Do you Need a Visa to Study in Alcalá?

13 de noviembre de 2013

International students and researchers wishing to study or conduct research in Spain must be in possession of a visa in order to be able to reside legally in the country.

Researchers or lecturers who have entered Spain with a residence visa which allows them to work without obtaining a work permit, must begin the procedures for obtaining a resident’s card within 30 days of their date of arrival in Spain.

Study visas and length of stay

For studies and research periods lasting less than three months no study visa is necessary, unless the interested party is from a country for which a visa is required as standard practice.

For periods of between three and six months a visa is required, but no other documents need be applied for in Spain

For studies and research periods lasting more than six months, visitors must apply for both a visa and a student’s residence card in Spain. The student must begin the application process within a month of his/her arrival in the country. The student’s residence card is processed at the Oficinas de Extranjería (Foreign Nationals Offices) of the Spanish Police.

Many Spanish universities have guidance services for international students and researchers which will help with the processing of the student’s residence card. For information on this and other services, please consult Contact information for international students.

Students from the European Union

Nationals of European Union countries do not require a visa. Nonetheless, they should applied for a NIE (Numero de Identificación de Extranjeros, Foreign National Identity Number) on their arrival in Spain. This document is needed, for example, to open a bank account, buy a discount transport card, or use the health service.

Alcalá de Henares’ Police Station:
Av de Meco, s/n, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid. Tel: 918 79 63 90. (Google maps)

Students from other countries

Foreign nationals of countries outside the European Union wishing to study or research in Spain for a period longer than three months must apply for a study visa.

To study in Spain, students from non-EU countries must apply for a study visa at the Spanish Consulate of their country of origin or legal residence.

To apply for a study visa, prospective students should:

The following documents are needed to process the study visa:

Valid passport.
A document certifying admission to an officially recognized public or private teaching centre for the purposes of study, research or training.
The contents of the study, training or research syllabus that the applicant intends to pursue.
A medical insurance policy covering medical expenses and repatriation in the case of accident or sudden illness for the entire period of the stay in Spain.
A medical certificate specifying that the applicant does not suffer an illness requiring quarantine in accordance with international health regulations.
A certificate of solvency for the period in question, if necessary to cover the cost of returning to the country of origin.
A criminal record certificate issued by the authorities of the country of origin or the country in which the applicant has lived during the past five years.

The visa is processed by Spain’s Consulates-General abroad, which have specialist staff available to answer enquiries. For a list of Spain’s Consulates-General around the world, please follow this link.

At the Consulate where you apply to process your study visa the staff will answer any questions you may have.

It is not possible to enter Spain with a tourist visa and then apply for a study visa. Students entering the country only with a tourist visa will have to return to their country of residence and obtain the visa there.

Important information for U.S. students requesting a long term visa to Spain.

Foreign students studying in Spain may work for up to 20 hours a week provided that the working day is compatible with their study or research commitments. An employer who wishes to hire a foreign student in these conditions must apply to the Foreign Nationals’ Office for authorization. The duration of the contract may not be longer than the duration of the study visa.

Additional information:

www.universidad.es

Spanish Wines

12 de noviembre de 2013

5 Fun Facts I’ve Learned About Spanish Wines

The post 5 Fun Facts I’ve Learned About Spanish Wines appeared first on Spanish Sabores.

When I first traveled to Spain as a 20-year-old, I knew very little about Spanish wine. Rioja rang a bell, but other than that I was completely in the dark. And to be perfectly honest, it didn’t really matter. I spent my four month study abroad program in Granada drinking Alhambra beers and eating the free tapas that came with them. Granada is a great place for students, and I took advantage of what it had to offer.

Fast forward to the present day and here I am not only loving Spanish wines, but also working with them. I recently became certified through the WSET program and have been offering wine tastings through Madrid Food Tour for over a year now.

But the more I learn about Spanish wines, the more I feel I need to learn! Living in the country with more vineyards than anywhere else in the world, it’s easy to understand how it becomes an obsession. It also doesn’t help that the Spanish themselves know very little (on average) about one of their most important exports.

Here are some fun facts about I’ve learned about Spanish wines over the past few years. If you have anything to add, please leave a comment!

1. Spaniards don’t drink them!

Okay, so this is not completely true. But Spaniards aren’t drinking nearly as much wine as their neighbors. In 2011 they were the world’s 16th biggest wine consumers per capita– a number that has dropped 20.8% since 2007 according to studies by wineinstitute.org. In comparison France, Italy, and Portugal rank 4, 5, and 6, respectively. And let’s not forget that Spain is home to more vineyards than anywhere else in the world and is also the world’s third biggest producer of wines (after France and Italy).

The downward trend is seen all over Spain in local bars, where the wine selection is, more often than not, simply horrendous. It’s such a shame when, for the same price, you can have a terrible glass of wine or an excellent one.

2. Value for price is nearly unbeatable

The most expensive bottle of Spanish wine may raise alarm ($911 for a bottle of Dominio de Pingus, Ribera del Duero), and you’d likely have to transfer money online (this particular service is for Brit wine-lovers) to afford a case of it! But don’t despair, most Spanish wines are an extremely good value. Every year Spanish wine writer Alicia Estrada publishes the 100 best Spanish wines for under 10€. Her number one this year? At 5.15 euros it is a lovely red, Luzón 2012 D.O. Jumilla.

Pouring wine from the barrel at a little wine shop in Murcia.

3. You order by the region, not the grape

This may be Spanish wines 101 but I’m always surprised by how many people have been living here awhile and still don’t quite understand the system. In Spain, wines are classified by their region, and not by their grape. So if you go into a bar asking for a syrah, they’ll probably look at you like you’re crazy– even if they have one. Luckily when armed with just a little bit of knowledge about Spanish wines you can easily make informed decisions, as many regions are known for using certain grapes with defined characteristics.

4. Sherries are wines and should not be ignored!

Okay, this might be half fact and half opinion. But anyone living in Spain who hasn’t fallen in love with sherry yet needs to try harder. I accept that they are wines with a bit of a funny reputation, and some are a hard sell at first, completely different from anything you’ve likely tried before– but I promise that if you keep tasting you will end up obsessed. As some of the world’s oldest and most complex wines, sherries are truly a world of their own that any wine lover should discover.

5. Rosé can be (very) dry

Before moving to Spain I had the idea that rosé wines were all sweet and syrupy, a dentist’s worst nightmare. And that’s because in the US many of them are (white zinfandel anyone?). But in most of Spain a rosé wine is actually a very dry wine, made of red grapes that have been crushed and allowed brief contact with the skins before being pressed. The results can be fantastic, and I drink rosé wines like a madwoman during the hot Spanish summers. My favorites smell like strawberries and lollipops, but have a touch of minerality when you take a sip. Anyway, I’ll stop with the wine talk and just advise you to try one next time you barbecue!

Ale’s own personalized bottle of Navarran rosé!

These are just a few fun facts I thought I’d share about Spanish wines. I’m finding the world of wines big and exciting, so if you’d like to see more wine posts as I keep learning, let me know in the comments!

The post 5 Fun Facts I’ve Learned About Spanish Wines appeared first on Spanish Sabores.

Spanish Wines

12 de noviembre de 2013

5 Fun Facts I’ve Learned About Spanish Wines

The post 5 Fun Facts I’ve Learned About Spanish Wines appeared first on Spanish Sabores.

When I first traveled to Spain as a 20-year-old, I knew very little about Spanish wine. Rioja rang a bell, but other than that I was completely in the dark. And to be perfectly honest, it didn’t really matter. I spent my four month study abroad program in Granada drinking Alhambra beers and eating the free tapas that came with them. Granada is a great place for students, and I took advantage of what it had to offer.

Fast forward to the present day and here I am not only loving Spanish wines, but also working with them. I recently became certified through the WSET program and have been offering wine tastings through Madrid Food Tour for over a year now.

But the more I learn about Spanish wines, the more I feel I need to learn! Living in the country with more vineyards than anywhere else in the world, it’s easy to understand how it becomes an obsession. It also doesn’t help that the Spanish themselves know very little (on average) about one of their most important exports.

Here are some fun facts about I’ve learned about Spanish wines over the past few years. If you have anything to add, please leave a comment!

1. Spaniards don’t drink them!

Okay, so this is not completely true. But Spaniards aren’t drinking nearly as much wine as their neighbors. In 2011 they were the world’s 16th biggest wine consumers per capita– a number that has dropped 20.8% since 2007 according to studies by wineinstitute.org. In comparison France, Italy, and Portugal rank 4, 5, and 6, respectively. And let’s not forget that Spain is home to more vineyards than anywhere else in the world and is also the world’s third biggest producer of wines (after France and Italy).

The downward trend is seen all over Spain in local bars, where the wine selection is, more often than not, simply horrendous. It’s such a shame when, for the same price, you can have a terrible glass of wine or an excellent one.

2. Value for price is nearly unbeatable

The most expensive bottle of Spanish wine may raise alarm ($911 for a bottle of Dominio de Pingus, Ribera del Duero), and you’d likely have to transfer money online (this particular service is for Brit wine-lovers) to afford a case of it! But don’t despair, most Spanish wines are an extremely good value. Every year Spanish wine writer Alicia Estrada publishes the 100 best Spanish wines for under 10€. Her number one this year? At 5.15 euros it is a lovely red, Luzón 2012 D.O. Jumilla.

Pouring wine from the barrel at a little wine shop in Murcia.

3. You order by the region, not the grape

This may be Spanish wines 101 but I’m always surprised by how many people have been living here awhile and still don’t quite understand the system. In Spain, wines are classified by their region, and not by their grape. So if you go into a bar asking for a syrah, they’ll probably look at you like you’re crazy– even if they have one. Luckily when armed with just a little bit of knowledge about Spanish wines you can easily make informed decisions, as many regions are known for using certain grapes with defined characteristics.

4. Sherries are wines and should not be ignored!

Okay, this might be half fact and half opinion. But anyone living in Spain who hasn’t fallen in love with sherry yet needs to try harder. I accept that they are wines with a bit of a funny reputation, and some are a hard sell at first, completely different from anything you’ve likely tried before– but I promise that if you keep tasting you will end up obsessed. As some of the world’s oldest and most complex wines, sherries are truly a world of their own that any wine lover should discover.

5. Rosé can be (very) dry

Before moving to Spain I had the idea that rosé wines were all sweet and syrupy, a dentist’s worst nightmare. And that’s because in the US many of them are (white zinfandel anyone?). But in most of Spain a rosé wine is actually a very dry wine, made of red grapes that have been crushed and allowed brief contact with the skins before being pressed. The results can be fantastic, and I drink rosé wines like a madwoman during the hot Spanish summers. My favorites smell like strawberries and lollipops, but have a touch of minerality when you take a sip. Anyway, I’ll stop with the wine talk and just advise you to try one next time you barbecue!

Ale’s own personalized bottle of Navarran rosé!

These are just a few fun facts I thought I’d share about Spanish wines. I’m finding the world of wines big and exciting, so if you’d like to see more wine posts as I keep learning, let me know in the comments!

The post 5 Fun Facts I’ve Learned About Spanish Wines appeared first on Spanish Sabores.

Rutas Guiadas por la Comunidad de Madrid

12 de noviembre de 2013

La colección de Rutas Guiadas por la Comunidad de Madrid está compuesta por quince mapas-guías desplegables en las que se explican sencilla y detalladamente quince rutas diferentes por diversos lugares de la región.

La mayoría de las rutas guiadas que se proponen son de baja dificultad y muy fáciles de realizar, simples y diseñadas para recorrerse a pie o en bicicleta o en familia y accesibles para cualquier persona.

Estos itinerarios por diferentes destinos y áreas geográficas madrileñas incluyen información turística del destino –cómo llegar, qué ver, qué hacer, dónde comer o dónde dormir-, la señalización y ficha técnica del recorrido, mapas y fotografías de los principales puntos por los que pasa la Ruta y merece la pena no perderse así como recomendaciones a tener en cuenta para que el paseo por estos bellos rincones resulte una experiencia inolvidable.

Para solicitar ejemplares impresos de la ruta que te interese puedes dirigirte a las Oficinas de Turismo de la Comunidad de Madrid. Para realizar cualquier otro tipo de consulta o sugerencia al correo electrónico destinos.turisticos@madrid.org

Más información:

Guided Tours through the Comunidad de Madrid

12 de noviembre de 2013

The Comunidad de Madrid is full of interesting routes to discover. We propose 15 guided tours for you to enjoy nature without leaving Madrid.

The guided tours through the Comunidad de Madrid is composed of fifteen maps – dropdown guides that explain in simple detail fifteen different routes to different parts of the region.

Most of the guided tours proposed are of low difficulty and very easy to perform, simple and designed to be covered by foot or bicycle by the whole family and accessible for anyone.

These itineraries for different destinations and geographic areas in Madrid include information about the town – how to get there, what to see and do, where to eat or where to sleep – signaling and travel sheet, maps and photographs of the main points through which the route passes and worth not to miss, as well as recommendations to consider for the walk in these beautiful places an unforgettable experience.

To request copies of the route of your interest you can go to the Tourist Offices of the Community of Madrid. For any other inquiries or suggestions email destinos.turisticos@madrid.org

Additional information:

Colegio de los Irlandeses

11 de noviembre de 2013

El colegio de los Irlandeses es un magnífico ejemplo del cosmopolitismo e importancia que adquirió Alcalá de Henares con la apertura de su universidad, y en especial en los países europeos católicos.

El colegio es la joya arquitectónica de la plaza que lleva el mismo nombre y que fue objeto de una importante restauración en los pasados años noventa. Un bello enclave en pleno centro ciudadano, entre la calle Escritorios y la calle Mayor, a la que tiene dos salidas, una de ellas al corral de la Sinagoga.

El colegio menor de san Patricio, de san Jorge o de los Irlandeses, que esos tres nombres tiene o ha tenido fue fundado en 1630 por los sacerdotes Sean O’Neill y Teobaldo Estapletonio (una clara castellanización de Stapleton), pero se cerró en 1641 ya que a su muerte no dejaron rentas con que financiarlo.

Para estudiantes de países protestantes

Fue refundado poco más tarde gracias a los deseos expresos del barón portugués don Jorge de Paz Silveira, alcaide de la fortaleza de Martos en Jaén, caballero de las órdenes de Santiago y de Cristo, y con tierras y bienes en Cuenca, quien así lo dispuso en su testamento. Falleció en 1645 y su viuda, Beatriz de Silveira, ejecutó el proyecto, eligiendo Alcalá para ello.

Fundó el colegio en 1649 con veinte colegiales, dotándolo con un fondo de 5000 ducados, y bajo la advocación de San Jorge, pero no ocupó el actual colegio hasta varios años después, cuando estuvo totalmente construido. Por eso, antes de su emplazamiento definitivo estuvo en lo que luego fue el colegio de Basilios, en la calle Colegios.

La finalidad del colegio fue ser un colegio-seminario universitario para la educación en Teología de estudiantes de Irlanda, Flandes y Holanda, siguiendo la práctica llevada a cabo en muchas universidades católicas de acoger estudiantes de países protestantes o bajo su influencia, con el requisito de volver a sus países tras sus estudios para difundir la fe católica en sus lugares de origen.

Hay que recordar que Irlanda pertenecía al Reino Unido, donde la religión oficial ya era el anglicanismo, y por ello los irlandeses, tradicionalmente católicos, sufrieron persecuciones religiosas en los siglos XVI y XVII, teniendo prohibido, incluso, estudiar su religión.

En España, y en la misma época, se fundó otro colegio de irlandeses en la universidad de Salamanca, y también había una hospedería en Madrid y más colegios similares, para ingleses y escoceses.

Aquí durmió el rey Fernando VII

Durante largas décadas fue un colegio de gran renombre en Irlanda, donde varios de los estudiantes llegaron a ser obispos en diócesis del país. Sin embargo, con el tiempo comenzó a pasar por penurias económicas, dado que las rentas procedían de los juros, algo similar a la actual deuda pública, y la inflación fue destruyendo los réditos.

Finalmente, el colegio fue integrado en el Patronato Real por Carlos III, pero éste, al expulsar a los jesuitas de España, refundió el colegio de Alcalá con el de los Escoceses de Madrid, en 1768. Pero al poco, en 1785, deshizo esta unión y fusionó los dos colegios de Irlandeses en España, estableciendo el nuevo colegio resultante en la sede de Salamanca.

El colegio se cerró y además no estaba en muy buen estado. Una cornisa amenazaba caerse y se demolió la iglesia perteneciente al colegio, de forma que en 1795 se subastó y fue comprado por el conde de Güemes, que lo convirtió en un lujoso palacete como vivienda para él y su familia. Posteriormente pasó a ser propiedad del conde de Revillagigedo.

Esa categoría que le dieron sus nuevos propietarios fue tal que en una visita que realizó el rey Fernando VII en 1818 a Alcalá, durmió allí, ya que no estaba disponible el Palacio Arzobispal, que era la residencia real cuando visitaban la ciudad. Conmemorando tal visita, desde esa fecha y durante diecisiete años, sobre la portada hubo una cadena decorada, enganchada a unos clavos que todavía pueden verse.

Después, con el paso del tiempo, en el siglo XX se convirtió en casa de vecindad, y poco a poco cayó en el más completo abandono, de tal manera que en los años mil novecientos sesenta perdió las dos naves laterales que tenía e incluso tuvo algún derrumbamiento mientras se hacían obras de apuntalamiento en los pasados años ochenta.

Hoy: Alcalingua

Finalmente, el edificio se salvó y se restauró completamente a mediados de los años noventa, gracias a la intevención de la Fundación Colegio de los Irlandeses, creada por la universidad alcalaína y la embajada de Irlanda. A estos organismos se sumó más tarde el grupo Jefferson Smurfit de forma que el colegio actualmente es un centro de formación e intercambio entre estudiantes de diversas nacionalidades, Alcalingua, dedicado a la enseñanza del español a estudiantes extranjeros y a la formación de profesores de español.

El colegio y Alcalingua están encuadrados en la universidad de Alcalá, y hoy el edificio aunque completamente rehabilitado, mantiene sus tradicionales trazas barrocas, la fachada de siete balcones y ventanas decorados con frontones triangulares, la puerta con su parte superior en piedra, fruto de una reforma de 1676 y el claustro cerrado por una verja que da a la plaza de los Irlandeses. Para acceder a ella desde la fachada de la calle Escritorios se da la vuelta por un callejón que en el pasado se llamó del Peligro, al ser punto de duelos y riñas.

Más información:

Información de interés:

Dirección: Calle Escritorios, 4
Teléfono: +34 918 81 23 78
Web: www.alcalingua.com

Accesos desde Madrid

Renfe Cercanías C-1, C-2 y C7A.
Bus nº 223 (salidas desde el Intercambiador de Avenida de América).

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Colegio de los Irlandeses

11 de noviembre de 2013

Colegio de los Irlandeses is a wonderful example of the cosmopolitanism and relevance acquired by Alcalá de Henares with the opening of its university, especially among European Catholic countries.

The college—architectonical jewel of the square with the same name—undertook an important restoration in the 1990s. A beautiful enclave in the middle of the center—between calle Escritorios and calle Mayor—with two accesses to the college, one of them to corral de la Sinagoga.

San Patricio, San Jorje or los Irlandeses junior college—the three numbers it has or has had—was founded in 1630 by the priests Sean O’Neill and Teobaldo Estapletonio—clearly a Spanish adaptation of Stapleton—and closed in 1641, as the death of their founders leave the school with no money to support it.

For Students from Protestant Countries

It was re-launched little after thanks to the express desires of the Portuguese baron don Jorge de Paz Silveira, jailer of the fortress of Martos in Jaén, knight of Santiago and Cristo’s orders with lands and goods in Cuenca, who ruled as such in his testament. Once he deceased in 1645, his widow, Beatriz de Silveira, continued carrying out the project, choosing Alcalá for this purpose.

The college, founded in 1649 thanks to a found of 5000 ducats counted with twenty students and was dedicated San Jorge. The college did not take up its current land until several years after, when it was completely built up, before its definite emplacement in calle Colegios, afterwards known as Basilios’ college.

The aim of the school was to be a university seminar-school for Theology education of Irish, Flemmish and Dutch students, following the practice carried out in several Catholic universities of holding Protestant-country students under its influence—with the requirement of coming back to their countries after their studies to spread the Catholic faith in their native countries.

Remember that Ireland belonged to United Kingdom, where Anglicanism was already the official religion. Thus Irish, traditionally Catholics, suffered religious prosecutions in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, being banned, even, to study their religion.

At the same period in Spain, another Irish college was founded at university of Salamanca, as there was also hostelry in Madrid and other similar colleges, for English and Scottish.

Here the King Philip VII Slept

During long decades, the college got to be notable in Ireland, as several of the students reached the bishopric of their countries’ dioceses. However, as time went by, it started to pass through distressed circumstances, as incomings came from annuities—something similar to the current public debt—and inflation destroyed the interests.

Finally, the college was integrated with the Patronato Real by Charles III, but as he expelled Jewish from Spain, he combined Alcalá’s college with the Scottish one in Madrid, Spain, in 1768. A little afterwards, in 1785, such union was undid and the two Spanish Irish colleges were united, establishing the new college in Salamanca core.

The school was closed because of not being in good shape. A cornice was about to fall and the church belonging to the college demolished, so in 1795 it was auctioned and bought by Güemes earl, who turned it into a luxurious small palace for his and his family. Afterwards, it was property of Revillagigedo earl.

The category given by their new owners was such that in a visit made by King Philip VII in 1818 to Alcalá, he slept in there—the Archbishop’s Palace was not available anymore, royal residence when they visited the city. Commemorating such visit, since that date and during seventeen years, there was a decorated chain on top of the façade, hooked by nails that today continue in there.

Later on, as the time went by, in the twentieth century, it became humble condominiums, and little by little fell into disrepair, so in 1960s it lost the two side naves it had and even suffered some collapse while they did propping-up works in the eighties.

Today: Alcalingua

Finally, the building was saved and completely restored in the middle of the nineties, thanks to the intervention of Fundación Colegio de los Irlandeses, created by the University of Alcalá and Ireland embassy. It was later added to these organisms the group Jefferson Smurfit, so the current college is a training and exchange center between students of different nationalities, Alcalingua, dedicated to the teaching of Spanish as a second language and Spanish teachers training.

The college and Alcalingua are framed in the University of Alcalá. Though today the building is completely restored, but it keeps its traditional Barroque design, the façade of seven balconies and windows decorated with triangle pediments, the stone door on its upper part—result of the restoring made by 1676—and the cloister closed by a grille leading to plaza de los Irlandeses. To access it from calle Escritorios façade, turn back by an alley so-called in the past alley of Peril, for being point of duels and fights.

Additional Information:

Useful information:

Address: Calle Escritorios, 4
Telephone: +34 918 81 23 78
Web: www.alcalingua.com

Access from Madrid

Renfe Cercanías railroads C-1, C-2 and C7A.
Bus nº 223 (departure from Avenida de América Interchanger).

Image gallery:

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Colegio de los Irlandeses

11 de noviembre de 2013

Este texto también está disponible en español

Colegio de los Irlandeses is a wonderful example of the cosmopolitanism and relevance acquired by Alcalá de Henares with the opening of its university, especially among European Catholic countries.

The college—architectonical jewel of the square with the same name—undertook an important restoration in the 1990s. A beautiful enclave in the middle of the center—between calle Escritorios and calle Mayor—with two accesses to the college, one of them to corral de la Sinagoga.

San Patricio, San Jorje or los Irlandeses junior college—the three numbers it has or has had—was founded in 1630 by the priests Sean O’Neill and Teobaldo Estapletonio—clearly a Spanish adaptation of Stapleton—and closed in 1641, as the death of their founders leave the school with no money to support it.

For Students from Protestant Countries

It was re-launched little after thanks to the express desires of the Portuguese baron don Jorge de Paz Silveira, jailer of the fortress of Martos in Jaén, knight of Santiago and Cristo’s orders with lands and goods in Cuenca, who ruled as such in his testament. Once he deceased in 1645, his widow, Beatriz de Silveira, continued carrying out the project, choosing Alcalá for this purpose.

The college, founded in 1649 thanks to a found of 5000 ducats counted with twenty students and was dedicated San Jorge. The college did not take up its current land until several years after, when it was completely built up, before its definite emplacement in calle Colegios, afterwards known as Basilios’ college.

The aim of the school was to be a university seminar-school for Theology education of Irish, Flemmish and Dutch students, following the practice carried out in several Catholic universities of holding Protestant-country students under its influence—with the requirement of coming back to their countries after their studies to spread the Catholic faith in their native countries.

Remember that Ireland belonged to United Kingdom, where Anglicanism was already the official religion. Thus Irish, traditionally Catholics, suffered religious prosecutions in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, being banned, even, to study their religion.

At the same period in Spain, another Irish college was founded at university of Salamanca, as there was also hostelry in Madrid and other similar colleges, for English and Scottish.

Here the King Philip VII Slept

During long decades, the college got to be notable in Ireland, as several of the students reached the bishopric of their countries’ dioceses. However, as time went by, it started to pass through distressed circumstances, as incomings came from annuities—something similar to the current public debt—and inflation destroyed the interests.

Finally, the college was integrated with the Patronato Real by Charles III, but as he expelled Jewish from Spain, he combined Alcalá’s college with the Scottish one in Madrid, Spain, in 1768. A little afterwards, in 1785, such union was undid and the two Spanish Irish colleges were united, establishing the new college in Salamanca core.

The school was closed because of not being in good shape. A cornice was about to fall and the church belonging to the college demolished, so in 1795 it was auctioned and bought by Güemes earl, who turned it into a luxurious small palace for his and his family. Afterwards, it was property of Revillagigedo earl.

The category given by their new owners was such that in a visit made by King Philip VII in 1818 to Alcalá, he slept in there—the Archbishop’s Palace was not available anymore, royal residence when they visited the city. Commemorating such visit, since that date and during seventeen years, there was a decorated chain on top of the façade, hooked by nails that today continue in there.

Later on, as the time went by, in the twentieth century, it became humble condominiums, and little by little fell into disrepair, so in 1960s it lost the two side naves it had and even suffered some collapse while they did propping-up works in the eighties.

Today: Alcalingua

Finally, the building was saved and completely restored in the middle of the nineties, thanks to the intervention of Fundación Colegio de los Irlandeses, created by the University of Alcalá and Ireland embassy. It was later added to these organisms the group Jefferson Smurfit, so the current college is a training and exchange center between students of different nationalities, Alcalingua, dedicated to the teaching of Spanish as a second language and Spanish teachers training.

The college and Alcalingua are framed in the University of Alcalá. Though today the building is completely restored, but it keeps its traditional Barroque design, the façade of seven balconies and windows decorated with triangle pediments, the stone door on its upper part—result of the restoring made by 1676—and the cloister closed by a grille leading to plaza de los Irlandeses. To access it from calle Escritorios façade, turn back by an alley so-called in the past alley of Peril, for being point of duels and fights.

Additional Information:

Useful information:

Address: Calle Escritorios, 4
Telephone: +34 918 81 23 78
Web: www.alcalingua.com

Access from Madrid

Renfe Cercanías railroads C-1, C-2 and C7A.
Bus nº 223 (departure from Avenida de América Interchanger).

Image gallery:

On video:

Where is it

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Concierto XV Aniversario de “Alcalá, Ciudad Patrimonio de la Humanidad”

11 de noviembre de 2013

Diana Navarro y la Banda Sinfónica Complutense

Un concierto único de Diana Navarro con la Banda Sinfónica Complutense para celebrar el XV Aniversario de “Alcalá, Ciudad Patrimonio de la Humanidad”.

El 2 de diciembre, el Teatro Salón Cervantes acogerá un concierto excepcional protagonizado por la reconocida artista Diana Navarro y la Banda Sinfónica Complutense, con temas de copla y zarzuela en el repertorio.

Las entradas están a la venta a través de los cauces habituales (taquilla del Teatro Salón Cervantes, www.telentrada.es y en el teléfono 902 101 212).

El alcalde complutense, Javier Bello, ha explicado que se trata de un “espectáculo único, creado expresamente para celebrar el XV Aniversario de la declaración de una ciudad única, Alcalá de Henares, como Ciudad Patrimonio de la Humanidad”.

XV Anniversary Concert “Alcalá, World Heritage City”

11 de noviembre de 2013

A unique concert with Diana Navarro and the Complutense Symphonic Band to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of “Alcalá, Heritage City”.

On December 2, the Teatro Salón Cervantes will host a special concert featuring the renowned artist Diana Navarro and the Complutense Symphonic Band, with copla and zarzuela (operetta) in the repertoire.

Tickets are on sale through the usual channels (Teatro Salón Cervantes box office, www.telentrada.es and on the phone 902 101 212).

Complutense Mayor, Javier Bello, explained that it is a “unique show, created specifically to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the declaration of a unique city, Alcala de Henares, as a World Heritage Site.”

Feria de Repostería Monacal

11 de noviembre de 2013

Ven a disfrutar de la mejor repostería monacal en la plaza de Cervantes de Alcalá de Henares. Del 13 al 17 de noviembre Alcalá ofrece los dulces más tradicionales de la mano de las reposteras más “divinas”.

Alcalá de Henares es conocida por su repostería monacal, y de hecho hay dulces cuya reputación traspasa nuestras fronteras. Este es el caso de las almendras garrapiñadas que puedes adquirir durante todo el año en el Convento de las Clarisas. Las monjas de Alcalá también producen otros exquisitos dulces como las rosquillas de Alcalá.

La tradición de las monjas de hacer dulces en los conventos, es muy antigua, pero últimamente se viene generalizando la venta de estos productos en muchos más conventos, que además y adaptándose a los tiempos modernos han pasado a complementar su venta en el convento, con la aceptación de pedidos a través de Internet.

Además se está poniendo de moda la celebración de ferias de productos de este tipo, a las que asisten una gran cantidad de conventos para presentar sus productos y así darlos a conocer y mejorar sus cifras de venta. De hecho, ya existen varias empresas dedicadas a la comercialización de productos artesanos elaborados en conventos.

Yemas de Salamanca, almendras garrapiñadas, avellanitos, sobaos pasiegos, paciencias o pestiños son una muestra de los productos de repostería monacal que se podrán ver en estos días. Dulces provenientes de diversos Monasterios y Órdenes de todo el territorio nacional, que han hecho una selección de sus mejores postres artesanos, algunos con recetas que datan del siglo XII.

Los dulces típicos de las monjas

Suspiros de monja, yemas de Santa Teresa, tocinos de cielo, huesos de santo, glorias, corazones de obispo, orejas de fraile y teta de novicia entre otros son nombres típicos que nos indican la procedencia de estos productos. Pero no sólo estos componen la variada oferta de los conventos y tienen reconocida fama las almendras garrapiñadas, los alfajores, polvorones, mazapanes y otro sinfín de ellos, típicos de cada convento.

Si quieres conocer de cerca la oferta de estas maravillosas artesanas, acércate a la plaza de Cervantes del 13 al 17 de noviembre, en horario de 10 de la mañana a 10 de la noche.

Monacal Pastries Fair

11 de noviembre de 2013

Come and enjoy the best monacal pastries in the plaza de Cervantes of Alcalá de Henares. From 13 to 17 November Alcalá offers the most traditional sweets made by the most “divine” hands.

Alcala de Henares is well-known for its monacal pastries, and indeed there are sweets whose reputation goes beyond our borders. This is the case of Almonds of Alcalá you can acquire throughout the year at the Convento de las Clarisas. The nuns of Alcala also produce other delicious sweets such as Alcalá’s Ring-Shaped Pastries.

The tradition of nuns making pastries in convents is very old, but lately it has been spreaded the sale of these products in many of these monasteries, and also adapting to modern times they have come to supplement their sale in the convent with accepting orders over the Internet.

Also becoming popular is the product fairs of this kind, attended by a large number of convents to present their products and thus make them known and improve their sales figures. In fact, there are several companies engaged in the marketing of craft products made in convents.

Salamanca yolks, almonds, avellanitos, sobaos pasiegos, paciencias or fritters are a sample of monastic baked goods that can be seen these days. Sweets from various monasteries and orders throughout the country, who have made a selection of the best homemade desserts, some with recipes dating back to the 12th century.

Typical home made pastries

Suspiros de monja, yemas de Santa Teresa, tocinos de cielo, huesos de santo, glorias, corazones de obispo, orejas de fraile y teta de novicia among others are typical names that indicate the origin of these products. But not only these make up the varied and convents are famous Almonds of Alcalá, alfajores, polvorones, marzipan and a host of them, typical of each convent.

If you want to learn about the range of these wonderful artisans, head to the plaza de Cervantes 13 to November 17, from 10 am to 10 pm.

The bocadillo: Spain’s go-to to-go food

10 de noviembre de 2013

Road trips, baseball games, lunches on the run – all events that might conjure up images of greasy burgers and large sodas (for us Americans anyway).

The post The bocadillo: Spain’s go-to to-go food appeared first on La tortuga viajera.

A long drive through the US usually leaves me starved and perplexed since McDonald’s just isn’t on the list of stops that I’m willing to make. Spain, of course, is another story. Here, I save my appetite specifically for the road trips.

Unlike the US, the roadsides in Spain are not littered with burger joints and drive-thrus. Instead you will find that next to nearly all freeway gas stations there are cafeterías. Cafeterías, as you may remember, are a cross between a restaurant and a bar, and in many cases might surprise you with their trashy floors. This roadside version of this cafetería typically isn’t a franchise or chain, but just an establishment run by some local Spaniard who wants to serve up good roadside grub.

The magic in this is that each of these cafeteríaswill almost always serve you the most standard of delicious Spanish bocadillos (along with a variety of other dishes). These bocadillos(sandwiches) include items like jamón,manchego cheese or tortilla española served on a freshly baked baguette (yes, I said “freshly baked” – believe it or not, gas stations here customarily cook and sell freshly baked bread). It’s nothing fancy – no condiments, no tomatoes or onions, just pure Spanish goodness served between a soft, billowy roll of bread. Taken to-go, or eaten at the bar and followed by a café solo(espresso), the bocadillo IS Spanish fast food. Protein, carbs, fats – everything one could wish for when hunger starts calling mid-road-trip.

This beloved Spanish sandwich isn’t just a staple on roadsides, however. Like American fast food, it is an integral part of to-go food culture here in Spain. Last week I went to a Real Madrid game and was tickled to see every person in site whip out a wrapped up bocadillo at half time (pardon, “intermission.” This soccer lingo is way over my head). Everywhere I turned, I saw another fútbol fan happily chatting with their friends while inhaling their favorite Spanish hoagy. No fries, no hot dogs, no burgers (and don’t think it’s because the Spaniards don’t love themselves a burger, because they do, probably more than Americans actually).

So, when I’m hitting the roads of Spain, like I often do, what is my bocadillo of choice? Jamón Ibérico andmanchego cheese. Pure bocadillo love my friends. Incidentally, I am off to the US for the holidays this Saturday, which means that jamón and manchego cheese withdrawals start in T minus 2 days!

The post The bocadillo: Spain’s go-to to-go food appeared first on La tortuga viajera.

The bocadillo: Spain’s go-to to-go food

10 de noviembre de 2013

Road trips, baseball games, lunches on the run – all events that might conjure up images of greasy burgers and large sodas (for us Americans anyway).

The post The bocadillo: Spain’s go-to to-go food appeared first on La tortuga viajera.

A long drive through the US usually leaves me starved and perplexed since McDonald’s just isn’t on the list of stops that I’m willing to make. Spain, of course, is another story. Here, I save my appetite specifically for the road trips.

Unlike the US, the roadsides in Spain are not littered with burger joints and drive-thrus. Instead you will find that next to nearly all freeway gas stations there are cafeterías. Cafeterías, as you may remember, are a cross between a restaurant and a bar, and in many cases might surprise you with their trashy floors. This roadside version of this cafetería typically isn’t a franchise or chain, but just an establishment run by some local Spaniard who wants to serve up good roadside grub.

The magic in this is that each of these cafeteríaswill almost always serve you the most standard of delicious Spanish bocadillos (along with a variety of other dishes). These bocadillos(sandwiches) include items like jamón,manchego cheese or tortilla española served on a freshly baked baguette (yes, I said “freshly baked” – believe it or not, gas stations here customarily cook and sell freshly baked bread). It’s nothing fancy – no condiments, no tomatoes or onions, just pure Spanish goodness served between a soft, billowy roll of bread. Taken to-go, or eaten at the bar and followed by a café solo(espresso), the bocadillo IS Spanish fast food. Protein, carbs, fats – everything one could wish for when hunger starts calling mid-road-trip.

This beloved Spanish sandwich isn’t just a staple on roadsides, however. Like American fast food, it is an integral part of to-go food culture here in Spain. Last week I went to a Real Madrid game and was tickled to see every person in site whip out a wrapped up bocadillo at half time (pardon, “intermission.” This soccer lingo is way over my head). Everywhere I turned, I saw another fútbol fan happily chatting with their friends while inhaling their favorite Spanish hoagy. No fries, no hot dogs, no burgers (and don’t think it’s because the Spaniards don’t love themselves a burger, because they do, probably more than Americans actually).

So, when I’m hitting the roads of Spain, like I often do, what is my bocadillo of choice? Jamón Ibérico andmanchego cheese. Pure bocadillo love my friends. Incidentally, I am off to the US for the holidays this Saturday, which means that jamón and manchego cheese withdrawals start in T minus 2 days!

The post The bocadillo: Spain’s go-to to-go food appeared first on La tortuga viajera.

Great Spanish Slang to Make You Sound Like You Belong in Spain

10 de noviembre de 2013

I don’t know about you, but in my high school we learned Mexican/South-American Spanish. Now there’s nothing wrong with this (except for the part we totally skipped a tense [vosotros]), but when I decided to study abroad in Spain, I knew I wanted to learn Spain Spanish (Castilian Spanish).

The post Great Spanish Slang to Make You Sound Like You Belong in Spain appeared first on ymuchomas.com

Only one problem: I didn’t know any Spaniards, nor had I entered the wonderful world of blogs. So I came to Spain in 2008 with very little knowledge of colloquial Castilian Spanish.

But you? No need to worry—I’ve got you covered. Here are some of my favorite ways to sound totally guay in Spain:

¡Es la caña!

Alternate versions: ¡Es la leche! ¡Es la bomba! ¡ Es la pera (limonera)!
Meaning: It’s awesome!
How to use it: ¡El nuevo coche de José es la caña!

Está como un cencerro

Alternate versions: Está como una cabra. Está como una regadera.
Meaning: He/She/It is crazy.
How to use it: Mi vecino siempre está subiendo y bajando las escaleras, hablándose a sí mismo. Está como un cencerro.

¡Qué chulo!

Alternate versions: ¡Qué guay! ¡Qué pasada! ¡Genial! ¡Chachi (more for kids)!
Meaning: Awesome! Cool!
How to use it: ¿Has visto la camiseta de la selección? ¡Qué chula!

Está en el quinto pino

Alternate version: Está el quinto pimiento
Meaning: It’s very far away /it’s out in the middle of nowhere.
How to use it: El nuevo centro comercial está en el quinto pino; se tarda 45 minutos en coche.

Me cae gordo

Alternate version: Me cae (muy) mal.
Meaning: I don’t like him/her at all.
How to use it: Mi nuevo compañero de trabajo me cae gordo. Siempre me interrumpe.

Vete a freír espárragos

Alternate version: Vete a hacer puñetas.
Meaning: Go away / leave me alone.
How to use it: ¡Deja de molestarme y vete a freír espárragos!

Dar la lata

Alternate versions: Dar la paliza. .Dar la vara. Dar la chapa. Dar la murga.
Meaning: To pester/bother someone. To be tiresome.
How to use it: Ojalá Susana deje de darme la lata con todas sus preguntas.

Me importa un pimiento

Alternate versions: Me importa un pepino. Me importa un comino. Me importa un pito.
Meaning: I could give a damn / It doesn’t matter to me at all.
How to use it: Las ideas del presidente me importan un pimiento.

¡Qué fuerte!

Meaning: Unbelievable! / No way!
How to use it: A: ¿Sabes lo que le ha pasado a Raúl? ¡Resulta que se casó y nadie lo sabía!
B: ¡Qué fuerte!

Me lo pasé pipa

Alternate versions: Me lo pasé bomba. Me lo pasé en grande.
Meaning: I had an amazing time.
How to use it: Me lo pasé pipa en el concierto.

What are your favorite Spanish expressions to make you sound like a total native?

The post Great Spanish Slang to Make You Sound Like You Belong in Spain appeared first on ymuchomas.com

Great Spanish Slang to Make You Sound Like You Belong in Spain

10 de noviembre de 2013

I don’t know about you, but in my high school we learned Mexican/South-American Spanish. Now there’s nothing wrong with this (except for the part we totally skipped a tense [vosotros]), but when I decided to study abroad in Spain, I knew I wanted to learn Spain Spanish (Castilian Spanish).

The post Great Spanish Slang to Make You Sound Like You Belong in Spain appeared first on ymuchomas.com

Only one problem: I didn’t know any Spaniards, nor had I entered the wonderful world of blogs. So I came to Spain in 2008 with very little knowledge of colloquial Castilian Spanish.

But you? No need to worry—I’ve got you covered. Here are some of my favorite ways to sound totally guay in Spain:

¡Es la caña!

Alternate versions: ¡Es la leche! ¡Es la bomba! ¡ Es la pera (limonera)!
Meaning: It’s awesome!
How to use it: ¡El nuevo coche de José es la caña!

Está como un cencerro

Alternate versions: Está como una cabra. Está como una regadera.
Meaning: He/She/It is crazy.
How to use it: Mi vecino siempre está subiendo y bajando las escaleras, hablándose a sí mismo. Está como un cencerro.

¡Qué chulo!

Alternate versions: ¡Qué guay! ¡Qué pasada! ¡Genial! ¡Chachi (more for kids)!
Meaning: Awesome! Cool!
How to use it: ¿Has visto la camiseta de la selección? ¡Qué chula!

Está en el quinto pino

Alternate version: Está el quinto pimiento
Meaning: It’s very far away /it’s out in the middle of nowhere.
How to use it: El nuevo centro comercial está en el quinto pino; se tarda 45 minutos en coche.

Me cae gordo

Alternate version: Me cae (muy) mal.
Meaning: I don’t like him/her at all.
How to use it: Mi nuevo compañero de trabajo me cae gordo. Siempre me interrumpe.

Vete a freír espárragos

Alternate version: Vete a hacer puñetas.
Meaning: Go away / leave me alone.
How to use it: ¡Deja de molestarme y vete a freír espárragos!

Dar la lata

Alternate versions: Dar la paliza. .Dar la vara. Dar la chapa. Dar la murga.
Meaning: To pester/bother someone. To be tiresome.
How to use it: Ojalá Susana deje de darme la lata con todas sus preguntas.

Me importa un pimiento

Alternate versions: Me importa un pepino. Me importa un comino. Me importa un pito.
Meaning: I could give a damn / It doesn’t matter to me at all.
How to use it: Las ideas del presidente me importan un pimiento.

¡Qué fuerte!

Meaning: Unbelievable! / No way!
How to use it: A: ¿Sabes lo que le ha pasado a Raúl? ¡Resulta que se casó y nadie lo sabía!
B: ¡Qué fuerte!

Me lo pasé pipa

Alternate versions: Me lo pasé bomba. Me lo pasé en grande.
Meaning: I had an amazing time.
How to use it: Me lo pasé pipa en el concierto.

What are your favorite Spanish expressions to make you sound like a total native?

The post Great Spanish Slang to Make You Sound Like You Belong in Spain appeared first on ymuchomas.com

Paradores celebra el ‘Mes del Puchero’ en noviembre

7 de noviembre de 2013

Menús de cuchara y platos tradicionales serán los protagonistas durante 30 días en el ‘Mes del Puchero’ celebrado por Paradores, en el que se ofrecerán guisos desde 12 euros, según informó la red hotelera en un comunicado.

Tras el éxito del mes dedicado al queso, Paradores dedica el próximo mes a la gastronomía tradicional presente en toda la geografía española, que incluye platos de origen humilde, caseros y elaborados con recetas tradicionales precedentes e de diversos restaurantes.

De esta forma, la compañía acerca a sus clientes a los “sabores de toda la vida”, rescatando así “elaboraciones originales, saludables y exquisitas, consolidadas a lo largo de los siglos”. Entre ellos se encuentran lentejas, guiso de patatas y pescados, judías estofadas con cerdo y chorizo, cazuela de fideos con pescado, cocido Rías Baixas y guiso de Papas con costillas.

A base de legumbres combinadas con verduras, carne o pescado, los cocineros de Paradores han elaborado el ‘Puchero del día’, seleccionado en función de la zona, que se ofrecerá de lunes a viernes al precio de 12 euros y un menú completo por un precio de 25 euros el fin de semana.

Asimismo, todos los Paradores ofrecerán tapas de puchero en la oferta de cafetería.

Más información:

Parador de Turismo de Alcalá de Henares

Paradores are Celebrating the ‘Month of the Pot’

7 de noviembre de 2013

Menus with delicious stews, hotpots and traditional dishes will be featured for 30 days in the ‘Month of the Pot’ held by Paradores, which offer dishes from 12 euros.

Following the success of the month dedicated to cheese, this month dedicated to the traditional cuisine present throughout the Spanish geography, which includes dishes from humble, homemade and prepared with traditional recipes from various restaurants.

That way, the company bring to its customers the “flavors of cuisine ofour forefathers”, thus rescuing original elaborations, healthy and delicious, consolidated over the centuries. These include lentils, potatoes and fish stew, baked beans with pork and chorizo, fish noodle casserole, cocido Rias Baixas and Potatoes and ribs stew.

Using legumes combined with vegetables, meat or fish, Paradores chefs have developed the ‘stew of the day’, selected according to the area, which will be offered Monday through Friday at the price of 12 euros and a full menu for price of 25 euros for the weekend.

Also, all Paradores will offer “potted tapas” in their cafeteria.

Additional information:

Parador de Turismo de Alcalá de Henares

Burgo de Santiuste Intepretation Center

7 de noviembre de 2013

Burgo de Santiuste is the mediaeval name of Alcalá de Henares. In the center of the city, you can go through a journey dedicated to its ten centuries of history, between the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 to the creation of Cisneros Cardinal university in 1499.

Burgo de Santiuste Intepretation Center was opened in March 2010, and covers the hole left by the museums of the city telling the history of Alcalá in its mediaeval period. It is placed in a nineteenth-century building next to the walled enclosure and the Archbishop’s Palace.

The Five Names of Alcalá

Burgo de Santiuste Intepretation Center has a base floor, a first one and a basement. In them, you can discover the past of Alcalá through an open space full of great panels with street maps, texts and photographs, several monitors with interactive videos, facsimile copies of important documents basics for the city’s history—such as Fuero Viejo [Old Priviledges]—and some original sculptures of great value.

Within the building, the unknown Alcalá’s history is showed. The construction, as the great majority of buildings present in the historical center of the city, dates back from sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and after. You will find information about post-Roman Alcalá, when the city was known as Complutum—as Visigoths continued calling it—, turning little by little into Campo Laudable.

Physically extended around the Magisterial Cathedral, the city was placed in the same land where it was Qal’at Abd al-Salam—meaning “The Castle of Peace”—, Muslim Alcalá, to become afterwards Burgo de Santiuste in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, after what its name was gradually consolidated as the current Alcalá de Henares.

110 Original Pieces

An interpretation center —clear denomination of such kind of museums—has the aim of connecting historical and artistic objects to transmit to help people to best comprehend the history described in the center. Burgo de Santiuste Intepretation Center is located in a very appropriate environment, next to what it was Campo Laudable, where currently are Magisterial Cathedral and calle Victoria, a few meters away from the Archbishop’s Palace, built in 1209 by the Archbishop Jiménez de Rada.

The building is in front of the walled enclosure and has 227 square meters. It has about 110 original pieces from different places of the very same city, besides two important sculptures and models representing the Puerta de Burgos, one of the mediaeval entries to the city—currently into the vegetable garden of Bernardas Convent—and a waterwheel. Several 3D reconstructions can be also contemplated and consulted in several interactive screens what the village of Alcalá was like in the time of Burgo de Santiuste, the town planning and its inhabitants’ lifestyle in the period in which the village had three neighborhoods with three religions: Christians, Jews and Muslims. A quite pacific cohabitation testified by Antezana’s Hospital—founded by the couple with the same name—, placed in calle Mayor, where it still, in front of one of the two synagogues, in the middle of the Jewish quarter.

A History in Three Floors

The Burgo de Santiuste Intepretation Center divides the route in three floors: the first visit is performed in the ground floor where the access is, then, you go up to the first floor and, finally, end the visit with the basement. In the ground floor, once the reception is passed, you can go back in time through Alcalá’s history, since prehistory to the beginning of the Christian era, the period from Romans to the eighth century and since then to nowadays, thanks to the three showcases. In this floor, you can also contemplate three interactive monitors in which different settlers of Alcalá are shown, from an aerial view, a summary of village and city history, and the ten most significant pieces of the Center.

The first floor holds the core of interpretation center, where to know the development of Burgo de Santiuste along Middle Ages. For that purpose, there are five didactic panels with four showcases containing representative objects, as well as audiovisual support. The panels show the following topics: “Middle Ages”, “Settlers: Campo Laudable. Fifth to eleventh centuries, Qal’at Abd al-Salam (The Old Alcalá). Eight to twelfth centuries and Burgo de Santiuste. Twelfth to fifteenth century”.

Showcases, texts and objects from that period describe what Visigoth Alcalá was and the lifestyle of the city in the limits between Christian Monarchs of Castilla y León and Toledo’s Crew—until it was finally conquered by the archbishop Bernardo de Sedirac in 1118. Their daily activity and lifestyle is also showed. Likely, you can see the evolution of Burgo de Santiuste as Christian village—developed under the protection of Toledo’s archbishops between twelfth and fifteenth century, when the fortress after turned into the Archbishop’s Palace was stood up—and the walled enclosure with its twenty towers almost totally able to visit today (see below image) with an additional enclosure surrounding and protecting the whole city, to plaza del Coso, current plaza de Cervantes.

Lámina de Anton Van der Wyngaerde - Año 1565 - Original en la Biblioteca Nacional de Viena — Anton Van der Wyngaerde Illustration– Year 1565 – Original into the Austrian National Library

Thus, you can contemplate the height of the Burgo, the building of the church of Santiuste, afterwards becoming Magisterial, its calle Mayor and its three neighborhood structure, Christian, Jewish and Muslim—an urban planning which, along with the expansion given by Cisneros Cardinal University, would originate today’s Alcalá.

Fueros and Papal Bull

The basement is the part of the museum where the route is over, centered thus at the end of Middle Ages and beginning of Renaissance, which preceded the birth of Modern Period. Audiovisual and interactive monitors will give you information about Fueros, the Old and the New—laws ruling the city—, the Papal Bull of Pope Alexander VI—authorizing Cisneros to create the University of Alcalá—, as well as many other important documents, such as the Polyglot Bible—which will help you to know in depth the background of the Center contain. In the hall where you finish your visit, admiring San Lucas and San Nicolás statues—from San Lucas Hospital, place in plaza de Atilano Casado. Those art pieces are chosen for closing visitor’s route, because they are the best model of the new historical period arrived to Alcalá de Henares.

Additional Information:

Interpretation Center Burgo de Santiuste PDF

Useful information:

Address: Calle Cardenal Sandoval y Rojas, 3
Telephone: +34 91 877 17 50
Monday and Tuesday: Closed
Opening hours Wed-Sun: from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: 1 €
Email: tear@complutum.com
Web: www.alcalavirtual.es

Access from Madrid

Renfe Cercanías railroads C-1, C-2 and C7A.
Bus nº 223 (departure from Avenida de América Interchanger).

Image gallery:

[gdl_gallery title=”burgo-de-santiuste” width=”120″ height=”95″]

On video:

Where is it

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Burgo de Santiuste Intepretation Center

7 de noviembre de 2013

Este texto también está disponible en español

Burgo de Santiuste is the mediaeval name of Alcalá de Henares. In the center of the city, you can go through a journey dedicated to its ten centuries of history, between the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 to the creation of Cisneros Cardinal university in 1499.

Burgo de Santiuste Intepretation Center was opened in March 2010, and covers the hole left by the museums of the city telling the history of Alcalá in its mediaeval period. It is placed in a nineteenth-century building next to the walled enclosure and the Archbishop’s Palace.

The Five Names of Alcalá

Burgo de Santiuste Intepretation Center has a base floor, a first one and a basement. In them, you can discover the past of Alcalá through an open space full of great panels with street maps, texts and photographs, several monitors with interactive videos, facsimile copies of important documents basics for the city’s history—such as Fuero Viejo [Old Priviledges]—and some original sculptures of great value.

Within the building, the unknown Alcalá’s history is showed. The construction, as the great majority of buildings present in the historical center of the city, dates back from sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and after. You will find information about post-Roman Alcalá, when the city was known as Complutum—as Visigoths continued calling it—, turning little by little into Campo Laudable.

Physically extended around the Magisterial Cathedral, the city was placed in the same land where it was Qal’at Abd al-Salam—meaning “The Castle of Peace”—, Muslim Alcalá, to become afterwards Burgo de Santiuste in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, after what its name was gradually consolidated as the current Alcalá de Henares.

110 Original Pieces

An interpretation center —clear denomination of such kind of museums—has the aim of connecting historical and artistic objects to transmit to help people to best comprehend the history described in the center. Burgo de Santiuste Intepretation Center is located in a very appropriate environment, next to what it was Campo Laudable, where currently are Magisterial Cathedral and calle Victoria, a few meters away from the Archbishop’s Palace, built in 1209 by the Archbishop Jiménez de Rada.

The building is in front of the walled enclosure and has 227 square meters. It has about 110 original pieces from different places of the very same city, besides two important sculptures and models representing the Puerta de Burgos, one of the mediaeval entries to the city—currently into the vegetable garden of Bernardas Convent—and a waterwheel. Several 3D reconstructions can be also contemplated and consulted in several interactive screens what the village of Alcalá was like in the time of Burgo de Santiuste, the town planning and its inhabitants’ lifestyle in the period in which the village had three neighborhoods with three religions: Christians, Jews and Muslims. A quite pacific cohabitation testified by Antezana’s Hospital—founded by the couple with the same name—, placed in calle Mayor, where it still, in front of one of the two synagogues, in the middle of the Jewish quarter.

A History in Three Floors

The Burgo de Santiuste Intepretation Center divides the route in three floors: the first visit is performed in the ground floor where the access is, then, you go up to the first floor and, finally, end the visit with the basement. In the ground floor, once the reception is passed, you can go back in time through Alcalá’s history, since prehistory to the beginning of the Christian era, the period from Romans to the eighth century and since then to nowadays, thanks to the three showcases. In this floor, you can also contemplate three interactive monitors in which different settlers of Alcalá are shown, from an aerial view, a summary of village and city history, and the ten most significant pieces of the Center.

The first floor holds the core of interpretation center, where to know the development of Burgo de Santiuste along Middle Ages. For that purpose, there are five didactic panels with four showcases containing representative objects, as well as audiovisual support. The panels show the following topics: “Middle Ages”, “Settlers: Campo Laudable. Fifth to eleventh centuries, Qal’at Abd al-Salam (The Old Alcalá). Eight to twelfth centuries and Burgo de Santiuste. Twelfth to fifteenth century”.

Showcases, texts and objects from that period describe what Visigoth Alcalá was and the lifestyle of the city in the limits between Christian Monarchs of Castilla y León and Toledo’s Crew—until it was finally conquered by the archbishop Bernardo de Sedirac in 1118. Their daily activity and lifestyle is also showed. Likely, you can see the evolution of Burgo de Santiuste as Christian village—developed under the protection of Toledo’s archbishops between twelfth and fifteenth century, when the fortress after turned into the Archbishop’s Palace was stood up—and the walled enclosure with its twenty towers almost totally able to visit today (see below image) with an additional enclosure surrounding and protecting the whole city, to plaza del Coso, current plaza de Cervantes.

Thus, you can contemplate the height of the Burgo, the building of the church of Santiuste, afterwards becoming Magisterial, its calle Mayor and its three neighborhood structure, Christian, Jewish and Muslim—an urban planning which, along with the expansion given by Cisneros Cardinal University, would originate today’s Alcalá.

Fueros and Papal Bull

The basement is the part of the museum where the route is over, centered thus at the end of Middle Ages and beginning of Renaissance, which preceded the birth of Modern Period. Audiovisual and interactive monitors will give you information about Fueros, the Old and the New—laws ruling the city—, the Papal Bull of Pope Alexander VI—authorizing Cisneros to create the University of Alcalá—, as well as many other important documents, such as the Polyglot Bible—which will help you to know in depth the background of the Center contain. In the hall where you finish your visit, admiring San Lucas and San Nicolás statues—from San Lucas Hospital, place in plaza de Atilano Casado. Those art pieces are chosen for closing visitor’s route, because they are the best model of the new historical period arrived to Alcalá de Henares.

Additional Information:

Interpretation Center Burgo de Santiuste PDF

Useful information:

Address: Calle Cardenal Sandoval y Rojas, 3
Telephone: +34 91 877 17 50
Monday and Tuesday: Closed
Opening hours Wed-Sun: from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: 1 €
Email: tear@complutum.com
Web: www.alcalavirtual.es

Access from Madrid

Renfe Cercanías railroads C-1, C-2 and C7A.
Bus nº 223 (departure from Avenida de América Interchanger).

Image gallery:

Centro de Interpretación del Burgo de Santiuste - los Fueros

Centro de Interpretación del Burgo de Santiuste - La torre XIV y la Puerta de Burgos

Centro de Interpretación del Burgo de Santiuste - Entrada

Centro de Interpretación del Burgo de Santiuste - Entrada interior

Centro de Interpretación del Burgo de Santiuste - detalle escalera

Centro de Interpretación del Burgo de Santiuste

Centro de Interpretación del Burgo de Santiuste - Renacimiento y Humanismo

Where is it

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