10 septiembre 2009

Textos en Ingles - Casas Rurales Real Posito

Welcome to the country houses of Sínodo de Aguilafuente

REAL PÓSITO HOUSE 1

Country house with capacity for four or five people with two bedrooms, a dining room, kitchen, and two bathrooms.

REAL PÓSITO HOUSE 2

Country house with capacity for six to eight people with three bedrooms (each one with a full bathroom), a dining room, kitchen and patio.

REAL PÓSITO HOUSE 1 – 4/5 people

Reservations

The town Activities Surrounding area Prices Contact information

The Real Pósito de Aguilafuente house provides accommodations for guests in a rural setting and has capacity for four or five people.

The house is located in a former granary that was built in 1791 during the reign of King Carlos IV, according to the description in the limestone lintel above the front door. The granaries were buildings that were used for municipal purposes and legislation regarding the subject began during the reign of Felipe II (in 1584); in the 18th century (specifically, in 1792), a historic moment to which Aguilafuente’s granary belongs, there were 5,249 municipal granaries in Spain.

The building that dates back to 1791, during the reign of Carlos IV, according to the inscription located in the limestone lintel above the front door, has been renovated as a country house that matches the popular architechture of the area, using wood, stone, and brick, in addition to preserving the original design of the front of the building, being based on the remains of the original, for which plaster and greasy lime were used.

Marqués de Aguilafuente room: it pays homage to the noble title created in 1536 when it was first bestowed by Carlos V, being confirmed years later by Felipe II. It represents the family that owned the town for three centuries. This title still exists, currently being held by XX Marqués don Diego Colón de Carvajal Gorosábel.

The room has a double bed and a full bathroom that is separate from the bedroom, complete with a whirlpool bath. It is also elegantly decorated and features a harmonious combination of such noble materials as stone, stucco and wood. On one of the walls hangs a portrait of Carlos V, the monarch who named the town’s first marquis, on horseback.

Villa Romana room: in honor of the archaeological site in the town that was excavated from 1968 to 1972, in which remains from a 4th-century luxurious Roman mansion were discovered, in addition to a Visigoth necropolis from the 6th century. For this reason, one of the walls is decorated with authentic Pompeian-style fresco paintings as well as an excellent stone finish.

The room has a double bed and a fully equipped bathroom, and an extra bed can also be provided for the room if necessary.

The living room occupies a large part of the house and contains all of the necessary comfort items to make your stay an enjoyable one: television, DVD player, Hi-Fi music system, French fireplace, and a small library.

The kitchen includes an oven, vitroceramic stovetop, washing machine, toaster, microwave…all in a country décor in which stone, traditional ceramic coverings and wood all come together to create a warm environment when preparing food.

AGUILAFUENTE’S HISTORY

The Real Pósito country house is located in the town of Aguilafuente, a place with a storied and historical past:

Classical Antiquity

This period is well represented in Aguilafuente due to the existence of the Roman town of Santa Lucía, which dates to the 4th to 6th centuries AD and inspired the creation of the Archaeological Centre. This archaeological site has given us mosaics, fresco paintings, and a large number of ceramic artifacts, including both terra sigillata and common ceramic fragments from the late Hispanic period, which indicates the presence of a large estate in this area during the latter years of the Roman Empire.

The land was later used by Visigoth populations, who even used the Roman town as a burial ground (6th century AD). In this necropolis around 200 burials have been found, and the funeral trousseaus contained objects such as brooches, belt buckles, necklaces, and ceramic artifacts.

Even the place where Aguilafuente is located today was a Visigoth necropolis; on the Calle de la Ermita and its surrounding areas, several anthropomorphic sarcophaguses made of stone have been found.

Prehistory

Aguilafuente is a town with many archaeological sites. Archaeological finds from different historical periods have been recorded inside the town’s boundaries. For example, a polished axe from the Neolithic period (3500 BC) was donated by Mr Ricardo García in the 1940s to then-Provincial Commissioner of Excavations Antonio Molinero, and the piece is currently housed at the Museo de Segovia.

Several ceramic artifacts found in the 1980s at the Cuesta de la Rebilla belong to the Iron Age and more specifically to the Soto I facies. These rough-looking artifacts were handmade and show a black colouration and a complete lack of decoration. On a timeline, this places us around 800-700 BC.

Neolithic axe found at Aguilafuente (Drawing by A. Molinero)

Ceramic pieces from the 1st Iron Age

Classical Antiquity

This period is well represented in Aguilafuente due to the existence of the Roman town of Santa Lucía, which dates to the 4th to 6th centuries AD and inspired the creation of the Archaeological Centre. This archaeological site has given us mosaics, fresco paintings, and a large number of ceramic artifacts, including both terra sigillata and common ceramic fragments from the late Hispanic period, which indicates the presence of a large estate in this area during the latter years of the Roman Empire.

The land was later used by Visigoth populations, who even used the Roman town as a burial ground (6th century AD). In this necropolis around 200 burials have been found, and the funeral trousseaus contained objects such as brooches, belt buckles, necklaces, and ceramic artifacts.

Even the place where Aguilafuente is located today was a Visigoth necropolis; on the Calle de la Ermita and its surrounding areas, several anthropomorphic sarcophaguses made of stone have been found.

Middle Ages

In the period of the Middle Ages, we should specifically mention the time around the year 1090, when Aguilafuente, just like many other towns between Duero and Sistema Central, was successfully repopulated by people from Cantabria and Burgos once the region of Extremadura had been garrisoned following the conquering of the Kingdom of Toledo by Alfonso VI in 1085.

The 15th century was without a doubt a glorious one for Aguilafuente, undoubtedly due to its strategic location on the travel routes of the Castilian monarchs with their strong livestock production.

The town was visited by Juan II of Castile in 1434. During the reign of Enrique IV of Castile, from June 1 to June 10, 1472, bishop Juan Arias Dávila convened a diocesan synod at the Santa María Church. Accounts of the events that took place during those 10 days led to the printing of the book titled “Sínodo de Segovia” (“Segovia Synod”) or “Sinodal de Aguilafuente” (“Aguilafuente Synod”), considered a bibliographic gem given that it was the first book to be printed in Spain. This 15th-century book is on display at the Catedral de Segovia museum.

In some of the final years of the 15th century (1489, 1492, 1496 and 1497), Aguilafuente was also the host of several Mesta General Council sessions, where this powerful association of the kingdom’s sheep holders met, which undoubtedly shows the importance that the town achieved in that century during the transition into the Modern Era. Queen Isabella I of Castile also visited the town in 1493 and her husband Fernando did so in 1505; on some occasions the two monarchs even spent time together at Aguilafuente as a resting point during their frequent trips throughout the kingdom.

The Modern Era

The town participated in the Guerra de las Comunidades (“Revolt of the Comuneros”) against Carlos I, causing the cathedral chapter to break away and be sold to Mr Pedro de Zúñiga, duke of Béjar, on 22 October 1536. Shortly thereafter, Carlos I granted de Zúñiga the title of Marquis of Aguilafuente. This event and the decline of the monarchy of the Austrias at that time considerably affected the town’s development.

This was also the era in which the New World was being conquered. It is known that some of the town’s settlers participated in the conquering of the Americas, such as Alonso del Río; this is according to historian Bernal Díaz de Castillo.

The Contemporary Era

In the Independence War of 1808, following the entry of Napoleon’s troops, the town’s population began participating actively in guerrilla warfare against the invaders in the area’s pine groves.

In the 20th century, and specifically in the period of the Civil War (1936-1939), Aguilafuente lay in the so-called “national zone”, as did most of the Castilla la Vieja region. Later, after the wartime and post-war periods were over, Aguilafuente suffered the harsh consequences of immigration to the large cities during the 50s, 60s and 70s.





Activities

HIKING

The country house is located inside the region called Tierra de Pinares (literally “Pine Grove Land”) as a result of its large area covered by pine trees. Walks through any of the pine groves give you a chance to relax your eyes and ears.

There are also excellent and beautiful landscapes to be explored along the banks of the Cega River or in the “Las Fuentes” nature reserve, which has small children’s playground and barbecue grills, making it possible to spend a nice day in the countryside.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Adventure tourism:

-- Horseback riding trails

-- ATVs

-- Paintball

-- Golf

-- Kayaking at Las Hoces del Duratón

-- Zip lines

-- Hot air balloon rides

-- An acrobatic park in the trees of Navafría. More than 60 activities among the treetops and crossing the river (zip lines, catwalks, and tightropes).

-- Mycology: located in an area with abundant pine groves, it is possible to find milk caps and toadstools during the appropriate season.

-- Wine tours: wine lovers will be able to try the region’s best products. 607 802 747

-- Amateur bullfights and camping parties

Surrounding areas

Segovia, 36 km away

Cultural Heritage City, Roman aqueduct, alcázar (palace), Cathedral, Jewish Quarter, Churches: San Millán, San Martín, San Esteban, San Lorenzo, San Justo, San Clemente, San Juan de los Caballeros, San Marcos, La Trinidad, San Nicolás, San Quirce, La Veracruz, etc.

Sepúlveda and Hoces del Duratón, 30 km away

Historical Artistic District: Plaza Mayor (Main Square), Gates of the walled enclosure, El Salvador Church, Virgen de la Peña Sanctuary, Hoces del Duratón Nature Reserve Learning Centre, San Frutos Hermitage.

CASTLE ROUTE:

Coca, 35 km away

Historical Artistic District: Mudéjar Castle, Medieval Wall and Arch, Santa María la Mayor Church (Gothic), San Nicolás Tower.

Turégano, 12 km away

Castle, Plaza Mayor, Museo de los Ángeles.

Cuéllar, 36 km away

Historical Artistic District: Castle/palace of the Duke of Alburquerque, double walled enclosure, Churches: San Martín (Mudéjar Learning Centre), San Esteban, San Andrés, San Miguel, San Francisco Convent, Henar Sanctuary

Pedraza, 37 km away

Historical Artistic District: Medieval wall, Plaza Mayor, Castillo de los Zuloaga, San Juan Church, Old Jail.

PALACE ROUTE:

San Ildefonso or La Granja, 61 km away

Historical Artistic District: Palacio Real de San Ildefonso (San Ildefonso Royal Palace), Real Colegiata (Royal Collegiate Church), Jardines Reales del Palacio (Royal Palace Gardens), Real Fábrica de Cristales de La Granja (La Granja Royal Glass Factory), Palacio de Valsaín (Valsaín Palace), Palacio de Riofrío (Riofrío Palace)

IN THE TOWN:

San Juan Bautista Church

Roman building from the 11th and 12th centuries. It was made with both cutstone and brick and mortar. It has two entrance doors with brick archivolts to the north and to the south. The church is declared a Cultural Interest Site. It houses the Aula Arqueológica de la Villa Romana de Santa Lucía (Santa Lucía Archaeological Centre).

Santa María Church

Roman building from the 13th century. Like the San Juan Bautista Church, it is made of a harmonious combination of stone and brick. In 1472 it hosted a diocesanal synod that lasted ten days, the records of which went on to be published in Spain’s first book: El Sinodal de Aguilafuente (“The Aguilafuente Synod”).

Santo Cristo de la Peña Hermitage

Building from the second half of the 16th century with a beautiful Baroque altarpiece by Francisco Santos de Pedro that dates to 1677.

Florentino Trapero Museum

Located in a large room of the Aguilafuente Town Hall. It pays homage to local sculptor Florentino Trapero, born in 1893. Various artistic works are on display, including original drawings and sculptures as well as molds and workshop sketches. One of his most significant works, “El Adán Arrepentido”, welcomes visitors at the entrance to the museum.

Villa Romana Archaeological Centre

Located inside the San Juan Church. It is an exhibition area that shows original mosaics from the Roman town of Santa Lucía (located 2 kilometres away from Aguilafuente), as well as other objects related to the Roman and Visigoth worlds.

Real Pósito II House

The Real Pósito II house, opened in 2007, was built on top of an old farm house. The original structure of the dwelling was respected and a two-story house was built using the materials of the building to decorate the walls and ceiling with stone, with a wood framework and a coffered ceiling. Farm implements are also always present in the design, but they are well combined with touches of modernity, such as the lights in the upstairs bedrooms.

Each room has a capacity of six and up to eight people, and two extra beds can be provided in the bedrooms if necessary. The house has three double rooms and each one has a full bathroom, dining room, kitchen, and a patio to enjoy a barbecue on a sunny day.

The front of the building was painted with a yellowish colour so as to be unique and so that visitors will have no trouble finding it. Before entering the dwelling is the patio, an open space with a grill, a stone fountain, lawn furniture, and beautiful raised garden beds all around that make it a very pleasant environment.

Dining room: the country décor of the stone walls give the dining room a country and comfortable feel. Some of the pieces of furniture in the room are old farm implements that have been made into tables, shelves and magazine racks.

It has a television set, chimney, DVD player, stereo system and a small library. The table in the dining room is a farmhouse dining table and the chairs have been restored and hand-painted with vibrant colours.

Kitchen: it has all the electrical appliances necessary to cook comfortably: vitroceramic stovetop, oven, smoke extractor, microwave, dishwasher, washing machine and refrigerator.

Bathrooms: each room has an attached bathroom whose floors, made of recovered hydraulic mosaic tiles, form beautiful and cheerful figures. One of the bathrooms has a hydromassage shower.

Bedrooms: the bedroom on the lower floor is decorated in ochre colours. It has a double bed with a canopy and in one of the walls there is a small decorative vaulted niche.

The other two bedrooms are on the upper floor. They both maintain one of the old walls of the house with wood framework and sloping ceilings. A small, very charming space has been included for reading or relaxing. One of the bedrooms has a double bed and walls painted in an aged pink colour, while the other one has two beds and a painted headboard, a very original touch.

Prices

REAL PÓSITO II COUNTRY HOUSE

C/Fraguas, 1

40340 Aguilafuente (Segovia)



Telephone numbers:

921 572014/ 677 728881 / 695 138 308

Website: www.casarealposito.com

E-mail: casarural@casarealposito.com

PRICES (VAT INCLUDED)



330 € -- weekend (from Friday to Sunday)

700 € -- week (from Monday to Sunday)

For any other days, please ask us about prices



REAL PÓSITO COUNTRY HOUSE



C/ Ancha del Cubón, 2

40340 Aguilafuente (Segovia)



Telephone numbers:

921 572014/ 677 728881 / 695 138 308

Website: www.casarealposito.com

E-mail: casarural@casarealposito.com

PRICES (VAT INCLUDED)



230€ -- weekend (from Friday to Sunday)

550€ -- week (from Monday to Sunday)

For any other days, please ask us about prices



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