Muslims in Medieval Spain: Adopting Local Architecture & Cuisine

Al-Andalus Muslims blended Islamic traditions with Iberian culture. Architects fused Gothic/Romanesque elements into mosques and palaces (e.g., Great Mosque of Córdoba). Cooks adopted olive oil, saffron, and rice dishes like paella, adapting them to halal rules. The result: a distinctive Andalusi synthesis—neither purely Islamic nor purely Visigothic.