Spanish Arches

Title

Spanish Arches

Artist

Christina Ford

Medium

Photograph - Digital Art

Description

Puerto Rico Spanish arches at El Convento Hotel

El Convento Hotel is in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, in an old monastery adjoining the San Juan Cathedral square. The cathedral is the second-oldest cathedral in the Western Hemisphere.

In 1646, construction began on the Carmelite convent, through a petition by King Philip IV of Spain. The Monasterio del Señor San José de la Orden de nuestra Señora del Carmen was founded in 1651 by Doña Ana Lanzós, a wealthy widow who donated her money and her magnificent residence (a large double sloped tiled roof) in the street that since then bears the name: de las Monjas. Historian María de los Ángeles Castro tells us that the delay in the arrival of a nunnery was due to economic reasons but also for lack of since the fortifications of the city were still not complete. Three nuns brought especially from Santo Domingo served as founders.

The building was expanded between 1854 and 1861 after the original building was torn down. Governor Fernándo Norzagaray y Escudero personally helped raising the necessary funds and inspected the work daily. Certain elements stand out in the facade of the chapel, besides the entrance, the pair of Tuscan columns, the two towers and the latticed choir arch. The frieze above the door is interrupted for a legend that never was placed. The building was closed from 1903 to 1959 and then sold. During its conversion to hotel the two towers were removed and the cross that identified the site as a temple.

In 1903, it was closed until 1959, when, under the auspices of Operation Bootstrap, Robert Woolworth started the renovation to turn it into the El Convento Hotel. It reopened in 1962 to the stars of the day, including Rita Hayworth. In the 1990s it was renovated again and rechristened as Hotel El Convento, a 4 star small luxury hotel with five stories, a central courtyard, a pool on the fourth floor terrace, and great views of Old San Juan.

AWARDS - FEATURES - RECOGNITONS

Featured in the following FAA Groups
The 200 Club Best Photos 1/23/19
Reflections and Rainbows 2/9/19
10 Plus 2/28/19
ABC Group 4/1/19
Arts Fantastic World 4/15/19
500 Views 5/1/19
1000 Views 9/29/19
Light Marvels 4/9/20
Lady Photographers and Artists 4/9/20
Just Perfect 4/10/20
Bright Fluorescent Artworks 4/12/20
Bedroom Art Gallery 4/18/20
Daily Promotion 5/11/20
All About Light 5/15/20
1000 Views 6/1/20

Top Finisher in FAA Sponsored Contests:
Mardi Gras Colors Green Gold Purple 3/19
3rd Place Digital Art -IMP Rules - Selected Artists 4/19
Digital Artwork 5/19
Black Friday Christmas Invite Only 1000 Views - 11/19
Over 1000 Views 4/20
Light Sources Man Made 4/20
TFGA Series - Only Finest Quality Art 6/20
Hints of Gold 6/22
Columns 10/23

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January 19th, 2019

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