On the way to our next destination, Alicante, Spain, we made a beauty stop in the city, Granada. Located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, this area has become a historical point known for it’s unique combination of Moorish influence and Christian Renaissance.
Granada was the last Moorish capital of the Iberian Peninsula. The Moors crossed the straight of Gibraltar in 711 A.D. By the 9th century Granada rose to a civilization of importance. The dynasty had twenty kings ending with King Boabdil when he was forced to surrender Granada to the Spanish Reconquista, fronted by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, in 1492. In his flight he looked back and his mother said, “Thou dost week like a woman for thou couldst not defend as a man.”
He looked back towards the beautiful Alhambra, a fortress palace of the royalty and court built during the thirteenth century. This royal palace shows the transition of power and culture that documents history through architecture.
We had an hour to explore the grounds. We bought tickets and sped to the palace. It was stunning with its intricate mosaic walls and beautiful arches and engraved floral doors connected inside with the outside gardens. Fountains flowed sparking in the center of the courtyards. The water flowed throughout the rooms making the palace fluid and breathtaking sit throughout the winding palace capturing a connection with nature and time. The Nasrid Palaces is a complex of palaces from different kings so it shows the transition from not only the Moors to Christian, but from each king itself. Every room and every courtyard is different. It shows the intricacies of the Moorish culture, showing the appeal of a natural paradise.
No comments:
Post a Comment