny valley of La Cerfafia. The season here can last more than five months – this is the longest ski season in the Pyrenees.
ALP 2500 – how to get to?
GPS: 42º 20′ 03.90”N · 1º 56′ 04.59”E
By car:
From Barcelona (through la Via Augusta and Túnel del Cadí*)140 km1h30
From Barcelona (through la Meridiana и Collada de Toses)144 km2h05
From Barcelona (through Castellar de N’Hug)150 km2h10
From Girona129 km2h05
From Tarragona188 km2h15
From Andorra70 km1h05
*Tunnel tariff is 11.66 euro.
By skibas (fare is 44 euro)
Barcelona – Maselia: on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 17.12.2017 to 02.04.2018 (24, 25 and 26 December, 1 and 6 January are the days off).
Bus stops:
Barcelona, Plaça Catalunya 19, Hard Rock Café (in front of Olivia Plaza Hotel) – 6.30
Sabadell, Millennium Park – 7:00
Terrace Hotel Don Cándido – 7:15
Manresa Av.Països Catalans (HyperMercard) – 7.45
Technical characteristics of Masella ski resort
Number of slopes: 65
Green slopes: 9
Blue slopes: 24
Red slopes: 22
Black slopes: 10
Look for details about ski resorts of Spain: https://all-andorra.com/ski-resorts-of-spain-masella-and-la-molina/