Puerta de Valnadú.
2. What gate of Madrid walls was located close to the current park of Mohamed I?
Puerta de la Vega
3. What gate of Madrid walls was located close to Iglesia de San Andrés y Museo de San Isidro?
Puerta de Moros
4. What does it mean the word "Alcazar" and "Al-mudaina"?
"Alcazar" could means palace or fortified castle and "Al-mudaina" means fortified citadel.
5. Name the materials used in the first walls made during the Muslim foundation.
Flint, in Spanish is named as silex or pedernal. During Christian times other materials were incorporated to the walls, such as: limestone and bricks.
6. Write the first motto of Madrid and explain the reason of the motto.
"Fuí sobre agua edificada, mis muros de fuego son".
The first part comes from the abundant subterranean and surface water that Madrid had in those times. Mayrit means in Arabic language "land rich in water".
The second part of the motto make reference to the walls of pedernal. This material is so hard than when arrows were thrown against the walls, they emitted sparks of fire.
7. Write the name of the five gates that there were in the first Christian walls. Explain the main reason that names each of the gates.
Puerta de la Vega - Because faced the "vega" or meadow of Madrid.
Puerta de Moros - Because was in the neighbourhood of the Muslim people.
Puerta de Cerrada - Because during some time spent a lot of time closed, due to the high criminality of the sorroundings
Puerta de Guadalajara - Because faced the road that carried to Guadalajara.
Puerta de Valnadú - The name derived from the Arabic expression "Overlooking to the valley".
8. Write the date of the foundation of Madrid.
856 AD
9. Write the date of the conquest of Madrid by the Castilian crown.
1085AD
856 AD
9. Write the date of the conquest of Madrid by the Castilian crown.
1085AD
10. Write the name of Plaza Mayor during medieval times.
Plaza del Arrabal. Arrabal means outskirts.
11. Write the date when Madrid was turned into the capital of Spain.
In 1561, although the official declaration of capitality was in 1606.
12. Write the name of the sreets where we have seen part of the ancient medieval walls.
Cuesta de la Vega, calle Angosta de los Mancebos y calle Escalinata.
13. What period of time corresponds to medieval times.
From 476 AD (Fall of the Occidental Roman Empire) to 1492 AD ("Discovery" of America)
14. What building of madrid started being built "by the roof"? In what part of the city center is located?
Torre Colón. Calle Castellana y plaza del Descubrimiento.
15. Why do you think that the biggest Spanish flag is located in the Plaza del Descubrimiento?
Because the Spanish nationalism look for feats of the past in order to stimulate patriotic feelings.
16. La Puerta de Alcalá was one of the gates that were in the walls erected in 1625. Was there any gate in the current plaza of Descubrimiento?
Puerta de Recoletos.
17. Write at least three differences about the plan of the Ensanche and the plan of the city that was inside the medieval walls.
- The Ensanche of Madrid was a planned urban design and the historic center hadn´t have any planned urban design.
- The Ensanche of Madrid has an orthogonal plan and the historic center of Madrid has an irregular plan.
- The streets of the Ensanche are wider and with a hierarchy. The streets of the historic center are narrower and without a clear hierarchy.
Plaza del Arrabal. Arrabal means outskirts.
11. Write the date when Madrid was turned into the capital of Spain.
In 1561, although the official declaration of capitality was in 1606.
12. Write the name of the sreets where we have seen part of the ancient medieval walls.
Cuesta de la Vega, calle Angosta de los Mancebos y calle Escalinata.
13. What period of time corresponds to medieval times.
From 476 AD (Fall of the Occidental Roman Empire) to 1492 AD ("Discovery" of America)
14. What building of madrid started being built "by the roof"? In what part of the city center is located?
Torre Colón. Calle Castellana y plaza del Descubrimiento.
15. Why do you think that the biggest Spanish flag is located in the Plaza del Descubrimiento?
Because the Spanish nationalism look for feats of the past in order to stimulate patriotic feelings.
16. La Puerta de Alcalá was one of the gates that were in the walls erected in 1625. Was there any gate in the current plaza of Descubrimiento?
Puerta de Recoletos.
17. Write at least three differences about the plan of the Ensanche and the plan of the city that was inside the medieval walls.
- The Ensanche of Madrid was a planned urban design and the historic center hadn´t have any planned urban design.
- The Ensanche of Madrid has an orthogonal plan and the historic center of Madrid has an irregular plan.
- The streets of the Ensanche are wider and with a hierarchy. The streets of the historic center are narrower and without a clear hierarchy.
