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17 June 1871 — Avila | |
Saturday. 17th [June 1871]. We got up early & after breakfast went over to the Cathedral which was opposite. There we met the Marquis de Mirasol & he took us abt the Cathedral & to the Sacristy where we saw the Custodia which is by D’Arfé the son—& is very beautiful, good in proportion & like the one at Seville on a small scale– Here Sr Lunas & the Govr joined us & Mirasol left us. We went to St Vicente wh is a very handsome & simple building & has been well restored. We also went to St Mosen Rubi where there is a convent but the church has nothing particular. We also saw the beautiful gate way of the House of Palentina with its charming patio—& one lamented that it was so ill kept & likely soon to come down. We also saw several other fine houses especially the Oñate house wh has a very fine old tower very well restored. We also saw the walls of the town wh are in a wonderful state of preservation & then we went home to lunch. At 3 Hy went to the cathedral & while out I had a visit from Los Marqueses Mirasol who are staying in their hotel. Soon after came Sr Lunas & the Inspector & we went to Ste Tomas outside the walls. It is a most curious & interesting place—having been a large convent. The church is like the one built by Isabella la catolica at Granada San Juan de los Reyes—the alter & choir are at opposite ends of the church & raised a great deal above the ground. The choir is beautifully carved & in good preservation especially the handsome chairs at the end made for Isabel & Fernand’s use. The Convent is very large having 2 court yards with a very handsome ball ornament. One is shewn the apartments of Los Reyes– Our guide was a crazy old porter who jabbered & talked all the time. We saw the tomb of the founder of the Inquisition Torquemada which is only distinguished by a black slab in the floor of the Sacristy. We had a carriage to meet us here & drove to Sn Segundo a pretty little church at the other extremity of the town– There is a fine tomb with the kneeling figure of Bishop Secundo & a hole left to put ones hand in & feel the coffin wh Hill availed herself of—but was not in my line. We then went to the Hotel & dined—afterwards we had a visit from Sr Lunas & his 2 daughters & we went to the station. Where we met Lady Franklin & Miss Cracroft who are going to stay at Avila a night. As it was raining we could not stop and speak but had to take our places. Here we parted with Giovanni who returned to Madrid & we only took Hill. To our great annoyance the Govt had telegraphed to the Govrs of Burgos, Valladolid, Sn Sebastian &c & they came to the station to pay us a visit. This was as tiresome to Henry as it must have been for them as in this way our rest was broken all night by Henry having to get up & do the civil. At Sn Sebastian we saw Mr Pirel who introduced Henry to a gentleman of the railway & at Hendaya he kindly got our luggage thro’ without any opening & we at once went & got some breakfast it being 10 oclock on | |
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