World Heritage Photos

University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares: The city of Alcalá de Henares is located 35 km northeast of Madrid. Alcalá de Henares was the first city to be designed and built solely as the seat of an university and was to serve as the model for other centres of learning in Europe. Alcalá de Henares was also designed as an ideal city. Alcalá de Henares was also one of the first bishoprics founded in Spain. Miguel de Cervantes was born in Alcalá de Henares in 1547. His birth house is nowadays a museum. The Cathedral of Alcalá de Henares houses the remains of St. Justus and St. Pastor, two Christian boys who were killed for their faith at Alcalá de Henares during the persecution of Christians under the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. The Archbishop's Palace in Alcalá de Henares was the birthplace of Catherine of Aragón, who became the first wife of Henry VIII of England, the palace was also the birthplace of Ferdinand I, the later King of Hungary and emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The Archbishop's Palace in Alcalá de Henares is the site where Christopher Columbus and King Ferdinand II planned the excursion to the West. Alcalá de Henares is well known for its large population of white storks. Their nests can be seen atop many of the historic buildings in Alcalá de Henares. The University and Historic Precinct of Alcala de Henares was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1998. 

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   University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares: The Madrid Gate. Alcalá de Henares was designed and built as the seat of the university. The Universidad Complutense, the University of Alcalá de Henares, was founded in 1496. One of the first bishoprics in Spain was also founded in Alcalá de Henares. The University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1998.

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   University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares: The walls and one of the watchtowers. The wall, called the Albacar, surround the medieval centre of Alcalá de Henares. There are two gates into the walled enclosure, the Madrid Gate and Burgos Gate. Alcalá de Henares was the first city to be designed and built solely as the seat of an university and was to serve as a model for other centres of learning in Europe.

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   University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares: One of the historic buildings of the old Universidad Complutense. In 1837, the Universidad Complutense was moved to Madrid. A new university was founded in the historic buildings as the University of Alcalá de Henares in 1977. Parts of the University of Alcalá de Henares occupy the historic buildings of the old Universidad Complutense, including the Colegio de San Ildefonso.

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   University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares: The entrance to the former residence of the bishop. Alcalá de Henares was also founded as one of the first bishoprics in Spain. Now, the residence of the bishop is used for preserving historical archives. In the 16th century, Alcala de Henares was founded as the original model for the Civitas Dei (the City of God), the ideal urban community. The city of Alcalá de Henares is located about 35 km northeast of Madrid.

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   University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares: Alcalá de Henares is famous for its large hibernating population of white storks, their nests can be seen on top of the numerous historic buildings in the city. For several decades, the storks of Alcalá de Henares has been counted and studied. The population has grown to around 90 resident pairs today, several of them remain in the city nearly all year.

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   The University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares: Colegio Menor de San Jerónimo, one of the former student residences, is nowadays a restaurant. It was built in the Mudéjar and the Renaissance style in the 16th century. In the Trilingual Courtyard classes of Greek, Hebrew and Latin were given. Alcalá de Henares was designed as the seat of an university and continues to be an important university city. The university is the pride of the city.

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   University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares: The Teatro El Corral de Comedias de los Zapateros is situated in the medieval centre of Alcalá de Henares, it is one of the oldest theaters of Europe. The theatre was built in 1601 on the Plaza Cervantes. Through the years, the theatre was renovated, the antique seats are still preserved. The theatre is open for guided tours. The University and the Historic Precinct of Alcala de Henares is a UNESCO World Heritage. 

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   University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares: The house where Miguel de Cervantes was born in 1547 and where he spent his childhood is. Miguel de Cervantes was a novelist, poet and playwright, he was the most important and celebrated figure in Spanish literature. Near his birth house are the statues of Don Quixote, the Wandering Knight, and his servant Sancho Panza, the main characters of his most famous novel: Don Quixote de La Mancha.

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   University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares: The complex of the Archiepiscopal Palace of Alcalá de Henares was built in the beginning of the 13th century. The Archiepiscopal Palace of Alcalá de Henares was the location where the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus and King Ferdinand II of Spain planned the voyage to the West, Queen Isabella I of Castile sponsored the expedition. The palace is situated in the Plaza del Palacio.

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    University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares: The Archiepiscopal Palace complex in the city of Alcalá de Henares was the residence of several Castilian monarchs, it was the birthplace of Catherine of Aragón, who became the first wife of Henry VIII of England, the palace was also the birthplace of Ferdinand I, the later King of Hungary and emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Two-thirds of the palace complex was destroyed by a fire in 1939, during the Spanish Civil War

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    University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares: The former Santa Maria la Mayor, the church is one of the historical buildings in Alcalá de Henares, nowadays, the building is used by the Universty of Alcalá de Henares. The Miguel de Cervantes Prize, an annual prize for Spanish literature, is awarded in the Paraninfo, the 16th century Great Hall of the University of Alcalá de Henares. The university promotes the diffusion of the Spanish language through studies.

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    University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares: The bell tower of the Cathedral-Magistral of Saints in Alcalá de Henares. The Cathedral-Magistral of Saints was built between 1497 and 1514, it houses the remains of the Saints Justus and Pastor, two Christian boys, martyred nearby the city of Alcalá de Henares during the persecutions of Christians under the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. The University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.