social - Lleida Convention Bureau

SOCIAL
PROGRAMS
GUIDED TOURS
HERITAGE LANDMARKS
LLEIDA
2 ] LLEIDA EVENT&CONVENTION BUREAU
LLEIDA
HERITAGE LANDMARKS
LLEIDA EVENT&CONVENTION BUREAU [ 3
The origins of the city of Lleida date back to the 6th century BC, when the Ancient Iberian tribe of the
Ilergetas chose what is known as the Sovereign Rock, one of the three terraces of the ancient city, to
construct a walled settlement by the name of Iltirda.
Its strategic position served to attract the attention of conquering armies, and although it withstood the
Carthaginians it fell under the yoke of Rome in the days of the Ilergata chieftains Indibil and Mandonius,
adopting the name of Ilerda. During the Roman era the city prospered, with the land witnessing such
battles as those fought between Julius Caesar himself and Pompey’s armies. Later the Visigoths gave it the
name of Lerita, the Moors named it Larida, and it was not until the Christian Reconquest in 1149, courtesy
of Ramon Berenguer IV, that the city received its modern name of Leyda, now Lleida. Glory days were to
follow with the People’s Charter (1150) and the founding of the General Study (1300), the first and only
university of the Crown of Aragon, along with harder times such as the War of the Harvestmen (16401652) and the ‘Nueva Planta’ decrees of Philip V, which cost the city its self-government and university,
while the old cathedral, the Seu Vella, was closed for worship and turned into a barracks.
It was not until the 18th century that Lleida regained its status and once again became the capital of extensive lands, before the tumultuous first half of the 19th century and the Napoleonic invasion gave way
to a prosperous second half, with the arrival of the railway and the first modern urban development plan.
The city was decimated in the 20th century, with just 40,000 inhabitants remaining after the Civil War
(1936-1939). The post-war period brought an unstoppable process of reconstruction giving rise to the
modern city we see today.
Each of these chapters, from the Ancient Iberians to its more recent history, can be read in the magnificent
historical and architectural heritage of the city. LET’S TAKE A LOOK…
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
4 ] LLEIDA EVENT&CONVENTION BUREAU
SECRET LLEIDA
Route:
• Monumental remains of the La
Paeria Palace
• The Tanneries
• Remains of the mediaeval wall
on Carrer Anselm Clavé
Duration: 2 hours
Times: By arrangement
Guide: Bespoke service
Capacity: Groups (max. 30 people)
Price: On enquiry
Organiser:
Turisme de Lleida
(34) 902 25 00 50
www.turismedelleida.cat
[email protected]
A stroll around the silent city which sleeps underfoot...
The secret history which lies hidden in the La Paeria Palace, traces of the Roman era,
remains of ancient Moorish baths or the imprint of those incarcerated in La Morra,
the mediaeval prison.
The workshops and water tunnel of the Tanneries, the oldest in Spain, where as
early as the 13th century skins were being transformed into supple leather for fancy
gloves, hats, chests and barrels.
Or the remains of the mediaeval wall (9th-10th centuries Moorish, 12th-14th feudal), bearing faithful witness to the historical legacy handed down by the city’s population.
The Tanneries, dating from the 13th century, of the oldest in Spain.
©MISSATGES
PEDESTRIAN SIGHTSEEING
Route (key points):
• Church of the Holy Blood
• New Cathedral
• Former Hospital of St. Mary
• Chapel of St. James
• La Paeria Palace
• Church of St. John
• Provincial Authority Hall
• Magdalena Gateway
Duration: 2 hours
Times: By arrangement
Guide: Bespoke service
Capacity: Groups (max. 55 people)
Price: On enquiry
LLEIDA EVENT&CONVENTION BUREAU [ 5
GREAT LITTLE
CORNERS
Organiser:
Turisme de Lleida
(34) 902 25 00 50
www.turismedelleida.cat
[email protected]
Lleida has one of the longest pedestrianised shopping thoroughfares in Europe, which in turn is
one of the city’s most attractive
sightseeing routes. Corners, both
small and grand, which turn a
shopping trip into a historical tour.
From the church of the Holy Blood
at the end of Carrer Sant Antoni,
the route takes us into the heart
of the shopping thoroughfare as
far as the New Cathedral and the
former Hospital of St Mary. On
the corner of Carrer Major and
Carrer Cavallers is the Chapel of
St James, a stopping point on the
Catalan Pilgrims’ Way to Santiago.
Further on the La Paeria Palace,
the home of the municipal government, and Plaça Sant Joan, where St John’s church stands, and
on to the beautiful Locksmith’s
Balcony adorning the facade of
the Provincial Authority Hall. The
Magdalena Gateway and the modern Enric Granados Municipal
Auditorium mark the finale of the
tour.
The Chapel of St James, on the Catalan Pilgrims’ Way to Santiago, at the heart of Carrer Major.
©MISSATGES
PEDESTRIAN SIGHTSEEING
6 ] LLEIDA EVENT&CONVENTION BUREAU
MEDIEVAL LLEIDA
Route (key points):
• Gateway of St Martin
• Romanesque church of St Martin
• La Panera
• Gramàtics Square
• Cavallers Street
• L’Ereta Square
• Church of St Lawrence
• La Palma Street
• Old water tank
• Former Hospital of St Mary
• Chapel of St. James
• Paeria Palace
Duration: 2 hours
Times: By arrangement
Guide: Bespoke service
Capacity: Groups (max. 55 people)
Price: On enquiry
Organiser:
Turisme de Lleida
(34) 902 25 00 50
www.turismedelleida.cat
[email protected]
The mediaeval era left behind in Lleida not only a whole host of streets
named after the craftsman’s guilds, but also such magnificent buildings
as the churches of St Martin and St Lawrence.
Beginning with the Landmark Church of St Martin (12th century), in the
upper part of the city, we then make our way into the historic centre,
heading to the former Trade Exchange, known in the 12th century
as L’Almodí, and now the home of the La Panera Contemporary Art
Centre.
Further on the Romanesque church of St Lawrence (12th century)
reveals magnificent Gothic reredoses and an octagonal belltower, the
work of later architects. On the shopping thoroughfare itself is the
Chapel of St James, a stopping point on the Catalan Pilgrims’ Way to
Santiago, formerly known as the Chapel of the Snows, and built during
the Moorish era in the Christian district. And finally, a visit to La Paeria
(13th century) is a must, to admire the mediaeval facade.
The impressive Gothic reredos of the Romanesque church of St Lawrence.
©MISSATGES
LANDMARKS
Route:
• Seu Vella, the old cathedral
• Lleida Museum
(theme: Cathedral Treasures)
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Times: By arrangement
Guide: Bespoke service
Capacity: Groups (max. 55 people)
Price: On enquiry
Organiser:
Turisme de Lleida
(34) 902 25 00 50
www.turismedelleida.cat
[email protected]
LLEIDA EVENT&CONVENTION BUREAU [ 7
SEU VELLA, THE CATHEDRAL
AND ITS TREASURES
No account of Lleida would be complete without the Seu Vella. The old cathedral
rises imposingly atop the rest of the city. An architectural gem containing numerous
treasures...
The Seu Vella, meaning ‘Old Cathedral’, stands over a unique set of landmarks. Building work began in 1203 with the layout of a Latin cross basilica with three naves,
designed by the architect Pere de Coma, and it was consecrated in 1278 in honour
of St Mary. It was not until the bell tower was finished in 1431, though, that construction work was completed. Two hundred years during which the influences of
Tuscany, Toulouse and Provence created their own distinctive style. The cathedral
conceals tapestries, sculptures and religious objects, many of them now on display
in Lleida Museum, which has an unrivalled collection of sacred art.
Chapel of Montcada at the Seu Vella.
©LAUREN SANSEN
LANDMARKS
8 ] LLEIDA EVENT&CONVENTION BUREAU
THE
MEDIEVAL POWERS
Two powers, Church and State; one single setting, the hill of the Seu
Vella... the turbulent Middle Ages.
The Lion Gateway opens on to an astonishing set of landmarks which
during the mediaeval era were home to both church and crown. In the
Cathedral, the Bishop; at La Suda, the King.
While the Seu Vella, given its cathedral status, enjoyed great power and
wealth, the King’s Castle, built on the site of a former Moorish fortress
(or ‘suda’), was the scene of no fewer historical episodes.
The refuge of the last Caliph of Cordoba, the King’s Castle-La Suda
bore witness to the birth of the Crown of Aragon and the oath of allegiance sworn by the Catalan and Aragonese nobles to the then infant
Prince James, later remembered as James I the Conqueror.
The King’s Castle-La Suda, a stroll through history.
©MISSATGES
Route:
• Seu Vella, the old cathedral
• King’s Castle-La Suda
Duration: 2 hours
Times: By arrangement
Guide: Bespoke service
Capacity: Groups (max. 55 people)
Price: On enquiry
Organiser:
Turisme de Lleida
(34) 902 25 00 50
www.turismedelleida.cat
[email protected]
LANDMARKS
LLEIDA EVENT&CONVENTION BUREAU [ 9
Route (only tour):
• Seu Vella, the old cathedral
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Times: By arrangement
Guide: Bespoke service
Capacity: Groups (max. 55 people)
Price: On enquiry
Organiser:
Turisme de Lleida
(34) 902 25 00 50
www.turismedelleida.cat
[email protected]
THE SEU VELLA
If there is one unmissable sight, then it is the Seu Vella. Every nook and cranny of
the old cathedral tells a story of tolling bells, magnificent deeds, days of glory and
of tears... a very storied past...
Entering through the Lion Gateway, the gates of the walled enclosure rise up before you. Built between 1203 and 1431, the Seu Vella, dedicated to St Mary, presides
over a remarkable set of landmarks. It has the form of a Latin cross basilica with
three naves, and created its own stylistic school under the influence of Tuscany,
Toulose and Provence. One of its crowning glories, the 14th-century Gothic cloister, is open to the city and offers magnificent views over the plains of Lleida.
Alongside the cathedral itself a number of other restored buildings can be visited,
including the Chapterhouse (13th-16th centuries) which was home to the canons,
as well as such wonderful gateways as the Anunciata (13th century) the Fillols
(13th-14th) and the Apostles (14th-15th).
The open cloister of the Seu Vella.
©MISSATGES
LANDMARKS
10 ] LLEIDA EVENT&CONVENTION BUREAU
TEMPLAR CASTLE
OF GARDENY
The Templars: warriors, monks... one of the most controversial and enthralling
communities in history.
Thanks to their involvement in the Christian reconquest of the city (1149),
the Templars were granted various lands, including the Gardeny Hill. The Casa
de Gardeny, the earliest references to which date back to 1156, built up a
considerable estate, and by the 13th century was one of the most powerful
establishments in the Kingdom of Aragon. This ensemble of landmarks, one of
the key exponents of Catalan Templar architecture of the 12th century, was
remodelled on numerous occasions, such as the fortifications erected in the
17th and 18th centuries. Alongside the main building is the notable Romanesque church of St Mary of Gardeny.
Gardeny, one of the most important Templar estates of the Kingdom of Aragon.
©MISSATGES
Route (only tour):
• Gardeny Templar Castle
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Times: By arrangement
Guide: Bespoke service
Capacity: Groups (max. 20 people)
Price: On enquiry
Organiser:
Turisme de Lleida
(34) 902 25 00 50
www.turismedelleida.cat
[email protected]
LANDMARKS
LLEIDA EVENT&CONVENTION BUREAU [ 11
Route (only tour):
• Lleida Museum
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Times: By arrangement
Guide: Bespoke service
Capacity: Groups (max. 55 people)
Price: On enquiry
Organiser:
Turisme de Lleida
(34) 902 25 00 50
www.turismedelleida.cat
[email protected]
LLEIDA MUSEUM
There are few places where one can stroll
through the whole of history from the earliest days to the contemporary era....
Lleida Museum, covering a site of some 7000
square metres, is home to exhibits made up
of centuries-old collections... sacred art from
the Diocesan Museum, archaeology from
the Lleida Study Institute, and coins from the
Provincial Numismatic Bureau, along with a
number of objects drawn from the Cathedral Treasury. The permanent exhibition
includes in particular works from the Bronze Age and the Ancient Iberian and Roman
eras, along with Visigothic finds from Bovalar,
the baptistery being the centrepiece.
Mention should also be made of the rock
crystal chess pieces from Ager (from the Fatimite period in the 11th century), the Romanesque altar fronts, the stone sculptures
from the Seu Vella, the mural paintings of
Pia Almoina, the Gothic works painted on
boards from the Ferrer workshop, the 14thcentury sculpture belonging to the so-called
School of Lleida, Flemish tapestries and the
robes of Pope Callixtus III.
The Lleida, Diocesan and District Museum collection includes such items as the Palaeo- Christian baptistery of Bovalar.
©MISSATGES
ARCHAEOLOGY/LANDMARKS
12 ] LLEIDA EVENT&CONVENTION BUREAU
THE PALACE
OF LA PAERIA
Paer (from the Latin patiari, or ‘man of peace’) was the name given
to the city’s governors in the charter granted in 1264 by King James I.
La Paeria, the seat of municipal government.
At the heart of the shopping district, the La Paeria Palace (13th century) was presented to the city by the Lords of Sanaüja in 1383, and
has a double facade: one Romanesque and the other neoclassical, remodelled in a new mediaeval style (1929). The main hall contains the
Gothic reredos of Our Lady of the Paers (15th century), which originally presided over the altar of the former chapel.
The Municipal Archive is the resting place of the Book of Customs
(14th century), the Cabinet of Privileges and the People’s Charter
(1150, the first constitution of the population of Lleida). The archaeological remains to be found in the basement transport us to days gone
by, in particular such sites as La Morra (1486), the chamber used to
hold those condemned to death, where graffiti carved in the 16th and
17th centuries can still be seen.
The basement of La Paeria features monumental remains from all eras.
©MISSATGES
Route (only tour):
• La Paeria Palace
Duration: 1 hour
Times: By arrangement
Guide: Bespoke service
Capacity: Groups (max. 55 people)
Price: On enquiry
Organiser:
Turisme de Lleida
(34) 902 25 00 50
www.turismedelleida.cat
[email protected]
YOUR CONTACT IN
LLEIDA
EVENT&CONVENTION BUREAU
[email protected]
00/34 - 973 700 402
http://lleidacb.turismedelleida.com