Summit – Haiku 2025 #Thursday Doors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetryTags:
A rainy day, San Pablo Church in Valladolid, Spain. Licensed image credit: © Edmac1717 | Dreamstime

Pilgrimage in stone—

portal to a carved high summit

its crowning facade

*

Originally a convent (The Convent of Saint Paul) and redesigned, upscaled, and rebuilt over a two-hundred-year period from 1445 to 1516, San Pablo Church in Valladolid, Spain, in the plateau of the Duero River region is famous for its five-storey high stone-carved Gothic and Plateresque-inspired (Isabelline) facade.

The entire facade, except for the towers on either side, is carved in relief with sculptures depicting kings, royalty, local bishops, and saints.

The first story of the tympanum— one of the five storeys above the *featured door’s sculptural essays— portrays the coronation of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, with heavenly hosts and earthly representatives, including the local Bishop in attendance (an image is below).

Main Entrance, San Pablo Church in Valladolid, Spain. Licenced image credit © Demachy | Dreamstime.com

Trivia #1: A full restoration of the facade of San Pablo Church in Valladolid was conducted from 2004 to 2009.

What was remarkable about this restoration is that the public was allowed to visit the worksite and see the sculptures up close during the restoration.

Fully enclosed platforms were constructed, which allowed locals and visitors, for the first time, to see the higher tiers of sculptures of San Pablo Church, Valladolid’s facade’s five-storey tympanum, in safety and comfort.

To enhance safety and provide a better viewing experience for visitors and locals, a lift-style elevator, ascending 30 meters high (98 ft), was built alongside the fully enclosed platforms.

Visitors could then exit the lift at various levels to observe the intricate carvings on the five stories of the tympanum summit above the entrance of San Pablo Church in Valladolid’s main entrance.

The entire viewing structure was dismantled following the restoration’s completion in 2009.

Trivia #2: Born in Valladolid, Spain, poet and playwright José Zorrilla wrote an updated version of an earlier legend/story as a two-act play with the main character, Don Juan.

[Kindly Note: The original story/legend of Don Juan was written by Tirso de Molina under the pen name ‘Gabriel Téllez’ circa 1630.]

José Zorrilla adapted Tellez’s story into a moral romantic play with his key character Don Juan in 1844. José Zorrilla‘s play “Don Juan Tenorio” is reenacted to this day each year in Spanish-speaking countries around the world on All Souls’ Day, November 2.

Additional Fact: Renown car manufacturer Renault España (FESA) has been headquartered in Villadolid, Spain since 1969.

Wider angle, San Pablo Church in Valladolid, Spain. Licensed Image credit: © Wessel Cirkel | Dreamstime

🙠🙠🙠

And for more #Thursday Doors

Visit Dan Antion at No Facilities

Ritva at Ritva Sillanmäki Photography

Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

72 thoughts on “Summit – Haiku 2025 #Thursday Doors”

  3. Pingback: Summit – Haiku 2025 #Thursday Doors | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  4. This is a wonderful post, Suzette. I love the images and your haiku, but my imagination is in overdrive thinking about that viewing platform and the opportunity to see the upper levels up close. What an amazing experience that must have been.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I agree Dan. I was trying to envision the view up close as I wrote the post too…that would be amazing, a once in a lifetime and of a kind experience for sure.
      Thank you Dan for your great work and generous support of Thursday doors.

      Have a lovely weekend! Cheers.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. It is truly remarkable that the public was invited to witness the sculptures up close during the restoration—a beautiful tribute to the art of sculpting and a unique way to experience biblical stories in stone. The addition of an elevator, offering a view of all five storeys of sculptural detail, further deepens this appreciation.

    Equally poignant is the layered history of San Pablo Church in Valladolid, where a former convent found new life as a cathedral—an enduring symbol of faith and transformation. Adding to the richness of this cathedral’s story is the literary legacy of José Zorrilla, who, in 1844, adapted Tirso de Molina’s tale into his moral and romantic play Don Juan Tenorio, immortalizing his iconic character Don Juan. Together, art, architecture, and literature converge, making this cathedral’s narrative truly timeless.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I agree, I’m glad the idea was accepted and implemented despite the costs and efforts involved in funding, safety approval, and construction of the viewing platforms. It’s amazing that they were generous and willing to make it happen.

      They sure built the cathedral to last and the restoration adds to that timeless beauty.

      Happy Thursday bliss.

      “But a Book is only the Heart’s Portrait- every Page a Pulse.”― Emily Dickinson

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Wow that is such an amazing understanding of the acclaimed Poet Emily Dickinson, every page a pulse.

        A beautiful Thursday Offering with its magnificent door.
        Just a wonderful story of architectural brilliance and community participation.

        Happy Thursday bliss Poet.
        Thank you.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Glad you enjoyed the quote by Emily Dickinson. Her imagery is so refreshing and eloquent
        Yes, I like your point of community involvement in the restoration of these architectural legacies..
        Happy weekend!

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Profound Poet, how she sets the relationship between the writer and the reader, portraying the heart as the portrait, not the face.
        And the power of the written word, every page a pulse, unique characters of the heart … I cautiously add.

        Have a wonderful weekend
        Making your book your deeply personal artifact, preserving the Heartbeat of your soul.
        Enjoy.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Great and beautiful reflection! ” The heart a portrait, not the face!”

        Oh, I love the warmth in your benediction…preserving the heartbeat of the soul… wonderful thought to ponder. Wishing you the same!

        Liked by 1 person

      5. You are most welcome Poet.
        And it’s so amazing, we still hear her pulse – of someone long gone – through her poetry- someone who had built bridges between souls.

        Thank you.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. A magnificent building with an imposing door! Backstory is equally interesting. And your haiku captures all in a few words. Well done, Suzette!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Wouldn’t that be something to watch the restoration work up close. I’m guessing they charged a fee, so what a great way to make money for the work. My brother was able to get inside Cologne Cathedral during some of its restoration. He’s a painter so it was one of his favourite experiences. Maggie

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yes, I believe they charged a fee and indeed that is a nice way to raise some funds and give back a great experience to the visitors at the same time. Opportunities like this are once in a life time!
      And what a great opportunity for your brother a painter to visit Cologne Cathedral under restoration…a blessing indeed.
      Thanks Maggie. Safe travels.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Hi Suzette, I was wondering if you could cover a research article on the Warren-Lorraine Museum of haunted curios. The doors to the museum are definitely spoken of- they conceal some of the words most prized and mysterious artefacts. It would make for a great read!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. That being said, thank you for sharing this piece of history with us. The clarity of research as well as your crisp writing-style makes this a good educational read. I definitely enjoyed reading it.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. The towers make this such an unusual facade. Imposing. The doorway looks like it pulls you in.
    I really like that they allowed the visitors to see the carvings up close. What a wonderful idea! (K)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, the unadorned towers seem in deliberate contrast to the sculptured facade.
      It is a great idea to allow visitors to connect with the carvings and experience them as they were being restored. Amazing!
      Thanks Kerfe. Have a great weekend.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. I very much like the word “summit,” and the image of visitors wafting upwards to watch such restoration suits the word well. What a great privilege for those visitors! Beautiful!

    Liked by 1 person

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