BURGOS, a city of Spain, and capital of Old Castile, is situated on the declivity of a hill, on the right bank of the river Arlanzon, whose stream 'flows close to its walls. It is supposed by some writers to be the Braum or Bra vum of Ptolemy, but others refer its origin to the site of another city called Aura, as late as the ninth or tenth century. It is a large irregular town, presenting the figure of a cross, surrounded by high walls, and was for merly protected by a castle of considerable strength, erected on the brow of the adjacent hill, of which some vestiges still remain. The streets are narrow, crooked, and badly arranged ; and of its numerous squares, one only is deserving of notice. It stands in the middle of the city, and is surrounded by a piazza, supported by lofty pillars, over which arc some tolerably handsome houses. The principal approach to the city is by the gate of Santa Maria, which opens on one of the bridges over the Arlanzon. This gate was built to commemorate the founders of the Castilian monarchy, and the illustrious men who had contributed to its honour and aggrandize ment, with whose statues it is still adorned. Among these arc Fernando, Gonzalez, Charles I., the Cid, and Diego Puree'. The suburbs of Burgos, which arc called De Bega, lie on the opposite side of the river, which is crossed by three free-stone bridges. Here is a beautiful promenade, enlivened by the intermixture of delightful gardens, which are constantly refreshed with fountains of water. Among the public buildings are the hotel de Ville, the palace of Velasco, and the triumphal arch ere( ted in honour of Fernando Gonzalez, first count of Cz stile. The cathedral church is one of the finest and best preset c ed specimens of Gothic architecture in Spain. 1' was built about the beginning of the 13th century, by Ferdinand III., but was not completely finished till some centuries after. This church is embellished with towers, columns, statues, and other ornaments, which are exe cuted with exquisite delicacy and neatness, and contains eight chapels, in which divine worship is regularly per formed, and which are adorned with some beautiful paint ings by Raphael and Michael Angelo Buonarotti. The church of St Paul's is also a noble Gothic structure, with an altar of the Corinthian order ; and the convent of the Augustines, which stands in tl e suburbs, is famous for its chapel of the holy crucifix, which is enriched with the collective tribute of kings, nobles, and private individuals. According to tradition, this crucifix was
constructed by Nicodemus, and possesses miraculous powers. It is an exact outline of the human figure, and is covered from the waist to the feet with a kind of petti coat, full plaited, and of the finest cloth. It is concealed behind three curtains, and is only. exhibited on great oc casions, and always with pompous solemnity. There are also several handsome convents and hospitals, particu larly the monastery de las Huelgas, and the royal hospital, which is richly endowed, and remarkable for its cleanli ness and healthy situation.
Burgos has a college for the education of youth, and also an academy for the polite arts, both of which are ex clusively supported by the merchants. A surgical school was instituted here in 1800 ; but, unfortunately, its pro fessors were chosen without any regard to their character and abilities.
This city was erected into an archbishopric in 1574. Its diocese comprehends a cathedral chapter, six colle giate chapters, eight archpriests, and six hundred and ninety-three parishes. The cathedral chapter includes 17 dignitaries, 30 canons, 26 prebends, and 19 chaplains. Burgos is the residence of the intendant for the province of the same name, and has also a corregidor, and an al caidc.
As long as Burgos was animated by the presence of its sovereign, it continued to enjoy splendour and pre eminence ; commerce flourished, industry was excited, and manufactures were multiplied. Its crowded fairs displayed wealth and prosperity ; and it was the cntrepot of all the trade that was carried on from the interior of Spain with the several ports on the bay of Biscay. It was also the residence of many foreign merchants ; and the famous Segovian cloth was transmitted from this city to every quarter of Europe. But, when Charles V. trans ferred the seat of royalty, in the beginning of the 17th century, to Madrid, its prosperity began rapidly to de cline ; and, before the conclusion of a century, it was impoverished and depopulated. Of its 40,000 inhabi tants, scarcely 9000 remain. A little cloth, and sonic fine woollen stockings, called Gas d'etaim, arc its princi pal manufactures ; and its only trade consists in the ex portation of the woollen cloths of Old Castile, from which it derives a considerable profit. It is 112 miles north of Madrid. West longitude 3° 38'. North latitude 47° It)'. See Laborde's View of Spain, ol. iii. p. 14; and Bour going's Travels in Spain, p. 19, in Phillips's Coll. vol. ix.
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