Alhambra - 2

From the balconies and battlements, the views are splendid. In one direction, the mighty Sierra Nevada are visible since we are on foothill with our back to the mountains.



In the other direction, the broad valley spreads out before us with the city and farmlands beyond. Just left of center in this image is a smaller hill in the foreground that happens to be covered with trees. On that hill is the once frontier outpost that the moors used as a watchtower for the contanly invading christians. Light signals were sent between the two so that the troops could be rallied immediately to prepare for the invaders.

Success for the christians came in January 1492, when Isabella and Ferdinand captured the city. It is no coincidence that Christopher Columbus, who had been begging the court for money for his voyages to the new world for a decade or so before this was finally met with success and was giving the money, left Spain in August and landed in the Bahamas in October. When the war ended and the booty of a sultanate was captured, the money for exploration began to flow.

The image below is one of the places where the sultan would sit to enjoy the breezes in the hot Andalucian summers.

The details of the ceiling decorations here defy imagination.

Notice that in the walls the mixture of plant and geometry to produce intricate designs that repeat without end. Although it is still quite amazing, it is important to note that the design was made once and then transferred to plaster that is mounted to the wall. Even with this help in making the repeating pattern fit together and fill the space so exactly, it remains a daunting enterprise.

One of the bits that amazed me was that when Isabella and Ferdinand took over the response was not to destroy but to extend. The islamic art was modified but not removed, added to but not overlain.

The ceiling below is a later addition to the room (obviously, since there are people in it). This was done without changing the overall layout and structure of the room (or adjacent rooms).

Notice how there is a design (in blue, but the is hard to tell in the image ... it looks mostly black) that is overlaid on the "stalagmite" design. And the blue color complements the golden light from the high windows. This kind of 3-D design is just leave me dumbfounded. The color scheme and design is continued in the arches of the doorways below.

All the repetitions of the design elements, their symmetry, and beauty create a place of quiet contemplation. Even with the crowds below bustling to see the treasures, there is a serenity and strength to the place that words nor images can reveal

I have only scratched the surface here of the wonders we saw. The gardens, the transitions from the islamic to the christian art, the mix of the two to produce Mudsejar Art would each require multiple blog posts to explore and I didn't photograph everything.

You really need to put this on your bucket list.