The City of Cuenca can claim to be both historical and holy. Built in the 8th century by the Muslim Arabs and occupied in the 12th century on by the Christians this walled city is a gem. As happened so many times in Spanish cities, large churches and cathedrals were built on top of the mosques, and Cuenca is no different. The cathedral is a magnificent building occupying one corner of the town square but, unlike many others we have visited, does not have the same level of opulence inside. No over the top altar pieces or multitude of elaborate side chapels. Music was playing (which I have touched on before on this blog) and I felt a wonderful presence whilst walking round, sitting and listening to the audio guide. This place felt ‘holy’ and I suppose with the history of the town no wonder. There have been many convents here and it still has a seminary for the training of catholic priests, so its religious roots remain in tact. Across the valley from the city on Cerro del Socorro is a statue of Jesus overlooking the town. This is at the end of 14 stations of the cross, the start of which is just outside the old convent (now a Parador) and is dedicated to Christ of the Sacred Heart.
I also went in the church of St Paul. A peaceful and serene church that boasts a tower with views across the city, though I felt like Quasimodo as I climbed the tower only to be ‘hit’ with the sound of the midday bells ringing across the town when two thirds of the way up a tight spiral staircase.
Cuenca is also on one of the Camino De Santiago routes. This one ‘Ruta De La Lana’ we discovered starts in Alicante and joins the main ‘French Way’ route, and the one we traveled a part of previously on our Journey of Discovery, in Burgos.
Holy Places - a journey of discovery 