20110408-20110413 Spain : Cuenca

Cuenca Cuenca is a city in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha in central Spain. It is the capital of the province of Cuenca. High speed train AVE services between Madrid and Cuenca were started in Dec 2010. The journey now only need 1 hour, compare with previously 3 hours using regional train. This page concentrates on the old city part of Cuenca, where all the sight-seeing points are located. The old city is located on a small hill at the north east of the city. The old city, as known as Historic Walled Town of Cuenca, is listed as one of the World Heritage by UNESCO in 1996. We will look at the old city from north to south (that is, top to bottom) and east to west. Please note that these photos are taken from 2 separate days of shooting, so you might notice the direction of lights are different in photos showing the same place.
View of the Parador from the top of the hill. Parador is the 4-star national hotel, restored from the old Saint Paul convent	Another view of the Parador from the top of the hill. The Parador is linked to the old city by a bridge. The old city is on the right side	North exit of the El Castillo (The Castle) at the top of the hill
Carmelite Convent at the north side of the old city. It is now converted to a museum	Carmelite Convent with the church of St. Peter in the right background	The church of St. Peter
View of the Parador (east) from the opening behind Carmelite Convent. You can see left middle block is "hanging" (with nothing below). I stayed 2 nights there in the lower middle room(window)	From the opening behind Carmelite Convent looking at the unique stone formations in the north	An arch doorway at the west side of the north part of the old city
The arch doorway leads to some kind of stone platform	The stone platform	The stone platform
The stone platform	Looking north from the stone platform	Looking north towards the stone platform and beyond
Pathway leading down hill just south of the stone platform	Pathway leading down hill just south of the stone platform	One of the arch doorways in San Pedro (St Peter) street, leading down hill towards the Town Plaza
Walking down hill in the east part of the old city	Walking down hill in the east part of the old city	Walking down hill in the east part of the old city
Walking down hill in the east part of the old city. This arch doorway leads to Cristo Del Pasadizo	Candle stand at Cristo Del Pasadizo	Candle stand at Cristo Del Pasadizo
The arch doorway of Cristo Del Pasadizo (reverse angle)	Cristo Del Pasadizo	Cristo Del Pasadizo
Cristo Del Pasadizo	The opening just south of Cristo Del Pasadizo	Looking at the Parador from the opening
Cuenca Cathedral at the Plaza Mayor (Town Plaza). 360 degree view of Plaza Mayor, clockwise starting from the cathedral (1 of 10)	360 degree view of Plaza Mayor (2 of 10)	360 degree view of Plaza Mayor (3 of 10)
360 degree view of Plaza Mayor (4 of 10)	360 degree view of Plaza Mayor (5 of 10). The building in the middle is the town hall	360 degree view of Plaza Mayor (6 of 10)
360 degree view of Plaza Mayor (7 of 10)	360 degree view of Plaza Mayor (8 of 10)	360 degree view of Plaza Mayor (9 of 10)
360 degree view of Plaza Mayor (10 of 10)	Water fountain in the side streets around Cuenca Cathedral	Water fountain in the side streets around Cuenca Cathedral
Arch doorway in the side streets around Cuenca Cathedral	Long dark stairways at the west side of the Plaza Mayor	Side streets below the long dark stairways
Side streets below the long dark stairways	Side streets below the long dark stairways	Side streets below the long dark stairways
Museum of Abstract Arts at the east of Plaza Mayor. This building is the famous Casas Colgadas (The Hanging House). The right door leads to the museum, while the left door is a restaurant	Looking east from the slope just outside the museum. The museum is at the left side of this photo	The arch doorway at the east part of the Casas Colgadas building
Looking west from the arch doorway. The building in the left is the back side of Cuenca Museum	Stone platform south of Casas Colgadas	Stone platform south of Casas Colgadas
Looking north east at the Parador & St Paul Bridge from the second floor restaurant in the Casas Colgadas building	Looking north east at the Parador & St Paul Bridge from the back of Casas Colgadas	Looking north east at the Parador & St Paul Bridge from the back of Casas Colgadas
Casas Colgadas "The Hanging House". The restaurant is at the upper balcony floor	St Paul Bridge	Looking east side from the west end of the bridge. The Parador is at the left
Looking at the west side from the middle of the bridge	Looking at the Parador from the middle of the bridge	Looking at the rock formations to the right of the Parador from the middle of the bridge. Someone is doing rock climbing
Looking at the Parador from the middle of the bridge	Looking at the Casas Colgadas from the middle of the bridge	Looking at the west side from the ease end of the bridge
Looking at the west side from the ease end of the bridge	Panning view from south west to north from the east end of the bridge (1 of 4)	Panning view from south west to north from the east end of the bridge (2 of 4)
Panning view from south west to north from the east end of the bridge (3 of 4)	Panning view from south west to north from the east end of the bridge (4 of 4)	The west part of the Parador (ex-church part)
The shield on the St Paul Bridge	The Parador from the east end of the bridge	The east end of the bridge
The stone part of the railing at the east end of the bridge	The stone part of the railing at the east end of the bridge	Looking at the west side from the east end of the bridge
Looking at the west side from the south east of the bridge	Looking at the west side from the north east of the bridge	Looking at the west side from the entrance of the Parador
The entrance of the Parador	The west part of the Parador (ex-church part)	The west part of the Parador (ex-church part)
The plaza in front of the Parador	The plaza in front of the Parador	The front entrance of the Parador
The front entrance of the Parador	The stairs near the front entrance of the Parador	The plaza in front of the Parador from the stairs
Main corridors in the Parador	The south corridor in the Parador	The south corridor in the Parador
The south corridor in the Parador	The south corridor in the Parador	The south corridor in the Parador
The east corridor in the Parador	The east corridor in the Parador	The Patio (courtyard) in the Parador
The Patio in the Parador	The Patio in the Parador	The Patio in the Parador
The Patio in the Parador	The Patio in the Parador	Alfonso VIII Street (left), leading down hill from Plaza Mayor
Side street leading down hill	Mangana Tower, located midway down hill	Mangana Tower
Mangana Tower	Alfonso VIII Street, leading down hill from Plaza Mayor	Arch doorway in the Alfonso VIII Street, leading down hill from Plaza Mayor
Side street leading down hill	Side street leading down hill