chronicling our travels. After using that site for 17 years, technology changed; it can no longer be updated. Welcome to our NEW SITE which follows our journeys from the Fall of 2016 to present. Our thanks go to Andy Paluch/WebGuyz!
This is a painting of a father (Carlos V) and his son (Philip
II). Phillip II established Madrid as the capital under his
monarchy. It transformed Madrid from a sleepy town into a
bustling center. Philip II chose to do so for several
reasons: Madrid's location in the center of the peninsula
made it a strategic hub for communications; the large number of
floor mills in the area guaranteed a food supply; the abundance and
quality of ground water was essential; and the existence of an
alcazar (fortress) was suitable for transformation into a royal
residence. Also, he was an avid hunter and there was an
abundance of hunting grounds in the nearby countryside.