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Discover what to do in Alcalá
Food in Alcalá
Of all European countries, Spain was not particularly known for its food for me. But within five months of living in Alcalá, I came to very much appreciate not only Spanish cuisine but also the way Spaniards eat.
Lily Moaba, New Jersey, USA
Adjusting to the schedule was a bit of a shock at first. The family I lived with ate a small breakfast of coffee with milk and a few cookies. Lunch was at three and was the biggest meal of the day. When I couldn’t wait until three to eat, my Spanish “mother” would pack me a merienda, or snack, to bring to school.
During break, many students would snack on bocadillos, or sandwiches, that they had brought from home. It’s not uncommon for the whole family to eat lunch together during the week: parents return home from work and students from school.
Lunchtime meals were often prepared well ahead of time by my homestay mother. Some of my favorites included zucchini soup, stuffed eggplant with morcilla, and delicious meatballs with potato purée.
At ten o’clock we ate dinner and it was usually less of a production than lunch. Sometimes we would just eat fried eggs with bread and vegetables, or my favorite, the Spanish omelet. For dessert, yogurt and fruit was common.
It’s hard to categorize Spanish food but if I had to describe Spanish home cooking I would say there is an emphasis on eating with the family, cooking what is in season, and using little if any processed foods.
La comida en Alcalá
De todos los países europeos, para mí España no era especialmente conocida por su comida. Sin embargo, en los cinco meses que estuve viviendo en Alcalá, llegué a apreciar mucho no sólo la cocina española, sino también la forma en que comen los españoles.
Lily Moaba, New Jersey, EE.UU.
Ajustar mi horario a las comidas fue un poco complicado al principio. La familia con la que viví tomaba un pequeño desayuno que fundamentalmente constaba de café con leche y unas galletas. El almuerzo era a las tres y era la comida más importante del día. Cuando no podía esperar hasta las tres para comer, mi «madre» española me preparaba una merienda o tentempié, para llevar a la escuela. Durante los descansos en clase muchos estudiantes comían bocadillos o sándwiches que habían traído de casa.
No es nada raro en España que toda la familia almuerce junta durante la semana: si lo permite la distancia, los padres regresan a casa del trabajo y los estudiantes de la escuela.
El almuerzo se solía preparar con suficiente antelación. Algunos de mis platos favoritos eran la crema de calabacín, la berenjena rellena con morcilla y sus deliciosas albóndigas con puré de patatas.
Sobre las diez solíamos cenar, y por lo general era una comida menos abundante que el almuerzo. A veces tomábamos huevos fritos con pan y verduras, o mi favorito: la tortilla española. Para el postre, yogur y fruta era muy común.
Es difícil clasificar la comida española, pero si tuviera que describir la cocina casera española yo diría que pone mucho énfasis en comer en familia, cocinar ingredientes de temporada, y utilizar pocos (o ninguno) alimentos precocinados.
Tapas in Alcalá
The word “tapas” excites most people who travel to Spain, especially foodies. These delectable mini-meals traditionally come in small portions (so you can try many of them in one sitting), are acceptable to eat any time of day, are served at almost every Spanish bar, and depending on the area come free when you order a drink! In fact, most bars in Alcala offer a free tapa with every drink you order. Can’t beat that deal.
Becca Fogel, New Jersey, USA.
So, whether you are a student on a tight budget and want a small beer with a fried calamari sandwich for only 3-4 Euro, or a gastro-lover looking to explore Spain’s cuisine (or both) – tapas are for you.
Some traditional tapas include croquetas (small bread-crumbed rolls often containing ham or shrimp with mashed potatoes), the tortilla española (Spanish omelette), and patatas bravas (potatoes with aioli). In addition, many tapas come in the style of a piece of bread with any variety of meats, vegetables and/or cheeses on top, for convenient eating. At most tapas bars, you will also notice the large number of red meats on the menu, such as lomo (pork loin), chorizo, and jamon (ham).
Ok, quick history break: while tapas now have international fame and range from simple bar food to fancy gourmet drool-worthy bites (depending where you go), it is interesting to note tapas have a very modest roots in health concerns. The word tapa itself (which means lid/cover) comes from the old tradition of covering a drink with a single piece of meat or bread to keep the flies out.
So, let’s take a moment to thank the flies for contributing to tapa culture!
One last thing to remember: though tapas are delicious, they are more than just food. In Alcala, one of the best activities for a sunny afternoon is to sit outside with friends and share tapas and cold drinks. In Spain, and specifically Alcalá (home to several excellent tapas bars), tapas are practically synonymous with good food, good friends, and long hours of laughter.
So…
….A tapear! (“let’s tapa!”)
Tapas en Alcalá, la visión de un turista
La palabra «tapas» emociona a la mayoría de las personas que viajan a España, especialmente a los más sibaritas. Estas mini-comidas deliciosas tradicionalmente se sirven en pequeñas porciones (por lo que se pueden probar varias de una sola vez). Se suelen tomar a cualquier hora del día, se sirven en casi todos los bares españoles y, dependiendo de la zona, ¡se ofrecen gratis al pedir una bebida! De hecho, la mayoría de los bares de Alcalá ofrecen una tapa gratis con cada bebida que pidas. ¡Resulta una oferta insuperable!
Becca Fogel, Nueva Jersey, EE.UU.
Así pues, tanto si eres un estudiante con un presupuesto ajustado y quieres una cerveza con un pequeño bocadillo de calamares por sólo 3-4 euros, como un amante de la gastronomía con deseos de explorar la cocina de España (o ambos) – las tapas son para ti.
Algunas tapas tradicionales incluyen croquetas (pequeñas porciones de masa hecha con un picadillo de diversos ingredientes, rebozadas en huevo y pan rallado y fritas, que a menudo contienen jamón o langostinos con bechamel), la tortilla de patatas (tortilla española), y patatas bravas (patatas con mayonesa y tomate picante). Además, muchas tapas vienen en el formato de un pedazo de pan con cualquier variedad de carnes, verduras y / o quesos en la parte superior, para comerlos cómodamente. En la mayoría de los bares de tapas también se puede disfrutar un gran cantidad de carnes rojas como el lomo de cerdo, el chorizo y el típico jamón serrano.
Ok, un rápido inciso: aunque las tapas tienen ahora fama internacional y van desde la sencilla comida de bar a los más exquisitos bocados de gourmet (dependiendo de donde vayas), es interesante observar que las tapas tienen unas raíces muy modestas. La palabra tapa (en su significado de tapa/cubierta) proviene de la antigua tradición de cubrir una bebida con una pieza de carne o pan para mantener alejadas a las moscas .
Por lo tanto, ¡detengámonos un momento para agradecer a las moscas su contribución a la cultura de la tapa!
Una última cosa que debes recordar: aunque las tapas son deliciosas, son algo más que comida. En Alcalá, una de las mejores actividades para una tarde soleada es sentarse al aire libre con amigos y compartir unas bebidas frías con unas tapas. En España, y en concreto en Alcalá (donde existen multitud de excelentes bares de tapas), las tapas son prácticamente sinónimo de buena comida, buenos amigos, y largas horas de diversión.
Así que…
….A tapear!
Almendras de Alcalá
Aparte de la Universidad de Alcalá y de ser el lugar de nacimiento de Miguel de Cervantes (el autor de El ingenioso Don Quijote de la Mancha), Alcalá es también conocida por sus almendras garrapiñadas.
Brian, Utah, EE.UU.
Se pueden comprar en cualquier tienda en la ciudad. Pero las mejores son las del Convento de las Clarisas de San Diego, al lado de la Universidad. Es un convento de monjas de clausura (lo que significa que no pueden tener ningún contacto con el mundo exterior), por lo que han desarrollado una forma muy astuta para poder vender las almendras garrapiñadas. Cruzas una puerta y entras en una habitación pequeña. Hay una campana y una especie de ventana giratoria. No se puede ver el otro lado de la ventana. Debes llamar al timbre y esperar a que la monja llegue al otro lado de la ventana. La contraseña es «Ave María Purísima». La respuesta de la monja será «Sin Pecado Concebida». Luego le dices que tamaño de la caja de almendras que deseas. Debes pone el dinero sobre la mesa giratoria, la monja le da la vuelta y BAZINGA! Consigues tus deliciosas almendras.
Las monjas usan el dinero para financiar su convento. Y tú consigues unas deliciosas almendras de la forma más barata. Es una combinación ganadora.
En resumen: «Ave María Purísima» = deliciosas almendras.
Almonds of Alcalá
Apart from the University of Alcalá and being the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes (the author of El ingenioso Don Quijote de la Mancha), Alcalá is also known for its almendras garrapiñadas. Glazed almonds.
Brian, Utah, USA
Anyway, you can buy these from any shop in town. But the best ones are at the Convent of the Clarisas of San Diego, right next to the University.
These monjas (nuns) are cloistered (meaning they can’t have any contact with the outside world), so there is a super sneaky way to buy almonds from them. You go through a door into a small room. There is a bell and a kind of turntable window. You can’t see the other side of the window. You ring the bell and wait for the monja to get to the other side of the window. The password is «Ave María Purísima» (Hail Mary most pure). The monja replies «Sin pecado concebida» (Conceived without sin). Then you tell her which size box of almonds you want. You put the money on the turntable, then the monja turns it around and BAZINGA! There are your delicious almonds.
The nuns use the money to finance their convent. You get delicious almonds for dirt cheap. It’s a win-win situation. Also, God wants you to give monies to the convent. And you get delicious almonds for dirt cheap. So it’s a win-win-win.
To summarize: «Ave María Purísima» = delicious almonds.
Casa de Hippolytus
Casa de Hippolytus is the first archaeological site of the Community of Madrid that was turned into a museum. Roman remains of the site—one of the best preserved of the region—were discovered in 1990 and able to visit in 1998.
Important discoveries in relation with Hispania were found decades ago among diverse excavations of the Roman city of Complutum. The most representative remain is Casa de Hippolytus, especially due to its mosaic and garden, also able to be visited since 1998.
Nor house, nor Hippolytus
Complutum, the most important Roman city of the center of the Iberian Peninsula at that time—two thousand years ago—, was so due to its strategic emplacement; in the middle of the way between Merida’s surroundings and the areas of Catalonia and Murcia, where huge Roman settlements’ were established. The road linking Emerita Augusta (Merida) and Caesar Augusta (Zaragoza) passed through Complutum, across today’s Camino del Juncal, in Alcalá.
The archaeological excavations—even though some started as early as the sixteenth century by members of Cisnerian Univerisity —started in a systematized way during the eighties. Abundant remains of that time have been found in Complutum, great part of which are hold on the Museo Arqueológico Regional, in Plaza de las Bernardas.
The most important settlement has indeed a very curious name, Casa de Hippolytus, even though the building was not a private home—but a Collegium Iuvenuma, school for young boys —and the property does not belong to any Hippolytus —who in fact was the author of the wonderful mosaic preserved in there.
The specialists who named the house did it after a tradition, that of relate the title with the most relevant elements of the excavation site content. It is thought that in the Pre-Roman period the construction set up in that place, probably devoted to a water deity, was buried under a Roman tavernae—shop or business premises—during the time of the emperor Claudius, first century after Christ.
However, in the middle of the third century after Christ, a deep reform was undertaken in order to raise the Colegio de Jóvenes, one of the few notable of Hispania.
School for Young Aristrocrats
The institution was supported by the rich family los Annios, who constructed their family mausoleum 100 meters distance from Casa de Hippolytus. The school was dedicated to the cultural and religious education and also included ludic and sportive activities for the children of the governing class of the city, the aristocracy. The young, in a wide sense, since the majority of them were teenagers; although some individuals within the preserved name lists were even forty years old.
The building was in a vast property in Complutum suburbs and housed large gardens, whose remains have today a huge historical value. Along with Pompeya’s, they are the only untouched gardens preserved from the Roman period.
The house was a school —one of the few safeguarded today— hosting young people until the end of the fourth century and beginning of the fifth, when it turned into a necropolis, with its own Christian church. Several tombs of that period have also been discovered. Many of the constructed areas had a vaulted roof, known thanks to the structure remains used by Romans to build them—some ceramic bottles bottomless, the tubuli fictile, fitting together and making up the arch.
Public Baths
Other notable remains are located in the public baths, with pools of varying temperature. The first containing lukewarm water—or tepidarium—, the second full of hot water—or caldarioum— and a third, of cold water, the only which is still open—or frigidarium. The baths, a very important social ritual for Romans, were used in such order. Constructed with a highly water-resistant material such as green grinded bricks; the heating and hot water comes from adjacent cauldrons sending heat through pipes under the floor, similar to current underfloor heating.
There was also a room dedicated to the worship of the goddess Diana Cazadora, surely surrounded by images of Hercules and by the genius of the Youth, the most common in such kind of religious places. Diana was a deity related with mineral waters, and, as Romans considered such waters medicinal, their relationship with the spirits of Nature was venerated through them. In Casa de Hippolytus, there is a well with great quantity of sulfates.
Oriental Garden
One of the most relevant parts of Casa de Hippolytus is its garden, Oriental in character. In other words, the garden followed the same style of those designed in the Near East at the same period, which were considered by Romans as the height of refinement. The seeds and pollen analysis has shown that there were pine trees, holm and oak trees, but also lime and cedar trees from Lebanon. There were as well date palms, canes, jasmines and other exotic species. Likely, aromatic and medicinal plants could be founded within the enclosure.
Notwithstanding, in that fantastic garden not only were exotic plants. It also has pigeons and pelicans, loose and put in a cage. All these whims incurred heavy expenses due to its foreign character; not autochthonous species had to be imported from distant lands as Egypt and Mesopotamia.
The garden was not just an amusement area; having an essential role into the school functioning: where classes were given. The exact place is well-preserved, preserving its parade-shape, with rows of semicircular long stone benches called exedras. They had a total capacity from eighty to a hundred sites, and were used for both debates and discourses, or meals. Besides, it was a pleasant place for chats and leisure for both students and teachers. They were covered by tarpaulin—secured in a lattice or wooden gates situated behind the rows of benches— providing a dense shadow and a quiet place for conversation.
The Sea Mosaic of Hippolytus
The great jewel of Casa de Hippolytus is precisely, the mosaic of Hippolytus master, an artist probably from north Africa. The mosaic is set up in the central garden were the frigidariums—or cold water pool—was situated. Inside the pool, it is represented a boat with three oarsmen surrounded of a great number of Mediterranean fish and mollusk, like octopus. morays, dolphins, sea urchins, red scorpion-fish and others. The image supposed an important didactical element, so you should not forget that students lived far away from the sea, in the middle of the plateau.
Latrines
Another well documented and recreated room from Casa de Hippolytus is the latrines. In a large and cared space, there are mosaics and seats—that could be built-in or made in marble—leaning against the door; and a water channel under them, by which the water runs to avoid unpleasant smells. They also constructed sinks for the toilet (as current washbasins), built with a variety of materials, probably marble, with heads and arms richly decorated. A curiosity incomprehensible for us, due to our current costumes, is that Romans went to relieve themselves to latrines in group, as it was considered a collective activity.
Every stay in Casa de Hippolytus is perfectly documented, allowing to visitors a very precise image of how their elements were and how was the life lived in there, transferring you back seven hundred years back in time and meeting Roman antecessors of the current Alcalá.
Additional Information:
Useful information:
- Address: Avenida Madrid, antigua nacional II, Km 28
- Teléfono: +34 91 881 32 50
Access from Madrid
- Renfe Cercanías railroads C-1, C-2 and C7A.
- Bus nº 223 (departure from Avenida de América Interchanger).
Opening hours
Summer (May to Sept.):
- Tue-Fri: from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Monday closed)
- Sat and Sun: From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Winter (Oct to Apr.):
- Tue-Fri: from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Monday closed)
- Sat and Sun: From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Closed: Dec: 24, 25 and 31. Jan: 1 and 7
- Ticket price: 1 €
Image gallery:
[gdl_gallery title=»casa-de-hippolytus» width=»120″ height=»95″]
On video:
Where is it
Casa de Hippolytus
Este texto también está disponible en español
Casa de Hippolytus is the first archaeological site of the Community of Madrid that was turned into a museum. Roman remains of the site—one of the best preserved of the region—were discovered in 1990 and able to visit in 1998.
Important discoveries in relation with Hispania were found decades ago among diverse excavations of the Roman city of Complutum. The most representative remain is Casa de Hippolytus, especially due to its mosaic and garden, also able to be visited since 1998.
Nor house, nor Hippolytus
Complutum, the most important Roman city of the center of the Iberian Peninsula at that time—two thousand years ago—, was so due to its strategic emplacement; in the middle of the way between Merida’s surroundings and the areas of Catalonia and Murcia, where huge Roman settlements’ were established. The road linking Emerita Augusta (Merida) and Caesar Augusta (Zaragoza) passed through Complutum, across today’s Camino del Juncal, in Alcalá.
The archaeological excavations—even though some started as early as the sixteenth century by members of Cisnerian Univerisity —started in a systematized way during the eighties. Abundant remains of that time have been found in Complutum, great part of which are hold on the Museo Arqueológico Regional, in Plaza de las Bernardas.
The most important settlement has indeed a very curious name, Casa de Hippolytus, even though the building was not a private home—but a Collegium Iuvenuma, school for young boys —and the property does not belong to any Hippolytus —who in fact was the author of the wonderful mosaic preserved in there.
The specialists who named the house did it after a tradition, that of relate the title with the most relevant elements of the excavation site content. It is thought that in the Pre-Roman period the construction set up in that place, probably devoted to a water deity, was buried under a Roman tavernae—shop or business premises—during the time of the emperor Claudius, first century after Christ.
However, in the middle of the third century after Christ, a deep reform was undertaken in order to raise the Colegio de Jóvenes, one of the few notable of Hispania.
School for Young Aristrocrats
The institution was supported by the rich family los Annios, who constructed their family mausoleum 100 meters distance from Casa de Hippolytus. The school was dedicated to the cultural and religious education and also included ludic and sportive activities for the children of the governing class of the city, the aristocracy. The young, in a wide sense, since the majority of them were teenagers; although some individuals within the preserved name lists were even forty years old.
The building was in a vast property in Complutum suburbs and housed large gardens, whose remains have today a huge historical value. Along with Pompeya’s, they are the only untouched gardens preserved from the Roman period.
The house was a school —one of the few safeguarded today— hosting young people until the end of the fourth century and beginning of the fifth, when it turned into a necropolis, with its own Christian church. Several tombs of that period have also been discovered. Many of the constructed areas had a vaulted roof, known thanks to the structure remains used by Romans to build them—some ceramic bottles bottomless, the tubuli fictile, fitting together and making up the arch.
Public Baths
Other notable remains are located in the public baths, with pools of varying temperature. The first containing lukewarm water—or tepidarium—, the second full of hot water—or caldarioum— and a third, of cold water, the only which is still open—or frigidarium. The baths, a very important social ritual for Romans, were used in such order. Constructed with a highly water-resistant material such as green grinded bricks; the heating and hot water comes from adjacent cauldrons sending heat through pipes under the floor, similar to current underfloor heating.
There was also a room dedicated to the worship of the goddess Diana Cazadora, surely surrounded by images of Hercules and by the genius of the Youth, the most common in such kind of religious places. Diana was a deity related with mineral waters, and, as Romans considered such waters medicinal, their relationship with the spirits of Nature was venerated through them. In Casa de Hippolytus, there is a well with great quantity of sulfates.
Oriental Garden
One of the most relevant parts of Casa de Hippolytus is its garden, Oriental in character. In other words, the garden followed the same style of those designed in the Near East at the same period, which were considered by Romans as the height of refinement. The seeds and pollen analysis has shown that there were pine trees, holm and oak trees, but also lime and cedar trees from Lebanon. There were as well date palms, canes, jasmines and other exotic species. Likely, aromatic and medicinal plants could be founded within the enclosure.
Notwithstanding, in that fantastic garden not only were exotic plants. It also has pigeons and pelicans, loose and put in a cage. All these whims incurred heavy expenses due to its foreign character; not autochthonous species had to be imported from distant lands as Egypt and Mesopotamia.
The garden was not just an amusement area; having an essential role into the school functioning: where classes were given. The exact place is well-preserved, preserving its parade-shape, with rows of semicircular long stone benches called exedras. They had a total capacity from eighty to a hundred sites, and were used for both debates and discourses, or meals. Besides, it was a pleasant place for chats and leisure for both students and teachers. They were covered by tarpaulin—secured in a lattice or wooden gates situated behind the rows of benches— providing a dense shadow and a quiet place for conversation.
The Sea Mosaic of Hippolytus
The great jewel of Casa de Hippolytus is precisely, the mosaic of Hippolytus master, an artist probably from north Africa. The mosaic is set up in the central garden were the frigidariums—or cold water pool—was situated. Inside the pool, it is represented a boat with three oarsmen surrounded of a great number of Mediterranean fish and mollusk, like octopus. morays, dolphins, sea urchins, red scorpion-fish and others. The image supposed an important didactical element, so you should not forget that students lived far away from the sea, in the middle of the plateau.
Latrines
Another well documented and recreated room from Casa de Hippolytus is the latrines. In a large and cared space, there are mosaics and seats—that could be built-in or made in marble—leaning against the door; and a water channel under them, by which the water runs to avoid unpleasant smells. They also constructed sinks for the toilet (as current washbasins), built with a variety of materials, probably marble, with heads and arms richly decorated. A curiosity incomprehensible for us, due to our current costumes, is that Romans went to relieve themselves to latrines in group, as it was considered a collective activity.
Every stay in Casa de Hippolytus is perfectly documented, allowing to visitors a very precise image of how their elements were and how was the life lived in there, transferring you back seven hundred years back in time and meeting Roman antecessors of the current Alcalá.
Additional Information:
Useful information:
- Address: Avenida Madrid, antigua nacional II, Km 28
- Teléfono: +34 91 881 32 50
Access from Madrid
- Renfe Cercanías railroads C-1, C-2 and C7A.
- Bus nº 223 (departure from Avenida de América Interchanger).
Opening hours
Summer (May to Sept.):
- Tue-Fri: from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Monday closed)
- Sat and Sun: From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Winter (Oct to Apr.):
- Tue-Fri: from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Monday closed)
- Sat and Sun: From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Closed: Dec: 24, 25 and 31. Jan: 1 and 7
- Ticket price: 1 €
Image gallery:
On video:
Where is it
Sábana Santa en Alcalá de Henares
Exposición de la Sábana Santa en Alcalá
¿Sabías que la Sábana Santa es uno de los objetos más estudiados de la historia? ¿Qué su imagen posee 9 características a las que la ciencia no puede dar explicación? ¿Qué contiene la imagen del cuerpo de un hombre con visibles signos de tortura?
Conoce estos y otros detalles en la exposición La Sábana Santa, que se celebrará del 1 de octubre al 12 de enero en el convento cisterciense de las Bernardas, en la plaza de las Bernardas, y a solo unos metros del Museo Arqueológico Regional.
Una gran oportunidad para disfrutar de un día de museos en Alcalá.
Horarios
Lunes a Domingo de 10:00 a 21:00 horas
(Último pase a las 20:00 horas)
- La entrada a la exposición es por sesiones cada 15 minutos.
- La exposición tiene una duración aproximada de 50 minutos.
Entradas
- 8€ General *
- 6€ Reducida*(mayores de 65 años, minusválidos, estudiantes, menores de 18 años, parados). También para grupos de más 15 personas.
- Menores de 7 años, entrada gratuita
*Todas las tarifas incluyen audio-guía: disponible en: español-inglés-alemán-francés-italiano.
Venta:
- En la taquilla de la exposición
- Online a través del siguiente enlace: entradas online Sábana Santa Exposición
Reserva:
- A través de correo electrónico: administracion@sabanasantaexpo.com
- O por teléfono: 923 19 77 62
Más información:
Galería de imágenes:
[gdl_gallery title=»exposicion-de-la-sabana-santa» width=»120″ height=»95″ galid=»1″ ]
The Holy Shroud in Alcalá de Henares
The Holy Shroud in Alcalá de Henares
Do you know that the Holy Shroud is one of the most studied objects in history? Do you know that the image in the shroud has 9 features that science can not explain? Do you know that the Shroud contains the image of a man’s body with signs of torture?
Meet these and other details in the Holy Shroud exhibition, to be held from October 1st to January 12th in the Cistercian convent of Bernardine, just near the Archbishop’s Palace and metres away from the Regional Archaeological Museum.
A fantastic opportunity to enjoy a great museums day in Alcalá.
Opening hours
Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
(Last screening at 8 pm)
Admission to the exhibition is by sessions every 15 minutes.
The exhibition lasts approximately 50 minutes.
Tickets
€ 8 General *
€ 6 Reduced * (over 65 years old, disabled, students, under 18 years old, unemployed). Also for groups over 15 people.
Children under 7 years free entry
* All rates include audio guide: available in: Spanish-English-German-French-Italian.
Sale:
At the exhibition booth
Online through the following link: Holy Shroud Exhibition
Reservation:
Email: administracion@sabanasantaexpo.com
Or by phone: +34 923 19 77 62
Additional information:
Image gallery:
[gdl_gallery title=»exposicion-de-la-sabana-santa» width=»120″ height=»95″ galid=»1″ ]
ALCINE: Alcalá’s Film Festival
Alcalá de Henares’ film festival (ALCINE), held in November, has acquired its prestige over its more than 40 years of history until turning into one of the most important short-film contests on a nationwide scale, and an obligatory reference for experts and lovers.
Among dozens and dozens of similar festivals, Alcalá’s Film Festival, ALCINE, is a real cultural event, not only on a local level, but also on a regional, the Community of Madrid, national and even an international level; it is not for nothing that it has 44 years of life.
Famous directors such as Santiago Segura, Alejandro Amenábar, Alex de la Iglesia or Fernando Colomo became known in ALCINE. That list of figures gets longer with Fernando León de Aranoa, Isabel Coixet, Mariano Barroso or Juanma Bajo Ulloa, as well as many others, including directors and actors.
The ALCINE festival was born and grew up screening short films, offering a way to enter the film industry and allowing creators to exhibit their first works. The high quality required to be selected for the festival has consolidated its prestige, in as much as the level of excellence participants has always been maintained.
The Short Films City
ALCINE is a leading cultural event where not only national and European contests take place, but also a great number of parallel activities such as film workshops, expositions, concerts, specialized books production and congress of authors, producers and distributors. Hence, the festival meets different aspects of world of cinema, not only the artistic field, but also the industrial and commercial one. During fifteen days, Alcalá turns into a city devoted to cinema, which is easily noticed through posters, advertising, mass media and hoardings.
ALCINE is celebrated, every year, in the middle of November, and it is funded by public administrations, both local and regional, as an overview of the best Spanish short films of each year gathered in a competition. The festival includes a European short film contest, really famous, in which participants of the whole continent take part. All feature films by new directors are presented to society within the section Open Screen, prized by the festival organization and the viewers, who, after the screening, vote in favor of their favorite film in the very same moment of leaving the screening room…
The Best Feature Films
The Muestra Internacional de Largometrajes [International Film Exhibition]—parallel to ALCINE—, shows the best films released along previous year, and, in many cases, offers the opportunity to watch movies that previously impossible to screen. This exhibition was held, until a few years ago, as a second part of the festival; but currently, it takes place the month after, around December.
Years ago, the Muestra Internacional de Largometrajes used to screen a great number of films, many of them ran in Spanish screens for a long time; but, over time, the selection has been reduced—though the quality exigency is even higher, if possible. For instance, in 2012 they skipped the Oscar-winning “The Artist”—in honor of silent movies—, the last creation of Woody Allen: “To Rome with Love”, the highly reputed film noir “Killing Them Softly” and the winners of two Goya prizes “Unit 7” and “The Pirates!”—an animated adventure for kids from the British studio Aardman Animations, Ltd.
More than 1300 Short Films
During the last edition of ALCINE, more than 1300 short movies have been released, which forms an impression of what it means not only to be a prizewinner, but simply to be displayed in the festival—scarcely a hundred films will finally compete in the contest.
The vocation of ALCINE is to be a showcase for the best of Spanish cinema, especially for its new creators, young talents. Thus, the contest has emerged as a real springboard for many of its participants who, with time, become prestigious moviemakers with international careers.
This devotion for cinema reached its goal; ALCINE’s festival has gradually become larger through the years, and that is why, since the eighties’, all kind of tributes have been organized, both to great foreign directors and Spanish ones: like Taviani brothers, the Chilean Raúl Ruiz, or the Spanish Gonzalo Suárez or Iván Zulueta—always looking for the creator the most committed to cinema as an artistic activity, considering that the so-called “main stream” are already present during the whole year on commercial screens.
Tributes to Cinema Figures
By virtue of this artistic character, tributes to the main cinema figures—who make possible its existence—are paid, such as producers (like Emiliano Piedra), set designers (as Enrique Alarcón), musical composers (for instance, Carmelo Bernaola), photography directors of scriptwriters, through important expositions and publications about their work.
Other activities have been symposiums, expositions and books about all kind of commemorations and events. In 1996, when the centenary of Spanish cinema was reached, the ALCINE’s festival theme was centered in the history of Spanish short films, while in 1997, on the occasion of the 450th anniversary of Miguel de Cervantes birth, the 28th festival published the book “Cervantes en el cine” [Cervantes in fiction].
ALCINE has gradually become larger over time, offering every year more activities so; to take part of the festival in its entirety gets more difficult each edition. Educational workshops about cinema and photography, videos and new technologies applied to cinema have been created, as well as meetings such as the one celebrated in 1984, when directors from the five more important film schools in Europe gathered—Lisbon, Paris, London, Moscow and Rome—; opening a dialog with those institutions that continues today.
Alcalá, Cinema Galaxy
There are plenty of sections, varied over the years, that always try to announce foreign short films, whether Italy, Brazil or China, with retrospectives to numerous figures who marked new ways in each moment of film history and enjoyed the best reviews.
In the same way, there are always heterogeneous expositions about directors, actors, countries or formats, allowing visitors to discover all characters of the cinema universe—further over the names of the “star system”—who, however, have won a well-deserved distinction.
Short and feature films are screened within the classical Teatro Salón Cervantes—that, before being re-allocated as theatre, was a cinema—and also into the Corral de Comedias; a nostalgic milestone in memory of the most veteran Alcalá’s inhabitants, who, before the Corral was discovered and restored, gathered at Cervantes’ cinema, where even morning showings were available.
Additional Information:
Aníbal en Hispania
Desde el 9 de julio de 2013 al 12 de enero de 2014 está disponible en el Museo Arqueológico Regional la exposición ‘Fragor Hannibalis. Anibal en Hispania’ la nueva exposición temporal del Museo que a través de la figura del general y príncipe Aníbal Barca, da a conocer las huellas de la cultura púnica en la Península Ibérica.
La muestra, comisariada por el catedrático de arqueología Manuel Bendala Galán, reitera el compromiso de la Comunidad de Madrid con el fomento del conocimiento de la historia y su interpretación y desarrolla lo que sabemos del personaje y de su dinastía, los Barca, que se instalaron en la Península Ibérica en el siglo III a.C.
Basaron su poder en la creación de grandes ciudades de una gran complejidad urbanística, en la autoridad de príncipes poderosos, émulos de los dioses mismos, en ejércitos organizados y con eficaces armas de guerra, en la explotación planificada de los recursos naturales, en una hábil diplomacia.
De una manera amena y didáctica la exposición del Museo Arqueológico Regional, organizada en varias unidades temáticas, trata de ofrecer respuestas claras y directas sobre la figura de Aníbal y su poder. En el recibidor de la exposición se dan algunas de las claves de su protagonista y de la contundencia de su presencia y actuación en Hispania, a través de algunos de sus actos bélicos, de su ‘fragor Hannibalis’.
En las siguientes unidades temáticas el visitante va a ir descubriendo quién es Aníbal y en qué radica su enorme poder. Una vez conocido el perfil personal y político de Aníbal como soberano y líder, el visitante pasa a descubrir cuáles eran las bases sobre las que pretendía edificar su sueño imperial. Otro de los interrogantes a los que se intenta dar respuesta es el poder militar y las tácticas empleadas por Aníbal ¿Cómo terminó Aníbal? Es la pregunta que abre los últimos capítulos o pasos por la exposición.
La leyenda de Aníbal ha sobrevivido a su derrota y a su muerte y desde el propio Imperio Romano hasta nuestros días ha sido icono de estratega militar, unas veces ensalzado y otras denostado, pero siempre recordado como se documenta en todas las épocas históricas, mediante cuadros, imágenes escultóricas y tapices.
Fecha: Del 9 de julio hasta el 12 de enero de 2014.
Dirigida a: Todos los públicos.
Lugar: Museo Arqueológico Regional
Anibal in Hispania
From July 9, 2013 to January 12, 2014 is available at the Regional Archaeological Museum the exhibition «Fragor Hannibalis. Anibal in Hispania» the new temporary exhibition of the Museum through the figure of General and Prince Hannibal Barca, discloses traces of Punic culture in the Iberian Peninsula.
When: From July 9 to January 12, 2014.
Convent of the Clarisas of San Diego
The Convent of the Clarisas of San Diego is well known by the delicious Almonds of Alcalá that are made in it. It is a unique building, located a few meters from the University of Alcalá.
On the convent façade, whose principal architectonical feature is the simplicity of its lines, it stands out the image of San Diego de Alcalá, who was canonized by Sixto V in 1568. The figure holds a cross and miraculous flowers in his hands, though they are roughly visible due to its security metallic grilles. The Saint remains were removed from the silver urn they were kept in, into the Magisterial Church—current Magisterial Cathedral—and placed here to clean it in 1967.
The presence of the Cisneros Cardinal coat of arms is another important element to stand out within the main door. This presence is explained on account of the allocation of the University printing—founded by the Cardinal—inside the houses María Fernández, aunt of Catalina, gave to the school. Hence, historian has concluded that the famous Complutensian Polyglot Bible could be printed in there.
Outside, in the small square and before resuming your walk, you have the possibility of taking a sit on one of the stone benches and contemplating the bronze statue of Carrillo Archbishop, made by the sculptor Santiago de Santiago in 1987… while savoring some Almonds of Alcalá from the nuns.
The Convent of the Clarisas of San Diego was founded in 1671 by doña Catalina García Fernández. Catalina García was the youngest of five children, daughter of don Bartolomé García and doña Catalina Fernández. She was born in Santorcaz in 1639, and lost her mother that same year. Thus, her aunt, María Fernández—who lived in a house today part of the convent—took charge of her. Catalina García got married at the age of fifteen, had three children and widowed in 1662. Since that moment, she tried to join one of the three Alcalá’s Franciscan Convents; although, it was not until 1665 when she got into the Franciscan Convent with the habits of the Third Order of Penance, and chose the name of Catalina de Jesús y San Francisco. In 1671, a school for girls—named Doncellas Pobres de Santa Clara—was created in a part of the house that her aunt, María Fernández, had previously donated with that aim. Afterwards, the school was turned into a beguinage (reason why they are called beguines) and later, into the monastery that it is today.
Almonds of Alcalá
Almonds of Alcalá are Alcalá’s sweets par excellence, in addition to costrada and ring-shape pastries. Probably of Arabic origin, there are documentary evidences of its existence since eighteenth century, so they have been traditionally famous as Alcalá’s gastronomic ambassadors.
Almonds of Alcalá are made with almonds and toasted sugar syrup. It is a simple but exquisite recipe, used with expertise by the enclosed Convent of the Clarisas of San Diego, whose nuns are called “almonders”. The nuns of the Order of St Claire had worked as dressmakers from time immemorial, and are also known as “Diegas of Alcalá” by being their patron San Diego of Alcalá.
Turnstile and Glazed Tiles
If you are in Alcalá and fancy to get the delicious city’s souvenir in question, you just have to get closer to city center, to calle Beatas, on the corner of plaza de San Diego—where the University is situated. There, the Convent of the Clarisas of San Diego is placed, a modest building of plastered façade, in front of which Alonso de Carrillo archbishop’s statue is set.
Buying Almonds of Alcalá is a real ritual, in as much as you are purchasing in a convent versus a conventional shop. First, you should go through the wooden main door to access an anteroom covered of glazed tiles, there, a small window prevent from taking a sight of the inside. On top of it, a collection of samples is provided: all kind of chests, boxes and packages made of wood, cardboard or plastic, and also different sizes and weights are showed, with their correspondent prices.
Through the small window or turnstile—name this way because its swevelling—you will call the nuns and make your order, receive it and pay it, without seeing the face of the woman who is serving you, as she is an enclosed nun.
Buying Almonds of Alcalá from nuns is not only a commercial exchange but also a revival of the traditions of Alcalá’s convents, from such a peaceful square where you can enjoy the façade of the Cisnerian University.
The tourist says:
Additional Information:
Useful information:
- Address: Calle de las Beatas, 5
- Tel:+34 918 88 03 05
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=»almendras-garrapinadas» width=»120″ height=»95″]
On video:
Where is it
Convent of the Clarisas of San Diego
Este texto también está disponible en español
The Convent of the Clarisas of San Diego is well known by the delicious Almonds of Alcalá that are made in it. It is a unique building, located a few meters from the University of Alcalá.
On the convent façade, whose principal architectonical feature is the simplicity of its lines, it stands out the image of San Diego de Alcalá, who was canonized by Sixto V in 1568. The figure holds a cross and miraculous flowers in his hands, though they are roughly visible due to its security metallic grilles. The Saint remains were removed from the silver urn they were kept in, into the Magisterial Church—current Magisterial Cathedral—and placed here to clean it in 1967.
The presence of the Cisneros Cardinal coat of arms is another important element to stand out within the main door. This presence is explained on account of the allocation of the University printing—founded by the Cardinal—inside the houses María Fernández, aunt of Catalina, gave to the school. Hence, historian has concluded that the famous Complutensian Polyglot Bible could be printed in there.
Outside, in the small square and before resuming your walk, you have the possibility of taking a sit on one of the stone benches and contemplating the bronze statue of Carrillo Archbishop, made by the sculptor Santiago de Santiago in 1987… while savoring some Almonds of Alcalá from the nuns.
The Convent of the Clarisas of San Diego was founded in 1671 by doña Catalina García Fernández. Catalina García was the youngest of five children, daughter of don Bartolomé García and doña Catalina Fernández. She was born in Santorcaz in 1639, and lost her mother that same year. Thus, her aunt, María Fernández—who lived in a house today part of the convent—took charge of her. Catalina García got married at the age of fifteen, had three children and widowed in 1662. Since that moment, she tried to join one of the three Alcalá’s Franciscan Convents; although, it was not until 1665 when she got into the Franciscan Convent with the habits of the Third Order of Penance, and chose the name of Catalina de Jesús y San Francisco. In 1671, a school for girls—named Doncellas Pobres de Santa Clara—was created in a part of the house that her aunt, María Fernández, had previously donated with that aim. Afterwards, the school was turned into a beguinage (reason why they are called beguines) and later, into the monastery that it is today.
Almonds of Alcalá
Almonds of Alcalá are Alcalá’s sweets par excellence, in addition to costrada and ring-shape pastries. Probably of Arabic origin, there are documentary evidences of its existence since eighteenth century, so they have been traditionally famous as Alcalá’s gastronomic ambassadors.
Almonds of Alcalá are made with almonds and toasted sugar syrup. It is a simple but exquisite recipe, used with expertise by the enclosed Convent of the Clarisas of San Diego, whose nuns are called “almonders”. The nuns of the Order of St Claire had worked as dressmakers from time immemorial, and are also known as “Diegas of Alcalá” by being their patron San Diego of Alcalá.
Turnstile and Glazed Tiles
If you are in Alcalá and fancy to get the delicious city’s souvenir in question, you just have to get closer to city center, to calle Beatas, on the corner of plaza de San Diego—where the University is situated. There, the Convent of the Clarisas of San Diego is placed, a modest building of plastered façade, in front of which Alonso de Carrillo archbishop’s statue is set.
Buying Almonds of Alcalá is a real ritual, in as much as you are purchasing in a convent versus a conventional shop. First, you should go through the wooden main door to access an anteroom covered of glazed tiles, there, a small window prevent from taking a sight of the inside. On top of it, a collection of samples is provided: all kind of chests, boxes and packages made of wood, cardboard or plastic, and also different sizes and weights are showed, with their correspondent prices.
Through the small window or turnstile—name this way because its swevelling—you will call the nuns and make your order, receive it and pay it, without seeing the face of the woman who is serving you, as she is an enclosed nun.
Buying Almonds of Alcalá from nuns is not only a commercial exchange but also a revival of the traditions of Alcalá’s convents, from such a peaceful square where you can enjoy the façade of the Cisnerian University.
The tourist says:
Additional Information:
Useful information:
- Address: Calle de las Beatas, 5
- Tel:+34 918 88 03 05
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
Convento de los Trinitarios Descalzos
El Convento de los Trinitarios Descalzos es un gran ejemplo de las glorias y miserias de la ciudad de Alcalá de Henares, pues de su nacimiento por unos frailes pobres, pasó a ser impulsado por un noble de origen genovés, convirtiéndose ya en el siglo XIX en cuartel de la caballería militar, después Comandancia Militar y en los últimos años ser restaurado y albergar el universitario Instituto Franklin de Investigación en Estudios Norteamericanos.
Los Trinitarios y Cervantes
A la intensa historia de la ciudad de Alcalá que se refleja como en un espejo en este Convento de los Trinitarios Descalzos, hay que añadir el cruce de destinos de la orden religiosa con el padre de la novela española, Miguel de Cervantes. Este célebre escritor fue rescatado en 1580, tras cinco años de cautiverio en las prisiones de Argel, por los frailes trinitarios Juan Gil y Antonio de la Bella, quienes pagaron a los sarracenos quinientos escudos por liberar al escritor.
El Convento de los Trinitarios Descalzos fue fundado en 1601 por el santo Juan Bautista de la Concepción, que había estudiado Teología en Alcalá, y quien también fundó la orden de los Trinitarios Descalzos, reformando la de los Trinitarios Calzados con normas más estrictas.
El Convento de los Trinitarios Descalzos está situado en la calle del mismo nombre y que da a la plaza de Cervantes, hace escuadra con el colegio de Málaga, sede de la facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la universidad de Alcalá. Primero fue una casa pequeña la que adquirió el fundador, que daba al callejón de Mataperros, y un par de años después compró un par de casas más, donde él y sus compañeros instalaron un hospicio.
El lugar se fue ampliando, y tras algunos roces con el colegio de Málaga, intercambiaron terrenos y ya en 1626 se empezó a construir el convento, que, terminado en 1639, se unió a la ciudad universitaria diseñada por Cisneros.
Sin embargo, la iglesia tardó más tiempo. Comenzó a construirse a partir de 1649 gracias al decidido patrocinio del marqués de Monesterio e importante financiero italiano Octavio Centurión, quien además siguió manteniendo a la comunidad religiosa. La obra está atribuida al maestro Sebastián de la Plaza, que tiene su lugar en el callejero alcalaíno, cerca de la plaza de los Cuatro Caños o Puerta de Mártires.
Once escalones
Aquí no encontrarás ningún suspense como en la famosa película de Hitchcock, pero sí el silencio reflexivo propio tanto de los templos, los claustros conventuales y las bibliotecas, pues no en vano aquí hay no una, sino varias.
Los once escalones son los de la escalinata que se debe subir para acceder a la pequeña lonja, o atrio descubierto con un muro bajo alrededor, delante de la entrada de tres arcos de medio punto, por los que se pasa a la iglesia, dado que el convento está a la izquierda de la fachada, en el que hallarás un patio de dos alturas con arcos.
Que la iglesia y colegio-convento estén por encima del nivel de la calle, de manera que su sótano es la planta de calle, como podrás observar en la parte lateral de la calle San Julián, hace que sea uno de los edificios más peculiares del conjunto monumental alcalaíno, al destacar claramente entre las construcciones colindantes.
Cinco escudos
La planta de la iglesia del Convento de los Trinitarios Descalzos es de cruz latina de cuatro tramos, con una cúpula sobre el crucero o centro que desde fuera se ve como una torre cuadrangular, siguiendo el esquema trazado por Juan de Herrera y su discípulo Francisco de Mora, y que conformó el estilo típico de las iglesias de todo el siglo XVII en España.
En 1994, tras pasar el edificio de los Trinitarios a la universidad, se quitó un balcón que había en pleno centro de la fachada, y se colocaron en su lugar los escudos de su patrono, Octavio Centurión, el de la Comandancia Militar y el de la Universidad de Alcalá, así como dos blasones de la Orden Trinitaria flanqueando la ventana que ilumina el coro, en el frontón triangular superior, para reflejar las diferentes etapas por las que ha pasado.
El pozo de la nieve
Una curiosidad relativa a este Convento de los Trinitarios Descalzos es que contaba con algo de gran valor: nieve almacenada. Tenía un pozo de nieve, que era uno de los pocos y raros lujos que podía tener una comunidad religiosa, al igual que la ciudad tenía algunas balsas de nieve a buen resguardo en los montes cercanos o como en el convento, en sótanos bajo pozos.
Después, como hielo o pulverizada, se usaba en la comida y bebida y además se vendía, de manera que era un monopolio para el que había que tener expresa licencia real y estaba sujeta a impuestos. De ello da fe el dato de que los Trinitarios Calzados tenían el suyo, que les permitía, por ejemplo, poder consumir 1.408 libras de nieve en el año de 1771.
Esplendor recuperado
En 1839, tras la Desamortización por la que el Gobierno de la época expropió numerosos bienes a a la iglesia católica, tanto la iglesia como el convento fueron cedidos al Arma de Caballería, lo que motivó que el interior se transformase para los usos propios del ejército. Mucho más tarde, pasó a ser la Comandancia Militar, lo que trajo nuevas modificaciones, como que a los lados de la escalera estuviesen dos cañones decorativos.
Tras la restauración al que el convento e iglesia fueron sometidos por la universidad en 1996, con la que se trató de recuperar su estado primitivo, es la sede del Centro de Estudios Norteamericanos, que incluye fondos del Instituto «Benjamin Franklin» y de la Biblioteca Cervantina, con cerca de treinta mil volúmenes de consulta y préstamo.
Más información:
- http://www.institutofranklin.net/
en/about-us/how-get-instituto-franklin - http://www.uah.es/biblioteca/
biblioteca/trinitarios.html#col - http://www.une.es/Ent/Products/
ProductDetail.aspx?ID=141377 - http://cvc.cervantes.es/artes/
ciudades_patrimonio/alcala_henares/
paseo/colegio_trinidad.htm - http://www.ecologistasalcalah.org/
public/patr/col_trinitariosd.htm
Información de interés:
- Dirección: Calle Trinidad 1
- Teléfono: +34 91 885 52 52
Accesos desde Madrid
- Renfe Cercanías C-1, C-2 y C7A.
- Bus nº 223 (salidas desde el Intercambiador de Avenida de América).
Galería de imágenes:
En vídeo:
Dónde está
The Discalced Trinitarian Convent
The Discalced Trinitarian Convent is a great example of the glories and miseries of the city of Alcalá. Since its foundation by modest monks, it has been promoted by a noble with Finnish origin, turned into a quarter of cavalry during the nineteenth century, into Command Headquarter, and over the last years it was restored to hold the university Instituto Franklin of Researching in relation to American Studies.
Trinitarian Order and Cervantes
To the intense history of Alcalá, reflected as if it was a mirror in this Discalced Trinitarian Convent, it should be added the crossing of destinies of the religious order with the father of the Spanish novel, Miguel de Cervantes. The notable writer was rescued in 1580 by Trinitarian monks— Juan Gil and Antonio de la Bella, who paid to Saracens five hundred escudos (old Spanish currency) to release the writer—from the prisons of Algiers after five years of captivity.
The Discalced Trinitarian Convent was founded in 1601 by the Saint Juan Bautista de la Concepción, who studied theology in Alcalá, and who also founded the Order of the Discalced Trinitarian by reforming that of Trinitariansadding stricter rules.
The Discalced Trinitarian Convent is situated in the street with the same name which leads to plaza de Cervantes, and square with colegio de Málaga—head office of the faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the University of Alcalá. First, it was a small house purchased by the founder, which looks out onto callejón de Mataperos, and a couple of years later he bought a pair of more houses, where he and his companions allocated an hospice.
The place was gradually extended until, after some frictions with colegio de Málaga, they exchanged their lands. In 1626, the convent started to be constructed, ended in 1639, it was linked to the university campus designed by Cisneros.
However, the church settlement took more time. The construction began in 1649 thanks to the resolute sponsorship of the marquis of Monasterio and the important Italian financial Octavio Centurión—who besides supported for a long time the religious community. The work is attributed to the maestro Sebastián de la Plaza, who occupies its place in an alley of Alcalá, near plaza de los Cuatro Caños or Puerta de Mártires.
Eleven Steps
Unlike Hitchcock movie, you will not find any suspense in the reflexive silence typical of temples, cloisters of convents and libraries, so not for nothing there are not one, but several.
The eleven steps are those of the flight of stairs in which top you may access to a small market—or open-air porch—with a low wall surrounding it. Placed in front of the three Roman arches entry—through which you access the church—you will find a two-height garden with arches, on the left of the façade and next to the convent.
The fact is that the church and the school-convent are above the street level. Thus, the basement is the ground floor—as you may observe in a side of the calle San Julián—, giving the building a rather peculiar aspect within the whole monumental center of Alcalá, clearly outstanding among adjoining buildings.
Five Coats of Arms
The church inside the Discalced Trinitarian Convent has the Crux immisa shape, divided in four sections, with a dome over the transept—or center—which is seen from the outside as a square tower, following the outline of a design of Juan de Herrera and his disciple Francisco de Mora. Their style has been strengthened as the typical of seventeenth-century Spanish churches.
In 1994, after going past the Trinitarians building and the university, a balcony of the center of the façade was removed and in its place, its patron coats of arms were placed—Octavio Centurión, Command Headquarter and the University of Alcalá, as well as two emblems of the Trinitarian Order flanking the window enlightening the chorus, from the superior triangular pediment reflecting the different stages by which the convent went by.
The Snow Well
A curiosity related to the Discalced Trinitarian Convent is that it counted on something of great value: stored snow. A snow well was one of the few and rare luxuries that a religious community could have, a luxury the city holds as well, as it had some snow storages safely hidden in the closest hills or in the convent, into wells at the basement.
Afterwards, like ice or powdered, the snow was used as food and drink. It was also possible to sell it under the possession of a Royal license that gives the vendor the monopoly of the market, only subjected to taxes. The original Trinitarians had their own license, vouching that royalty allowed them, for instance, consuming 1408 pounds of snow during the year 1771.
Recovered Magnificence
In 1839, after the Ecclesiastical Confiscation by which the Government of that period expropriated numerous goods to the Catholic Church, both the church and the convent were ceded to Arma de Caballería, which motivated that the inside was allocated for uses characteristics of the army. Later on, it became the Command Headquarter, which conveyed new alterations, like two decorative cannons placed aside the staircase.
After the restoration undertaken by the university in both, convent and church, in 1996, the original state was tried to be recovered. Today, it is the head office of the Center of American Studies, including collections from Instituto » Benjamin Franklin» and from Cervantes’ Library, with near thirty thousand reference and lending volumes.
Additional Information:
- http://www.institutofranklin.net/
en/about-us/how-get-instituto-franklin - http://www.uah.es/biblioteca/
biblioteca/trinitarios.html#col - http://www.une.es/Ent/Products/
ProductDetail.aspx?ID=141377 - http://cvc.cervantes.es/artes/
ciudades_patrimonio/alcala_henares/
paseo/colegio_trinidad.htm - http://www.ecologistasalcalah.org/
public/patr/col_trinitariosd.htm
Useful information:
- Address: Calle Trinidad 1
- Telephone: +34 91 885 52 52
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
The Discalced Trinitarian Convent
Este texto también está disponible en español
The Discalced Trinitarian Convent is a great example of the glories and miseries of the city of Alcalá. Since its foundation by modest monks, it has been promoted by a noble with Finnish origin, turned into a quarter of cavalry during the nineteenth century, into Command Headquarter, and over the last years it was restored to hold the university Instituto Franklin of Researching in relation to American Studies.
Trinitarian Order and Cervantes
To the intense history of Alcalá, reflected as if it was a mirror in this Discalced Trinitarian Convent, it should be added the crossing of destinies of the religious order with the father of the Spanish novel, Miguel de Cervantes. The notable writer was rescued in 1580 by Trinitarian monks— Juan Gil and Antonio de la Bella, who paid to Saracens five hundred escudos (old Spanish currency) to release the writer—from the prisons of Algiers after five years of captivity.
The Discalced Trinitarian Convent was founded in 1601 by the Saint Juan Bautista de la Concepción, who studied theology in Alcalá, and who also founded the Order of the Discalced Trinitarian by reforming that of Trinitariansadding stricter rules.
The Discalced Trinitarian Convent is situated in the street with the same name which leads to plaza de Cervantes, and square with colegio de Málaga—head office of the faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the University of Alcalá. First, it was a small house purchased by the founder, which looks out onto callejón de Mataperos, and a couple of years later he bought a pair of more houses, where he and his companions allocated an hospice.
The place was gradually extended until, after some frictions with colegio de Málaga, they exchanged their lands. In 1626, the convent started to be constructed, ended in 1639, it was linked to the university campus designed by Cisneros.
However, the church settlement took more time. The construction began in 1649 thanks to the resolute sponsorship of the marquis of Monasterio and the important Italian financial Octavio Centurión—who besides supported for a long time the religious community. The work is attributed to the maestro Sebastián de la Plaza, who occupies its place in an alley of Alcalá, near plaza de los Cuatro Caños or Puerta de Mártires.
Eleven Steps
Unlike Hitchcock movie, you will not find any suspense in the reflexive silence typical of temples, cloisters of convents and libraries, so not for nothing there are not one, but several.
The eleven steps are those of the flight of stairs in which top you may access to a small market—or open-air porch—with a low wall surrounding it. Placed in front of the three Roman arches entry—through which you access the church—you will find a two-height garden with arches, on the left of the façade and next to the convent.
The fact is that the church and the school-convent are above the street level. Thus, the basement is the ground floor—as you may observe in a side of the calle San Julián—, giving the building a rather peculiar aspect within the whole monumental center of Alcalá, clearly outstanding among adjoining buildings.
Five Coats of Arms
The church inside the Discalced Trinitarian Convent has the Crux immisa shape, divided in four sections, with a dome over the transept—or center—which is seen from the outside as a square tower, following the outline of a design of Juan de Herrera and his disciple Francisco de Mora. Their style has been strengthened as the typical of seventeenth-century Spanish churches.
In 1994, after going past the Trinitarians building and the university, a balcony of the center of the façade was removed and in its place, its patron coats of arms were placed—Octavio Centurión, Command Headquarter and the University of Alcalá, as well as two emblems of the Trinitarian Order flanking the window enlightening the chorus, from the superior triangular pediment reflecting the different stages by which the convent went by.
The Snow Well
A curiosity related to the Discalced Trinitarian Convent is that it counted on something of great value: stored snow. A snow well was one of the few and rare luxuries that a religious community could have, a luxury the city holds as well, as it had some snow storages safely hidden in the closest hills or in the convent, into wells at the basement.
Afterwards, like ice or powdered, the snow was used as food and drink. It was also possible to sell it under the possession of a Royal license that gives the vendor the monopoly of the market, only subjected to taxes. The original Trinitarians had their own license, vouching that royalty allowed them, for instance, consuming 1408 pounds of snow during the year 1771.
Recovered Magnificence
In 1839, after the Ecclesiastical Confiscation by which the Government of that period expropriated numerous goods to the Catholic Church, both the church and the convent were ceded to Arma de Caballería, which motivated that the inside was allocated for uses characteristics of the army. Later on, it became the Command Headquarter, which conveyed new alterations, like two decorative cannons placed aside the staircase.
After the restoration undertaken by the university in both, convent and church, in 1996, the original state was tried to be recovered. Today, it is the head office of the Center of American Studies, including collections from Instituto » Benjamin Franklin» and from Cervantes’ Library, with near thirty thousand reference and lending volumes.
Additional Information:
- http://www.institutofranklin.net/
en/about-us/how-get-instituto-franklin - http://www.uah.es/biblioteca/
biblioteca/trinitarios.html#col - http://www.une.es/Ent/Products/
ProductDetail.aspx?ID=141377 - http://cvc.cervantes.es/artes/
ciudades_patrimonio/alcala_henares/
paseo/colegio_trinidad.htm - http://www.ecologistasalcalah.org/
public/patr/col_trinitariosd.htm
Useful information:
- Address: Calle Trinidad 1
- Telephone: +34 91 885 52 52
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
Centro Comercial Alcalá Magna
¿Te apetece un día de compras? El Centro Comercial Alcalá Magna dispone de 34.000 metros cuadrados de superficie para alojar todo tipo de tiendas, en total 100 establecimientos y 1500 plazas de aparcamiento gratuito.
Entre las tiendas más emblemáticas figuran las del grupo Inditex (Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Pull & Bear, Oysho), C&A, H&M, Cortefiel, Sfera, Amichi, Benetton, etc. También tiene un Mercadona para realizar tus compras de alimentación y droguería, diversos restaurantes como Vip’s, Muerde la Pasta o Wok & Teppanyaki, cafeterías y un gimnasio (Virgin Active Alcalá).
Acceder a él es muy sencillo, puedes hacerlo en autobús (líneas 3 y 2) o incluso caminando, porque está a unos 15 minutos el centro de Alcalá.
[gdl_gallery title=»alcala-magna» width=»275″ height=»200″]
Cómo llegar al Centro Comercial Alcalá Magna:
Desde Madrid
- Tren cercanías Líneas C-1, C-2 y C7A.
- Autobús 223 (salidas desde Intercambiador de Avenida de América).
Desde Alcalá
- Autobuses urbanos Líneas 2 y 3, con parada en la Comisaría de Policía.
Dirección:
Calle: Valentín Juara Bellot 4
28806 Alcalá de Henares
Teléfono: +34 830 51 51
Más información: