Visual Resources:
Virtual Tour of the Alhambra
1st Hour: The Alhambra in Spain an Introduction to Spanish and Mediterranean Islamic Architecture
Virtual Tour of the Alhambra
1st Hour: The Alhambra in Spain an Introduction to Spanish and Mediterranean Islamic Architecture
2nd Hour: Avideo tour of the Alhambra palace complex in Spain (Al-Andalusia)
The Alhambra Palace Complex in Granada, Andalusia,
Spain (constructed 1309-1354)
The
Alhambra is recognized as among the most exceptional of all building ensembles
in the history of world
architecture. Its prominence is enhanced
by the promontory of its elevated plateau situated among the foothills of the
Sierra Nevada mountain range in Southern Spain and its commanding view over the
rich valley of the Darro River below.
For this lesson, we’ll review the excellent virtual walking tour of the
Alhambra produced by ARAMCO.
In our
review of earlier Muslim Andalusian architecture, we found the example of the
Great Mosque of Cordoba which was a composite structure begun in the 8th century and expanded considerably in the
10th century. Muslim Spain was initially ruled from the
Caliphate of Cordoba, but after its disintegration in the 11th century it was rarely ruled through a
single ruler but was mostly a consortium of principalities run by local princes
and rulers who looked after their respective cities and regions. After the
initial period of expansion into Southern and Central Spain, Muslim Spain
underwent a period of consolidation, expansion and rivalry with the Christian
kingdoms of the North of Spain. By the
11th century Christian counterattacks
in what amounted to a Western Mediterranean version of the Crusades resulted in
various defensive consolidations of Muslim rule, while Andalusian culture in
the South of Spain flourished through a mixed milieu of Muslim, Jewish and
Christian exchange. Great works of
literature, poetry, music, philosophy and treatises on medicine were produced
in Arabic by Muslim and Jewish scholars under the patronage of the Muslim
rulers.
The palace
of the Alhambra was constructed during a period when some Muslim
principalities, Toledo, Avila and Zaragoza had fallen to the Christian
reconquest. After the Christian
campaigns of reconquest, the Moroccan based Almoravid and Almohads managed to
reconsolidate the Muslim hold on large parts of Southern and Central Spain in
the 12th and 13th centuries. It was during this period that the Alhambra
was commissioned and built by one of the princes. A new Muslim dynasty, the
Nasrids established themselves in the South of Spain and the Alhambra palace at
Granada was built. The palace and city
of Granada remained under Muslim control and was the last Muslim city to
surrender to the Christian Spanish kingdom led by Ferdinand and Isabella in
1492.
The building complex of the Alhambra is composed of the Alcabaza, or
palace, and the gardens (El Generalife).
The name of the complex is derived from the Arabic قلعة الحمرة (the Red Castle). The entire palace is surrounded by large
walls that are punctuated by five gates, the most famous of which is the Puerta
de la Justice (Gate of Justice) with its horseshoe shaped arch. Unfortunately
this portion of the palace is mostly in ruins. What has survived of the residences of the
inner palace are spectacular for their form and exquisite decorative
design. These are the Court of the
Myrtles with its long reflecting pool and the Court of the Lions, that feature
a quadrant shaped division with flowing water channels, fountains and garden
elements surrounded by elaborate carved stucco and stone arches and
architectural elements. The interior
spaces are distinguished by the Sala de la Barca (Hall of the Boat) with its
inverted wooden ceiling that is in the form of an inverted boat; and the Hall
of the Ambassadors. The Hall of the
Throne presents a large ceremonial space that rises 60 feet in height.
The
gardens, El Generalife, are exemplary for their ingenious use of irrigation
channels diverted from the Darro River and the graceful flow of channels and
fountains within the gardens.
Works Cited
Primary Sources
A useful
travel account
Secondary Sources
Dickie, James. 1981. "The Alhambra: Some
Reflections Prompted by a Recent Study by Oleg Grabar." Studia Arabica et
Islamica : Festschrift for Ihsan Abbas on his sixtieth birthday. ed. Wadad
al-Qadi. Beirut: American UP, 127-49.
_______ ibid. 1992. "The Palaces of the
Alhambra." al-Andalus
: the art of Islamic Spain. Ed. Jerrilynn
D. Dodds. New York: MMA. 135-51.
Fernandez Puertas, Antonio. 1997. The Alhambra. 2 v. London : Saqi Books.
Grabar, Oleg. 1992. The Alhambra. 2d ed., rev.
Sebastopol, Calif. : Solipsist Press.
Ibrahim,
Abdelbaki Mohamed (ed). 1999. “The
Alhambra Palace.” In Alam al-Bina.
Cairo: Center for Planning and Architectural Studies, 24-25/207. Web.
Archnet. Accessed October 11,
2012.
Lapunzina,
Alejandro. 2005. Architecture of Spain. Wesport
Conn: Greenwood Press.
Orihuela Uzal, Antonio. 1996. Casas y palacios nazaries : siglos
XIII-XV. Seville: Junta de Andalucia,
Consejeria de Cultura, Consejeria de Turismo y Deporte.
Ruggles, D.F. 2000. "The Alhambra." Gardens, Landscape, and Vision in
the Palaces of Islamic Spain. University
Park: Pennsylvania State University Press.
