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LITTLE LADY LIBERTY.
PALACE IN BACKGROUND. |
I was walking along the beachfront in Torremolinos Wednesday evening and decided to visit a private palace I had read about. As I crossed the street to head away from the beach, I spotted the Statue of Liberty. I had no idea I had walked so far.
I also had no idea the statue had been plated in solid silver.
(Nor that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was so near.)
She stands front and center at a "Mini Golf" course. (San Geraldo grew up calling it "Goofy Golf," while I grew up calling it "Miniature Golf"). And, OK, I don't think she's really made of solid silver either. But she did light the way to the Casa de los Navajas, the palace I was looking for.
The Casa de los Navajas is a "small" private palace built in 1925 by a sugar cane entrepreneur named Antonio Navajas. It was built in the Neo-Mudéjar (Moorish Revival) style, and the interior design was inspired by the Alhambra of Granada.
(Click the images to make The Little Lady, and everything else, not so little.)
The nearby sugar fields are now occupied by Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport. And the palace was donated to the Province of Málaga and the City of Torremolinos, although it spent years in disrepair and more years under renovation. It just reopened this summer. And the restoration is magnificent. There was no info available on-site (I'm sure that's on its way). But interior spaces have been redesigned to be used for events, one room is labeled "Bodas," which means "Weddings," and outdoor terraces abound.
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| THE VIEW AS I CROSSED THE STREET. |
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| WEST TOWER. |
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| TILE AND PLASTER. |
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| THE ROOM ABOVE THE ENTRY. |
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| NICE CHAIRS. SCHEDULE YOUR WEDDING. |
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| WHERE I CAME FROM: LEANING TOWER OF PISA CIRCLED IN RED. |
Very Moorish and quite stunning. I want that lamp!
ReplyDeleteAndrew:
DeleteI want that lamp, too.
Wow, fantastic building especially surrounded by palm trees.Lady Liberty looks so nice.
ReplyDeleteThe building is really stunning. The palm trees, too!
DeleteWhat a stunning 'small' palace, the Moorish influence is very apparent in this jewel; and how appropriate is your musical selection! (One of my favourites btw.)
ReplyDeleteIt's cold here, very blowy, and we're getting our first snow of the year... be glad you're in the warm.
Jacqueline:
DeleteI'm sure I was on the beach the day you wrote. Today in New York it feels like spring. I'd better get out of here before winter hits.
Interesting place. The Alhambra itself is one of my favorite places in Spain. John of the Cross was prior of a monastery nearby back in the late sixteenth century, and a small aqueduct he designed and built to bring water to the friars is still there.
ReplyDeleteWe also had snow this morning -- not the first of the year, but the first to stick a bit.
Michael:
DeleteWe still haven't gotten to Granada and it's very nearby. So looking forward to that. I'm so glad to be escaping New York this Thursday before the winter weather encroaches!
What a perfect song for you guys!! Mitchell, it was written for you, I'm sure!!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks, this was the first time I ever listened to these words. Like it a lot.
Now to the 'small' palace.....what a gift for the city and county to have. I can imagine a wedding or any large celebration taking place there. Oh, when is your anniversary? Just asking.
Jim:
DeleteHmmm, an August anniversary party, maybe. Nope, not our style. (And if this year was any example, OUR style is to completely forget it's our anniversary.)
What a lovely building, and a remarkable renovation. Interesting that today we both posted restored buildings. Take care.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteI am so sorry! I haven't read another blog in ages (finally responding to comments after more than a week). I have a lot of catching up to do and always love having the time to sit and enjoy what you share!
You two are such a sweet couple.
ReplyDeleteDid you score a hole in one with Lady Liberty looking down on you? That sounds like a dirty question. That's why I asked it.
xo
Robyn:
DeleteI haven't scored a hole in one in what seems like a long, long time!
I grew up calling it Putt-putt golf. Classy!
ReplyDeleteShould you be walking so far in your "condition"? ;)
Michelle:
DeleteI've heard that, too, (putt-putt, I mean). As for walking in my condition, I was just trying to bring it on!
Wow. The moon went from that lovely crescent to waxing gibbous really quickly. It was brilliant last night. We called it miniature golf, too, but then we weren't to far apart, geographically speaking (as it were).
ReplyDeleteWalt The Fourth:
DeleteMaybe we're really related. I mean we look so much alike, too, don't we?
I really must visit Spain some day. You live in a magical place!
ReplyDeleteKnatolee:
DeleteI love Spain, as you've probably noticed. And I've only seen a small part of it. I'm looking forward to being home again Friday.
I could live in that "small" palace!
ReplyDeleteBob:
DeleteAs The Dowager Duchess would say, "Oh, but so much to dust!"
Yup, like Walt and you, we (in New Jersey and Massachusetts) called it Miniature Golf, too.
ReplyDeleteLove this song-- "with Dudo and Moose in the yard" :)
AMAZING photos -- and you inspire me so with you long walks!! I'm off to walk this morning, even though it is 39° F here... crazy cold for November 1.
Judy:
DeleteHope you've experienced some warmer days since November 1. I haven't had a brisk walk since getting to New York, although I have at least had a couple of long ones.
grrr... "youR long walks"
ReplyDeleteJudy:
DeleteI hadn't even caught the typo. And when you do that, I KNOW it's a typo. YOUR TO SMARTT FOUR THAT!