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Submitted: November 3, 2009
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Baths of Dianaby ~Ashale

Photography / Architecture / Statues & Monuments

BATHS OF DIANA
One single shot.

Camera: Canon EOS 400D + EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
Exif: 25mm f/4.5 1/400sec ISO-200 Manual sRGB
Date: 24/10/2009 10:45h
Site: La Granja de San Ildefonso, Segovia, SPAIN

The Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso is an eighteenth-century palace, formerly the summer residence of the Kings of Spain since the reign of Philip V. The palace is in the small town of San Ildefonso in the hills near Segovia, 80 km north of Madrid. The palace is in a restrained baroque style surrounded by extensive gardens in the French manner and sculptural fountains.

One of the the twenty-six sculptural fountains that decorate the park is this one: Baths of Diana.

All of the fountains represent themes from classical mythology, including Greek deities, allegories and scenes from myths. They are cast in lead to prevent corrosion, and painted over to simulate bronze, a nobler material, or lacquered over white oxydised lead to imitate marble.
The original waterworks and piping are still functional. They rely purely on gravity to project water up to the forty-meter height of the fountain jet of Perseus and Andromeda. An artificial lake, El Mar, "the Sea", lies secluded at the highest point of the park, and provides a reservoir and water pressure for the whole system.
Of the elaborate "Baths of Diana", focus of several garden axes, the chronically depressed Philip remarked, "It has cost me three millions and amused me three minutes."

Thanks very much for viewing.

As always, to my loved Debbie.-