Stay, Stray, Play and Feast: January 2018

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Iglesia de San Francisco Javier: Ancient Church Museum (Medieval Caceres Series 9)

Iglesia de San Francisco Javier
Ancient Church Museum
Medieval Caceres Series 9

Also located at the Plaza de San Jorge,
just across the Casa Palacio de los Becerra,
is the Iglesia de San Francisco Javier.

The church of San Francisco Javier, also

known as the Church of the Precious Blood

is an 18^th century Baroque style Jesuit church.

…built in1698, annexed to a convent.

Inside, the main altarpiece stands out,

…with the eighteenth-century painting

of San Francisco Javier as a centerpiece.

In the crypt is the Interpretation Center of Holy Week.

The towers could be accessed by an exquisite

metal cast spiral staircase in the lower level,

…and another spiral granite

stairs on the upper level-

…and provides an awesome

of the ancient city of Caceres,

…the other tower as a backdrop.

Also worth visiting is the wide array of

old religious and church relics on display.

Currently there is no more
worship masses done inside,

....and the church primarily serves

...as an awesome religious museum.

Friday, January 26, 2018

Casa Palacio de los Becerra: Middle Age Palace Museum (Medieval Caceres Series 8)

Casa Palacio de los Becerra
Middle Age Palace Museum
Medieval Caceres Series 8

After visiting the Concatedral Santa Maria

we continued our walking tour, that led us to

the Plaza de San Jorge where the ancient

Casa Palacio de los Becerra is located.

The Casa Palacio de los Becerra

or the House of Becerra is a Gothic

structure built in the mid15^th century.

This is a three floor medieval structure was

the ancestral house of the Becerra Family,

which after the restoration two upper floors

was dedicated as exhibition halls, and venues

for meetings, congresses, training and conferences.

The ground floor is turned to a museum,

…with permanent exhibition of a selection of collections,

…furniture, paintings, glass and antiques.

It is currently the headquarters of

the Mercedes Calles Foundation, .

…whose most important purpose is for

protection, improvement and conservation

of the Monumental City of Cáceres.

The restoration and rehabilitation of

the Casa Palacio de los Becerra is a

fulfillment of this praiseworthy cause.

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Concatedral Santa Maria Caceres: Ancient Center of Faith (Medieval Caceres Series 7)

Concatedral Santa Maria Caceres
Ancient Center of Faith
Medieval Caceres Series 7

Located at the Plaza Sta. Maria and right
infront of Palacio Episcopal de Cáceres is
the Santa Iglesia Concatedral Santa María.

Built in the 13^th century and completed in the15^th
century it is one the oldest structures and considered
as the most important Christian temple in Cáceres.

We were completely awed with the
Romanesque transition to Gothic
interiors of sinuous arched ceilings,

…and antique church fixtures.

It is the concathedral of the diocese of Coria-Cáceres,
and was declared an Artistic Historical Monument
the cathedral also presently functions as museum.

Inside the church museum are
some of the oldest church relics,

…archaic paintings,

…and very old, historic sculptures,

Several smaller chapels are found inside the church-
like the gold-laden Capilla del Santísimo Sacramento.

Another one is the Chapel of the Blázquez or the
Santísimo Cristo, that contains the 14th century
Gothic crucifix of the Cristo Negro de Cáceres.

Other smaller yet beautiful chapels include
the Capilla de San Miguel Arcanghel,
with an artistic grille decorated with noble
coats of arms and a baroque altarpiece,

…the stunning Capilla Virgen de los Dolores,

...Capilla de la Virgen Milagrosa,

…and the Capilla Cristo de las Batallas,

All these grand chapels made the cathedral
appear that there were individual several
small churches, hosting different saints.

The cathedral seemed to have been like designed
to provide the Catholic faithful a place to worship
whoever they want to pray to answer their prayers.

It’s a spiritual smorgasbord.

The exquisite ancient sacristy also
stands out as it was made in 1527 .

Concatedral Santa Maria Caceres’ main attraction
is the massive Extremaduran style wooden altarpiece.
This masterpiece was carved from Flanders pine and
cedar by Guillén Ferrant and Roque Balduque in 1547.

In it are figures of the apostles,

…the motifs related to the Virgin,

... and to the childhood,

...and passion of Jesus.

The central most figure in the alter
is The Assumption of the Virgin.

The church has a Renaissance
period bell tower, built in 1554,

…which could be accessed
by a narrow winding stairway.

It houses the ancient giant bell
that is still perfectly working,

...and provides and breathtaking view,

…of the ancient city in all angles.

The tower is crowned by four flameros that
serves as a favorite nesting place for storks;

The church floor is made of ancient tombstones marking the
resting place of a past generation of prominent citizens of
the medieval era Caceres buried on this sacred ground.

While the old church organ serves as a silent witness
of everything that took place in this awesome cathedral.

The Concatedral Santa Maria Caceresis the ancient
center of faith during the medieval period in Caceres,

…and still serves as the most important
religious center in Extremaduara Spain.