Casino Main Entrance

This is the main entrance of the Casino of Murcia, a cultural club centre. About this building, here.
More amazing photos, here.
This monument (at Traperia street) can be visited. Indeed, is the civil building more visited.

The Guitar Became Man

Jimi Hendrix, an American who conquered the UK. He was a musician, who experimented with the music, among other things, finding new sounds.
This picture was taken a few nights ago inside a highly recommended pub: Atomic Café (Simon Garcia street, corner of Joaquin Costa street). Drinks and music live, DJ's sessions, ...

The Birds (At St. Domingo Square)

They lurk us, as in the Hitchcock film, to stain our clothes or our hair.
Another image of the St. Domingo square with the facade of the church of St. Domingo. The place where the pigeons are perched, is a pergola that serves as protection for possible fallen branches of a centenary ficus.

Spanish Women's Water Polo Team

Yesterday, the Spanish Women's Water Polo Team won the 2014 European Women's Water Polo Championship.
Two thumbs up for women's sport!
Picture: big screen at Thader mall to see sports events.

Port Of Alicante

Picture of the port from our neighboring province of Alicante.

Bell's Detail

Detail of one of the bells at the Cathedral Bell-Tower.

Bell-Clapper

More views of the city of Murcia from the bell tower of the Cathedral. In the center of the image, Cerdá House. Below left, Trapería street that connects the Cathedral with Santo Domingo square.

Landscape And Bell

And now the belfry. The set of bronze bells are special for its loudness. And, not long ago, the bells governing the life of Murcia. They were heard throughout the orchard because not only warned of the time, even in the case of fire or flood, and of course ruled the irrigation batches. The bell tower has twenty bells, five on each side. The heaviest, Santa Ágata (St. Agatha), with 6,420 kilos (the sixth largest in the Spanish cathedrals); the most famous, San Victoriano (St. Victorian) (1,158 kilos) known as Nona, to mark the ninth hour (3 pm), other bells (in the bellfry there is a replica, while the original is in the museum of the Cathedral ): La Mora. It is one of the oldest in Spain, dating from 1383. It is also known as "spells", named after the enigmatic inscriptions containing.
Here, a picture few meters below.

Arrival To The Top

This photo is very similar than yesterday, but there are several differences.
Although the spiral staircase is continuing, the following stairs and floor can not be visited.
In the end, we have reached the belfry.

Spiral Staircase To The Top

The end of the route is near. A spiral staircase ascends to the belfry, last visited room in the tower. Only for the views, it has already paid off.

Views From The Spells.

A few days after (I have had a very busy week), I continue with the visit to the top of the Cathedral Bell Tower.
Photo: From the last location we have this views. The Cardinal Belluga Square. On the left, Bishop's Palace. Next, Town Hall (back of the building). Following, Moneo's building (new Town Hall offices).

Spells

Ramps above finally leads to the outside of the tower through the balcony of Conjuratorios (Spells). Opened to the four cardinal points, four little temples, crowned by images of Cartagena saints adorn each corner. It is a unique space that is not exist in other Spanish cathedrals, and full of history. Here, two canons climbed every time that threatened storm or flood risk existed. With Relic 'Lignum Crucis' in their hands, uttered a few psalms response as spell to rid Murcia, of foreseeable disaster. If, despite the prayers, the situation did not improve, then it was the bishop who climbed to deliver the emergency spell from a balcony  located on a ledge on the side facing the river.

2nd Stop

Inside the tower, a square floor plan, it is possible to contemplate the succession of artistic styles. The structure has   several rooms. On the ramp seven is the file room, in process of cataloging, which holds hundreds of files and documents, including handwritten letters of Alfonso X "The Wise". Slightly above locates the room known as refugees, as it was the place where it was kept the treasure of the Cathedral to avoid floods. And over the clock room, which still retains the machinery of 1940. Now it is no longer necesary that the watchmaker climb every three days to wind because the clock is connected via satellite to the atomic clock of Berlin, which keeps it promptly on time. This room, where the ringer lived, is also known as the secret room. Because the vaulted ceiling gives it a special sound that is almost impossible to whisper a few words without being heard at the other corner of the room.
On the door to the clock room, following a tradition of the Middle Ages, a stonemason left, using the latest restoration, a message written on the wall 'inside this stone is my name in a bottle'.

Stoping For Coming Up

Climbing to the bell tower of the Cathedral of Murcia, there are up to 4 stops at 4 rooms, each with its own history: the file room, clock room, ... In the clock room, the ringer had his bedroom. This room also has a secret due to the design of it (which I will not reveal: you have to make the visit).
Photo: from the first stop. Facade of entry the cross square.

Up To The Cathedral Bell-Tower (Murcia)

Eighteen ramps, and 44 steps, take us to climb 95 meters high, the third highest tower of a cathedral in Spain. A walk that allows travel 400 years of the history of Murcia.
The tour lasts about an hour, with the help of a guide. Though the climb is no major complication, four stops are made before reaching the belfry.
It is a lesson in history of art from the Italian Renaissance to Neoclassicism, going through Baroque. The monument began to rise in 1519 and not finished until 1893 with wind vane. Nearly four centuries.

Chains And The Cathedral Tower

This photo is an excuse to invite you to take a trip through the interior of the bell tower of the Cathedral of Murcia, symbol of the city of Murcia.
We will visit the interior of the tower reaching to the top, where we can see stunning views of the city.
You are invited next days to see some photos from this trip.
Meanwhile, here differing perspectives of the tower. Here, its history.

On Board Of Santisima Trinidad

This boat (see previous photos: 1 and 2) is a restaurant boat that can be visited in the port of Alicante.
Previously was in Málaga, and finally end up in Ibiza.
Photo: detail of the main mast.
This ship, the replica was originally a merchant ship, which has been remodeled for the replica of the Holy Trinity ship. The ship does not sail, and to remove from port to port, it has to be towed.

Santisima Trinidad 2

Detail of the bow of the replica of this great ship. All its history, here.

Sign of the end of Spanish power in the seas, the greatest weapon of war of his time now remains in the seabed. Their artillery pieces were removed and installed at the entrance of the Pantheon of Illustrious Marine located at the NCO School of the Navy in San Fernando (Cádiz).

Santísima Trinidad 1

Detail of the stern of the ship: Holy Trinity (Santísima Trinidad 1769-1805). Here, a general perspective.

The Holy Trinity, officially Our Lady of the Holy Trinity, was a Spanish ship of 120 cannons, later expanded to 140, the largest of its time, was nicknamed "El Escorial of the seas" and was one of the few ships of the line of four bridges that existed. It had an initial endowment of 960 sailors.
In 1780, it participated in the capture of an English convoy of 55 ships. In 1782 it was incorporated into the fleet at the Mediterranean and participated in the Battle of Cape Spartel.
He is remembered especially for his tragic end at the Battle of Trafalgar (October, 21st 1805). After a hard fight was captured by the English in very poor condition, with more than 200 killed and 100 wounded. The English put every effort to save it and take it to the English port of Gibraltar, being towed by the frigates HMS Naiad and HMS Phoebe. But finally sink on October 24th about 25 or 28 miles south of Cadiz.

July'14 Theme Day. Celebrating Summer.

A great Theme Day for the northern hemisphere (although Southern can also show us their winter in July or their past summer).
Celebrating Summer is the title for this day, and drinking something  refreshing at the beach, is a very good idea.
Click here to view thumbnails of all participants.