The Alhambra ~ A Feast For The Senses

“My eyes filled with tears; not tears of sorrow nor of happiness, but of fulfilment “ - Miguel De Unamuno; “so moving that it stimulates and melts all of the senses” - Matisse

Tinkling fountains with a splash of color ~ Our journey begins here.

One of the largest and certainly most beautiful castles in the world. Originally built for military purposes, eventually served as a royal residence. The mighty Alhambra that we see today was rebuilt by the Moors in the 14th century and it is a real gem with its red walls, and arabesque and tile mosaics decorations.

A visit to Spain would be incomplete without a visit to Andalusia and of course Granada. Entrance to the palace complex is timed but be well rested when you visit as this day will easily double your 10,000 steps count for the day.

Reflecting pool under a bright blue sky.

Column arcades, fountains with running water, and reflecting pools were used to add to the aesthetic and functional complexity.

Alhambra endures as an a typical example of Muslim art in its final European stages, relatively uninfluenced by the direct Byzantine influences found in the Mezquita of Córdoba. Alhambra was extended by the different Muslim rulers who lived in the complex. However, each new section that was added followed the consistent theme of 'paradise on earth'.

Looking out at the cityscape spread out below; spells a strange sense of freedom.

Moorish poets described it as 'a pearl set in emeralds', an allusion to the color of its buildings and the woods around them. The palace complex was designed with the mountainous site in mind. The park, which is overgrown with wildflowers and grass in the spring, was planted by the Moors with roses, oranges, and myrtles; its most characteristic feature, however, is the dense wood of English elms brought by the Duke of Wellington in 1812.

As I gazed out of these windows, I thought about long ago concubines who gazed longingly at the town below perhaps dreaming of freedom.

So much beauty. Alas I wish I understood the words.

The decoration consists for the upper part of the walls, as a rule, of Arabic inscriptions — mostly poems by Ibn Zamrak and others praising the palace — that are manipulated into geometrical patterns with vegetal background set onto an arabesque setting. Much of this ornament is carved stucco (plaster) rather than stone. Tile mosaics, with complicated mathematical patterns, are largely used as paneling for the lower part. Mostly there was little or no metal.

Look up towards the heavens and praise the beauty that we’ve been blessed to receive.

Similar designs are displayed on wooden ceilings. Muqarnas are the main elements for vaulting with stucco, and some of the most accomplished dome examples of this kind are in the Court of the Lions halls.

The Lions Court, ongoing maintenance.

Most of the palace buildings are quadrangular in plan, with all the rooms opening on to a central court, and the whole reached its present size simply by the gradual addition of new quadrangles, designed on the same principle, though varying in dimensions, and connected with each other by smaller rooms and passages.

So much beauty

Geometrical patterns set onto an arabesque settings carved in stucco (plaster) rather than stone.

Tired, exceeded the step count for the day but not yet ready to leave.