Street scene in the village of La Alberca in the remote Sierra de la Pena de Francia Salamanca Province, Castilla-Leon, Spain
La Alberca was the first rural village in Spain to be given National Historic Heritage status in 1940. A walk around its historic centre gives us a taste of the tradition in its houses and streets, which were built centuries ago. The main square, surrounded on all four sides by columned porches, continues to be the centre of the town’s social life. The most representative religious building is the parish church of La Asunción, erected in the 18th century, which inside houses a granite pulpit from the 16th century and a splendid Gothic processional cross in gilded copper, as well as a figure of Cristo del Sudor attributed to Juan de Juni. La Alberca is one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. Its buildings are lovely half-timber houses and in the summer they are hung with vibrant displays of geraniums and summer flowers. The main square, the Plaza Mayor, is surrounded by these lovely buildings with their columned arcades offering shelter from the bright sunshine. The medieval village still preserves its architecture, especially in its town centre where to this day expert blacksmiths and other traditional trades people can be found. One of Alberca’s greatest assets is the diversity of the wonderful natural scenery that surrounds it. On one side you can see granite, slate and quartzite which support the varied wild vegetation and forests of oaks, chestnut trees, pine trees, walnut trees, apple trees and almond groves. Surrounded by four mountain ranges; the Sierra de Bejar from the east, La Peña de Francia from the west, and both the Sierra de Francia and the Sierra de Kilama to the north; La Alberca’s landscape is quite a spectacle.
Size: 3744px × 5616px
Location: Street scene, La Alberca, Salamanca province, Castilla – Leon, Spain.
Photo credit: © José Palanca / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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