March 31, 2010

HOLY WEEK IN IBIZA


HOLY WEEK IN IBIZA CITY WITH PROCESSIONS
Last year I went to the city on the good Friday to take some pictures for my blog about the Holy week celebrations into the city of Ibiza, after about at least fifteen years without having seen again. What was my surprise to discover that not only the devotion of these things had not going down as I imagined, but I saw myself difficulties for a place to take some pictures in a place where not crowed. I got it but in fits and starts and in a place where all the fraternities did not went through. Later I knew that from some years ago that not only on Good Friday there is a porcession but each "Cofradía" (brotherhood) makes an own procession before Good Friday.
Although I can not go to them all, this year I decided to see some and can say that they are even better than the own Good Friday´s one. So the first two images in this entry belong to the brotherhood of "Cofradia" of El Cristo del Cementerio (Christ Cemetery), a highly venerated image in the island. This year also was played out in magnificent "portal de ses taules" main entrance to the walled city. The next image (top of these images) of the Virgin de los Dolores and stroll through the narrow streets of Dalt Vila, and the fourth image (bottom of these lines) the procession of "La Piedad" in the neighborhood of La Marina, in the heart of the city. Ibiza is not Andalusia and Castille, but also a spectacular Easter and Holly Week to celebrate. Some people who I showed the pictures of last year asked if I this was in Ibiza, they couldn´t believe it and some of them already lives for more than twenty years on the island.
If you are interested to view more of these pictures please check at the follow link:
Only available in Spanish version.

March 25, 2010

TOMB OF GUILLEM DE MONTGRÍ IN GIRONA & REPLICA IN IBIZA


Both cities Girona and Ibiza have something in common and is one of the most historic character of the island. Guillem de Montgrí. Born around 1200 in Torroella de Montgrí, arrived on August the 8th 1,235 under the command of James I the Conqueror to Ibiza. Since then Ibiza and Formentera became territories belonging to the Kingdom of Aragon. Into the images on both sides of these lines we see the tomb of this character that is located inside the Cathedral of Girona.
Guillem de Montgrí died in 1273 and the sculpture is his tomb was completed on life of Guillem and created by master Bartomeu of Girona. Guillem de Montgrí was sacristan (sexton) of Girona Cathedral and Archbishop-elect of Tarragona. Guillem de Montgrí had already been involved in the reconquest of the island of Majorca with his brother Bernat

Between these lines two images of Guillem de Montgrí´s statue in the city of Ibiza near the town hall of the City in Dalt Vila, which is a replica of the tomb of the Cathedral in Girona and that the City of Girona gift to Ibiza in 1970.Of the four "cuartons", which divided the island Guillem de Montgrí took both the Ses Salines and the Balançat on the island of Ibiza and La Mola and Carnatge in Formentera. The rest was divided between Pere de Portugal and Nuno Sanç. The land of Guillem would become to the Diocese of Tarragona when he died as he wished.
The reclining statue is situated in what could be called "the balcony of the Mediterranean" in the east side of the city hall of Ibiza. Surrounded by gardens and above the cliffs. After a redesign of this area it is possible to visit again.

March 15, 2010

A BLOGGER TAKEN PICTURES OF "ES VEDRÁ"


PEPE THE BIG BLOGGER OF SUNRISES AND SUNSETS OF IBIZA


At request of Pepe Roselló (blog islaibiza.blogspot.com), we meet a day to take him to witness the spectacular sunsets in the area of the Cala d hort. At the appointed time and with the smiling face hi appeared with great stamina to go and pictured the sunset as only Pepe knows how to do so. The jacket in his hand was a sign that despite the sunny day there was in Ibiza, in winter the temperatures can drop down much when the sun decides to leave us a few hours to heat other areas of the planet.

I must admit that this place has a unique magic to watch the spectacular sunsets and with the added attraction that are not overcrowded, which are even more beautiful.

And there´s Pepe, this work mates and friend, waiting for the right moment that is craved, that magical moment that it is day or night ... the time that it sunny day and temperatures dipped to the effect of wind and jackets were absolutely essential...

He is now in his own little but spectacular world. He ignores everything except the camera and the sun... He´s just aware of anything that can call his attention for taken the best of the pictures...

arriving to the place that would impress Pepe, we pass through a way where we can enjoy the silhouettes of the pines and the top of the big rock island with the cloud on the top, we were involved with that beautiful mountain and seascape scenary that offered us the place...



I wish to remain the link for visit the Pepe´s blog and you´ll see these pictures and others from Pepe: http://islaibiza.blogspot.com/

No matter for Pepe the wind and I was freezing cold, Pepe with his fleece jacket keeps taking photos. He´s enjoying the moment while I yearn to get him tired and stop taking photos. But that moment does not exist for Pepe that goes on and on taking pictures despite the wind, cold and anything that might prevent him from trying to take pictures.

And while Pepe still engrossed in her trance watching the scenery through the camera I keep turning to try to get a little warmer ... and I decided then to take some pictures as well...

And there are people who were impassive when we saw the sunset, enjoying the natural spectacle silently this spectacle that takes place every evening in the same place and almost at the same time .... Nothing that I also encourage me to take a photograph like the one below because the place and the natural show really invites to take a picture, like that one bellow...

March 06, 2010

PARISH OF SANTA AGNÈS


CHURCH OF SANTA AGNÈS

Undoubtedly one of the most rural temples of the island. The Church is of a very simple trace, with typical walls, immaculately white and architectonically very simple, as the most of temples in the island. In the image of above that belongs to the south front, it´s possible to see the former entry, where there was time ago a fight among two men that concluded with the death of one of them, since then, this door remain closed, and it was builded another one at the west side of the temple.


Inside the church, that it´s like a hermitage and not a church itself, the architectural evident beauty features. It is the lowest temple that exists in the island, that is the reason why the choir (which it is located on a second floor at the churches of Ibiza)it doesn´t exists at this parish.

The saint holder of this church is Santa Agnès. It exists a lamb always with this image at the side of it. That demonstrates the origin of the Latin name "Agnus" - Lamb (Agnès). The palm in her hand means that it is a martyr. It was one of first martyrs of the christian church. Anyway her history is redressed in many legends and possibly as invented by the church of then, though there exists information that would affirm that her history was written three hundred years after her death and that they would confirm her existence, with an excessively distorted history. In any case the tradition says that she died to a nearby age of fourteen.


The image of Our Lady of the "Rosario" is one of the most ancient of this church, it belongs to the XIXth century. it was one of those that were not destroyed in the spanish civil war. At the beginning of the decade of the ´30th s a teacher was destined to this locality from Valencia. He could verify personally the damages that the war caused in the church, images and altarpieces and due the lack of resources, he decided to restore them himself, and when ended every little restoration, the pupils and him were celebrating it singing with all together. The same altarpieces today at the lateral chapels, are the same that he painted and restored, and today as well we can continue admiring the images as this one of Our Lady,and some others like the one of San Roque which he restored the eyes of the dog and of the image of the saint. Another story that belongs to this image is from when the church was building and a ship sinks due to a windystorm in Sant Antoni's surroundings. The boat was loaded by chariots of savina from the zone of Cala Bassa and were destined to cover the porch of this church. Two of five persons who were going on board were saved, one the priest and another nicknamed Lluc Costa "maimó" that while he was fighting against the waves, promised that if he was managing to be saved would buy a "emprendada" (set of typical local jewels of gold) for this image. On every January 21th the festivity of Saint Agnès, this image is decorated since then by the jewels that the survivor gave to Our Lady as a gratitude.

This one is another image that we owe to that teacher who restored them,as he could, when he came to this locality. This image is very curious. It is says that belongs to San Vicente Ferrer but he has beard. Very onlooker so in all the churches of Ibiza there is an image of this saint and in none of them he has beard. Maybe is a kind of misrepresentation. probably this image belongs to another Saint?.
In one of the images we see some damages in the image, due to all the violent acts committed during the sad spanish civil war.

During the first two months of the year, this church remains surrounded with almond-trees in flower. Undoubtedly one of the most important natural attractions of this village, where many people from the island and foreings are going in peregrination to enjoy the floral spectacle that is attended in this valley.

In this church, as in all of the island, exists at the exterior a Calvary (composed by three crosses). This one is very curious since that is not placed in the same building of the temple, but in the exterior wall of one of the houses in front of the church.

A few years ago in the white front of the wall placed at the West side of the temple, there were placed these blue rollers that commemorate the symbols of the Patron Saint of the village with the words in Latin of Agnus Dei " God's lamb ".

A legend tells that this church was constructed simultaneously of the neighbor Sant Mateu, and that both were competing in which one was finishing it before. The Bishop had promised to give them as a present the bell of the parish. The people in Santa Agnes were almost finished, a few walls fell down and it was necessary to start it again. They had to go very quickly because the people in Sant Mateu where almost finished. At the end both of them practically finished simultaneously, but the church of Santa Agnès was much more smaller than the one in Sant Mateo..., this may be the reason why this church is the lowest of the island. The bishop gave as a prize the bell to both parishes... In any case the dates at the real history are different in both temples, but anyway is a nice story.