Cuenca, Spain
Cuenca ( kweŋka ) is a town in the Spanish autonomous community of Castile -La Mancha and the capital of the province of Cuenca. The place is a university town with a location of the University of Castilla -La Mancha.
Geography
The city is located between Madrid (distance: 180 km ) and Valencia (distance: about 206 km) in the autonomous region of Castilla -La Mancha. Cuenca is the capital of the homonymous province. It is next to Albacete, Ciudad Real, Guadalajara and Toledo one of the five parts of the autonomous community of Castile -La Mancha.
Geographically speaking, Cuenca is located on the border between the Cuenca - mountain region and the La Mancha plain. The historic center of the city has an extremely picturesque location on a rocky plateau between the gorges of two rivers Júcar and Huécar.
The continental climate is characterized because of its central location on the Iberian Peninsula.
Cultural Events
In Cuenca is held every year at Easter, a " festival of religious music " (Spanish: Semana de Música Festival religiosa ) instead, in 2012, the 51st festival took place. Of works have been commissioned for the festival, an " Artist in Residence" is invited.
Attractions
The Cuenca region was sparsely populated during the Roman period, it was not until the Moors conquered the region at the beginning of the 8th century, they immediately recognized the strategic location and built there the fort under the name " Kunka ". Even today, the Arab influence in the city is visible. The famous " hanging houses " (las casas colgadas ) the most fascinating sight of the city are. Overall, the picture of the old town has been shaped through the centuries by the caused by the two gorges shortage of living space. Accordingly, can be found in the old town especially narrow, steep and winding alleyways.
The place is divided into Old and New Town. The latter consists mainly of modern residential buildings. It is located further down the valley of the Júcar. The old town, with its picturesque location on the rocky plateau probably one of the most interesting cities in Spain with many spectacular viewpoints. In 1996, the city of Cuenca, a UNESCO declared World Heritage Site.
King Alfonso VIII took part in the reconquest ( Reconquista ), the city in 1177 from the Moors, who had ruled Spain since 711. Shortly after construction started for the Gothic cathedral of the city. Other important buildings are the City Council from the 18th century, the bishop's palace and the castle, which was created as an extension of an Arab fortress built in the 10th century.
Cuenca houses since 1966, the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art major (Museo de Arte Abstracto Español), a spectacular collection of abstract art. This important museum has a permanent exhibition with hundreds of paintings and sculptures important representative of abstract Spanish art.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Luis de Molina, a Jesuit and theologian
- Alonso de Ojeda, Spanish navigator and explorer
- Juan Díaz, scholar and Protestant
- Leonardo de Figueroa, Architect
- Pablo Andújar, tennis players