Ciudad Real

Ciudad Real (Spanish for: Royal City) is a city in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain with a population of 73,124. It is the capital of the province of Ciudad Real. It has a stop on the AVE high-speed rail line and has begun to grow as a long-distance commuter suburb of Madrid. A high capacity airport (Ciudad Real Central Airport) has been built to serve the city, it is now open. The beginning of the construction of a new Caesar's Palace Casino is planned for 2007.

History

Church of Santiago, 12th century.

During the Middle Ages, four kilometres of walls and one hundred and thirty towers protected a population made up of Christians, Moors and Jews.

After the unification of the Iberian kingdoms under the Catholic Monarchs, Ciudad Real became the capital of the province of La Mancha in the 17th century. This fact favoured its economic development which was spilled into important buildings. The city was founded by Alfonso X in the 13th century to fight against the Military Order of Calatrava.

The city was surrounded by walls. Nowadays, there are only two parts of the wall left.

Sights

Jardines del Prado

Don Quixote's Museum is situated next to Parque de Gasset.

The Museo Elisa Cendreros exhibits an old collection of fans and wrought wood.

The Iglesia de Santiago is the oldest church in Ciudad Real. It was built at the end of the 13th century. Its style is Gothic. It has three blocks divided into two parts. Its decorated with gothic paintings and with seven-headed dragons, they were used such us amulets against the bad spirits. The ceiling is decorated with stones forming eight pointed stars.

Another important church in Ciudad Real is Iglesia de San Pedro (Church of Saint Peter). It is the monument that has more interest and quality of the city. It was built between the XIVth and XVth century. Its style is Gothic. Inside we can find the tomb of Chante de Coca, confessor and chaplain of the Catholic Monarchs.

In the centre of Ciudad Real is the Plaza Mayor.

One of the most popular festivals in the city is La Pandorga, which takes place July 30th and 31st. On the last day of the month the festival honors its patroness “La Virgen del Prado.” The usual attire consists of jeans, a white shirt, and the traditional handkerchief.

Sports

Don Quixote Arena, Ciudad Real

The city has a handball team, the BM Ciudad Real, which was the winner of the handball EHF Champions League in 2006, 2008 and 2009. The handball club is one of the best in the world and its hall, the Don Quixote Arena, is the biggest in Spain.

Education

Ciudad Real has 18 Primary Schools and six high schools. The High School "Torreón del Alcázar" was founded in 1987. In the first years there were only vocational studies, thirty teachers and 350 students. Some years later the high school incorporated the Compulsory Secondary studies and A levels. At the moment there are 93 teachers and 1000 students. In the year 1995 the High School was offered to become a bilingual school. And in the year 2005 the first bilingual group arrived.

Natives of Ciudad Real

• Hernán Pérez del Pulgar (1451 - 1535), captain of the Battle of Granada
• Manuel Marín (born October 21, 1949), politician and former president of the Spanish Congress
• Fernando Luna (born April 24, 1958), professional tennis player
• Manuel López-Villaseñor (1924-1996), painter
• Juande Ramos (born 1954), manager of Real Madrid Football Club
• Manuel Hidalgo Castaño (born 1947), Sculpto of numerous statues in Ciudad Real to include Quijote Arena ^[1]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ciudad Real

See also

• List of municipalities in Ciudad Real province.

Coordinates: 38°59′N 3°56′W / 38.983°N 3.933°W / 38.983; -3.933

References

1. ^ http://es.geocities.com/webhidalgo