Today we set out again to see the city, get some errands done, and shop for food. These are kind of the same activities day-in and day-out. By far my favorite activity is the exploring. 

We walked past the Palacete Laredo again today and I decided that perhaps I should take a closer look at the architecture. These photos are from one side of the building. Notice the detail. I was particularly interested in the column picture. There is a small plaque that indicates that this column is from the Renaissance. The practice of using materials from other time periods was not uncommon.

We wanted you to see the "administration" building belonging to the Universidad de Alcalá de Henares. The university was established by Cardinal Cisneros in 1499. It was completed in 1547 as indicated in a decorative motif on the exterior of the edifice:

It is a beautiful example of Renaissance design, decoration, and construction.

One of the salient motifs on the exterior of the building are the "cords" that wind around the front. They reference the motif found in Cardinal Cisneros' coat of arms (see below)

This picture will show, in part, how the cords were utilized (with the cord running parallel to the column in the center of the photo):

In the interior is a beautiful courtyard with a water well. Practically the well provided water to the those who worked and studied in the university; symbolically this well represented the source of knowledge; drinking deeply from the wells of knowledge, both spiritually and temporally.

While looking for a "ferretería" (hardware store) to get some keys made, we passed an interesting building. It is the Convento de los Trinitarios Descalzos. Construction on the building began in 1626 and reflects the "barroco madrileño." The original convent was established in 1601 by the blessed Juan Bautista de la Concepción. Work on the building was completed in 1639. In 1839, with the "desentitlement" of church properties, Mendizábal converted the church and convent into a military dependency where soldiers where housed. The University of Alcalá de Henares has since restored the building which now serves as the Center for North American Studies.

Now, one of the little treasures you find if you stop and look more closely. On the wall just inside the arch to the right you will find this written:

It reads: 

To the Order Trinitaria Redentora de Cautivos,

For the grand mercy shown to Miguel de Cervantes,

Captive in Argel,

who, for the price of 500 escudos in gold, in Spanish Gold,

was rescued personally by Fray Juan Gil

the 19 of September of 1580,

a favor for which Miguel remained a lifelong debtor

and to Alcalá forever.

This is a rough translation of a text that was placed here in 1997 on the occasion of the 450th Anniversary of the Cervantes' birth. Cervantes was born in Alcalá de Henares on the 29 September 1547 in a home that still stands on the corner of calle Mayor with calle de la Imagen.

Finally, as we were returning home we passed a construction site on the Plaza de Cervantes. A better description was a restoration of one of the buildings. The workers had stripped away the outer facing of the building to uncover the original brick and wood work. Fascinating! Here are some pictures that show the varied materials used in the construction of a building that probably dates to the later part of the 16th and early part of the 17th centuries. Notice the use of brick, rock, and wood along with morter. Also, look at the rough hued beams and floor joists. The restoration also revealed some decorative end pieces on some floor joists. In Spain there are real efforts to preserve the past rather than tearing it down to make way for more modern constructions. They are very aware of their history and value it.

(Look at those diagonal beams in the wall [bottom left]; The brick [bottom right] is a type of adobe; the panel [top right] is rock and morter)

(These are floor beams with a small balcony extending over them)

(Here you can see where two different types of brick are used, separated only by these vertical beams; adobe brick [left] and red fired brick [right])

(Here the workers uncovered some decorative floor beams extending out from the wall. Below are large, rough hued horizontal beams built around the window opening)