Royal Casino of Murcia is a jewel of eclecticism located in the heart of the historical centre Murcia. It is a unique building from an architectural point of view, located in an emblematic place in the capital, Trapería Street, of which it is a hallmark. Its construction began in 1847. The building is a mixture of different artistic currents that coexisted in the second half of the 19th and early 20th century in Spain and was declared a national historical-artistic monument in 1983.
Through the entrance door and a small neo-Baroque lobby, you access the Arabiam Courtyard, whose spectacular neonazari style decoration required more than 20,000 sheets of gold leaf.
It is also worth noting the library, in which stands out its upper grandstand of carved woods, supported by casting brackets depicting flamingos and the adjoining ladies’ room that is decorated with female allegories of the goddess Selene painted on the ceiling.
The Ballroom is perhaps the best known and most splendid witness if the social life of Murcia for more than a century
It's neo-Baroque in style. The valuable paintings that embellish it - four midwives in the clouds - represent Music, Sculpture, Painting and Architecture. Four medallions represent the illustrious children of Murcia: Romea, Salzillo, Floridablanca and Villacís.
It is also worth noting the billiard room, and two meeting rooms with huge windows to the Trapería Street which the Murcians, with the fine humor that characterizes them, nicknamed las Peceras (fishbowls).
References:The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.
In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.