Historic Cistern Caceres Spain
by Joan Carroll
Title
Historic Cistern Caceres Spain
Artist
Joan Carroll
Medium
Photograph - Photography And Digital Art
Description
When I heard that the second largest cistern in Europe, second only to the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul, was located in the Palacio de las Veletas (Palace of Weathervanes) in Caceres Spain, I just had to go see it. Well, there was a caveat. As I understood the explanation, it was the second largest in volume, but not necessarily in its ‘footprint’. OK, well, that’s still something to go see! It turns out its footprint is definitely smaller, way smaller, and the access is only by one narrow staircase and a short and narrow walkway. Luckily, the number of visitors was also small so it wasn’t much of a problem to pass the few going in the opposite direction. The cistern is under the Palacio de las Veletas (Palace of Weathervanes) which was build in the 15th century over the ruins of an Arab fortress. The cistern itself was excavated in the rock in the 12th century under the foundations of the fortress. It is formed by horseshoe arches and barrel vaults supported by Roman-origin granite columns. Strange legends are attached to the cistern. In one, a Moor princess, daughter of the Arab ruler of Caceres, falls in love with a Christian soldier. The Princess eventually presented the soldier with a key to the town which he used to take the town. When the king found out the reason for his defeat, he cursed his daughter and turned the Princess and her maid into hens, and they would be kept in the cistern until the town was returned to the Arabs. Hmmm….why hens? Why the cistern? It’s anyone’s guess. I surely didn’t see or hear them during my visit.
FEATURED PHOTO, Old Masters - Photographers And Digital Arts group, 5/27/18
FEATURED PHOTO, 1000 Views on 1 Image Group, 5/25/18
FEATURED PHOTO, Arches--for Artists And Buyers group, 4/11/18
Joan carroll, water, storage, travel, underground, arch, archway
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Uploaded
March 9th, 2018
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Viewed 3,470 Times - Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 03/29/2024 at 4:28 AM
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Comments (81)
Felipe Adan Lerma
Great description to go w/the image, Joan - captures the sense of history and time l/f
Joan Carroll
thank you Lenore for the feature in the Old Masters - Photographers And Digital Arts group, 5/27/18
Christopher James
One of your peers nominated this image in the 1000 views Groups nominated images by your fellow artist in the Special Features #8 promotion discussion. Please visit and pass on the love to another artist.
Christopher James
Congratulation.....your wonderful work has been featured in the 1000 Views on 1 Image Group l/f/p