Granada, Spain. Part 2.
Bill writes: The Alhambra sits on top of a mountain overlooking Granada. The name "Alhambra," "the red one," derives from the color of the palaces when seen from the city.
Once we entered the Alhambra, the first thing we encountered were the gardens of the Generalife. The Alhambra is filled with gardens. The gardens and the weather reminded me of California--looked like it could have been in some garden in San Jose.
The entrance at the other end of the Alhambra, the 9th Century fortress of La Alcazaba, is blocked by an enormous door. The ramp leading up to it was designed to hold off attackers, as was the door. It was designed to impress and intimidate. You can see how immense it is by noticing Aline at the bottom of it.
Most of the buildings were built by a succession of medieval Arab kings. However, the newest building was erected for King Charles V. He and the missus wanted a palace in the Alhambra, so they tore down an existing moorish one and built their own, based on the circle and the square. From the outside, it's a big square.
While from the inside, it's a big circle.
But the great palaces--there are several within the Alhambra--are where the real interest and beauty lies. Everything is symmetrical, everything is delicate, and sturdy, and balanced, and open--to the sky and to views of water. Perhaps the most immediately striking thing, though, is the carvings. The walls are inscribed with text from the Koran as well as with geometric shapes.
And this extends to the ceilings as well.
Entire walls are covered with this incising.
As well as arches.
And not even the ceilings escape the intricate designs.
Along with the incised designs, the other features you find throughout are water and symmetry.
We also went on a night tour, and you can see the difference between how the same building looked during the day and at night.
Another feature is that there are views everywhere, views of the city, views for the women to view the men in the court, and views of the omnipresent water.
Not suprisingly, we had a wonderful time. Though, the Alhambra has an emotional overwhelming effect like stepping inside the Louvre, and then stepping inside the paintings inside the Louvre.
Once we entered the Alhambra, the first thing we encountered were the gardens of the Generalife. The Alhambra is filled with gardens. The gardens and the weather reminded me of California--looked like it could have been in some garden in San Jose.
The entrance at the other end of the Alhambra, the 9th Century fortress of La Alcazaba, is blocked by an enormous door. The ramp leading up to it was designed to hold off attackers, as was the door. It was designed to impress and intimidate. You can see how immense it is by noticing Aline at the bottom of it.
Most of the buildings were built by a succession of medieval Arab kings. However, the newest building was erected for King Charles V. He and the missus wanted a palace in the Alhambra, so they tore down an existing moorish one and built their own, based on the circle and the square. From the outside, it's a big square.
While from the inside, it's a big circle.
But the great palaces--there are several within the Alhambra--are where the real interest and beauty lies. Everything is symmetrical, everything is delicate, and sturdy, and balanced, and open--to the sky and to views of water. Perhaps the most immediately striking thing, though, is the carvings. The walls are inscribed with text from the Koran as well as with geometric shapes.
And this extends to the ceilings as well.
Entire walls are covered with this incising.
As well as arches.
And not even the ceilings escape the intricate designs.
Along with the incised designs, the other features you find throughout are water and symmetry.
We also went on a night tour, and you can see the difference between how the same building looked during the day and at night.
Another feature is that there are views everywhere, views of the city, views for the women to view the men in the court, and views of the omnipresent water.
Not suprisingly, we had a wonderful time. Though, the Alhambra has an emotional overwhelming effect like stepping inside the Louvre, and then stepping inside the paintings inside the Louvre.
posted by Bill | 9:33 AM
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