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.
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| Alhambra Complex |
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| Fortress Wall and City of Granada below |
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| View of City of Granada from Alhambra |
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| 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….
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| Intricate Calligraphy and Arabesques |
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| Stilted arches .... |
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| Intricate Calligraphy and Arabesques |
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| Ceiling decorations |
