Spain isn't just a beautiful country, it has history in every corner of its streets. As soon as I stepped into Madrid I noticed how all the buildings, statues and even the street names all have different meanings going back to the early years of the city. During my first tour of the city I walked through different streets and saw many different architecture like the Palacio Real de Madrid where kings and queens lived there fo many years up until 1931, however it was originally a medieval fortress that the Umayyad Emirs of Cordoba used to keep watch of their home. I also learned that the origins of the city were Islamic because Emir Muhammad I used Madrid to defend Toledo from the Christian kings that were trying to take over the city. I also saw the Museo Nacional del Prado which is a very interesting art museum with paintings so interesting and amazing like the black paintings by Francisco Goya or las Meninas by Diego Velazquez which are also rich in history.
Another city I visited was Toledo which is another city of great history, especially I religion because it is famously known as the "City of Three Cultures" where Muslims, Cristians and Jews all lived together in peace and worked together in many different things. I went to see the Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo which in itself was amazing with all the designs and paintings it had. Not only was it huge, it held different forms of art like statues, paintings and much more. I also when to the Synagogue of Santa Maria La Blanca where I got to see the Synagogue that went through a lot of changes as it was first built as a place for the Jews to pray, but later on was taken by the Catholic Church and renamed Santa Maria la Blanca after the Jews were expeled from Spain. Finally, I went to see the Mosque in Toledo which was very interesting especially with all the background information I already knew.
Lastly, I'd like to talk about Cordoba and its rich origins. Under Roman rule they built amazing structures that held the city together such as temples, forum and even the arches of the Bridge crossing the Guadalquivir River which is one of the most important rivers in Spain. In 711 it became the capital of Al-Andalus unsweetened Islam rule and from then on it was a city that continued to grow and flourish. After getting to Cordoba I got to see the amazing and iconic Mezquita which is a mosque/cathedral. I also visited another synagogue in Cordoba that was preserved very well.
This past week has been so interesting and so amazing that every time I turn to walk down another street I learn something new and it has been amazing. Spain is so worth visiting and exploring because there is always stuff to do and learn in this wonderful country.
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