Tuesday 13 November 2012

Alhambra - Granada, Spain August 2012


Alhambra – Granada, Spain August 2012.

Our visit to Spain last August mainly covered  the Andalusian region where we visited City of Granada, Cardoba, Toledo and Malaga. These cities were part of the Ummayyad Empire which started from 711 until the fall of Granada that ended the Muslim rule in the Iberian peninsula in 1492. There were so much history and episodes regarding these fantastic cities and I had to read quite a number of history books to really understand and appreciate the significant of some of the attractions there.
Alhambra Complex
Fortress Wall and City of Granada below

View of City of Granada from Alhambra
Entrance into the Palace
Granada is home to Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex build by the  Nasrid Dynasty. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Alhambra was also shortlisted for the 7 Wonders of the World finalist. The design is highly influenced by Moorish architecture with fine intricate carvings, calligraphy and arabesques on its columns and stilted arches as well as muqarnas (stalactite ceiling decorations). This palace is definitely heaven for Architecture and art students/lovers….


Intricate Calligraphy and Arabesques
 

Stilted arches ....
 

Intricate Calligraphy and Arabesques
 

Ceiling decorations
 



To put it into a nutshell, this jewel is a complex made up of gardens, fountains, streams, a palace and a mosque within an imposing fortress wall flanked by 13 massive towers…..





Court of the Lions .... after restorations done. It was closed when I visited Alhambra back in 2007.
Stilted arches ....

Court of the Lions
 

Stilted arches....
Muqarnas (stalactite ceiling decorations)

Palacio de Generalife
Alhambra Complex - Towers and Walls
Palacio de Generalife
Palacio de Generalife

Palacio de Generalife

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