One of the most popular tourist sights in Spain is the Alhambra. It is an ancient palace and fortress on the
outskirts of the southern town of Granada in Andalusia. Constructed by the Moors who invaded the
country from the 8th century onwards, it is a fine example of the hybrid style
known as mudéjar art and a powerful symbol of Spain’s multicultural past. Mudéjar refers to a style of ornamentation
and decoration in Spain from about the 12th Century and that incorporated as
decorative motifs some constructive and stylistic techniques brought or
developed by Muslims in Al-Andalus.
The first signs of construction date back to at least the Roman times
and can be attributed to the site’s advantageous position with good visibility
of the surrounding area. However it
wasn’t until the 14th century that the foundations of the Alhambra as it is
known today were laid. Since the 8th
century, Spain had been invaded by the Moors who had successfully established
emirates and caliphates in most of the major provinces. A caliphate is an Islamic state under the
leadership of an Islamic steward with the title of caliph, a person considered
a political-religious successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a leader of
the entire ummah. It was in the mid-13th
century that the Moorish emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar commissioned the palace’s
construction, which was eventually turned into a royal palace by Yusuf I Sultan
of Granada in the mid-14th century. The palace was designed in the typical
fashion popular among Muslim rulers on the peninsula at the time, featuring the
presence of horseshoe arches, arabesques and calligraphy.
However, soon the Moorish rule came to an end as the Spanish Kings
launched the Reconquista and reclaimed their land. In the year 1492 the Emir of Granada
surrendered the Emirate of Granada to the Catholic Kings of Spain, King
Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile, who soon made it the home
of the Royal Court. Under Christian
ownership the Alhambra underwent significant refurbishment and restructuring in
accordance with the Renaissance style of the time. The structure grew into the large complex of
rooms, palaces, courtyards, chambers and gardens that visitors can admire
today. The parks and gardens that
surround the edifice are a testimony of its multicultural past: the roses,
myrtles and orange trees planted by the Moors contrast beautifully with the
lush forest of English elm trees offered by the Duke of Wellington in
1812. The Alhambra has been inscribed on
the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1984 and has inspired a number of
references in local culture.
Inside Alhambra looking towards the Nasrid Palaces.
Inside the Generalife part of Alhambra
Inside the Generalife part of Alhambra
Inside the Generalife part of Alhambra
An example of Mudéjar art in the Generalife
Inside the Generalife part of Alhambra
Inside the Generalife part of Alhambra
Inside the Generalife part of Alhambra
Inside the Generalife part of Alhambra
Inside the Generalife part of Alhambra
Inside the Generalife part of Alhambra
Inside the Generalife part of Alhambra looking towards the Nasrid Palaces
Tilework inside the Nasrid Palaces
Tilework and mudejar art inside the Nasrid Palaces
Inside the Nasrid Palaces (and following)
Tilework inside the Nasrid Palaces
Looking towards the Generalife from the Nasrid Palaces
Palacio de Carlos V
Inside the Palacio de Carlos V. This is amazing. It it square on the outside and round on the inside. It was only completed in the 20th century. An example below of what it looks like from above.
One of two staircases inside the Palacio de Carlos V
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