The Architecture of Orihuela
Orihuela is a city located in the Costa Blanca. It has a mixture of the New World and the old world. The New World in the sense of nightlife, modern attractions, and the beaches of Punta Prima. The old world consists of historical buildings, and the history of the area itself.The city of Orihuela has experienced a rich and a diverse history, it has seen various eras come and go and has been subject to many foreign invasions and has also been passed back and forth between several provinces. Subsequently, Orihuela has developed a culture and an identity for its self that is both diverse and dignified and which draws from both foreign and local influences. Nowhere else is this phenomenon more evident than in the architecture of Orihuela which showcases several eras, architectural movements and cultural inclinations at any given point in time.
Most of the architectural wonders that this city holds are located in its Old Quarters and several of these sites have been declared national or cultural heritage sites and monuments. The most culturally significant of these is the Church of Santo Domingo that was built over several centuries and thus displays several architectural and cultural eras. The initial construction was started in the mid-15th century and displays strong gothic influence while much of the later construction that the church saw displayed strong Renaissance inclinations. However, the most significant influence that the construction of the church experienced is perhaps that of the Baroques style during the 17th century with majestic and wonder-inciting murals being added to the church then.
Another very culturally significant architectural structure in Orihuela is Cathedral of Orihuela which displays very strong Muslim influence. The fact that it was constructed over the site of a mosque displays the resentment that the people of the region felt at the time against their former invaders. Architecturally, as the cathedral was built over several centuries as well, the structure displays strong influences from the Goth, Muslim and Renaissance periods that the region experienced.
Orihuela has several other culturally significant architectures as well, many of which are declared monuments. Some other notable structures, in the same vein, worth exploring are the Arabic Castle of Orihuela, Iglesia de Santiago, Church of the Santa Justa y Rufina and the Episcopal Palace. Most of these display Goth, Renaissance, Baroque or Muslim influence and their cultural value is respective and representative of this fact, inside of Orihuela and outside of it too.
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