What some call "The Red Fortress" is one of several vestiges of an Islamic influence on Andalusia. The city that hosts the Alhambra is Granada, a maze of white buildings and narrow alleyways that occasionally pop with a brilliant blue door, a wealth of flowers. Over this, the Alhambra's severe lines gleam red and gold. While the oldest parts of the structure date back to the ninth century, a good portion of the architecture was completed half a millennium later in the 14th century under the direction of Yussuf I and Mohammed V. This sprawling palace-citadel holds within it a myriad of courtyards and fountains, rose gardens and intricately carved walls and archways. Even the ceilings are finely detailed. The Moorish architecture has captivated generations of travelers.
Alhambra
Cuesta de Gomérez
Granada, La Sabika
+34-902-44-12-21
alhambra-patronato.es
Now alternately called the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption), this ancient mosque can be found in the heart of Cordoba (also known as Cordova). Construction dates back to the eighth century under the reign of Abd al-Rahman I who had fled from Syria when his family was massacred. As such, the style, which features a courtyard and rectangular prayer hall, borrows from the Umayyad and Abbasid mosques of Syria and Iraq. The rows of trees in the courtyard contribute to the design found inside. The interior of the prayer hall mimics the Umayyad mosques with alternating red and white columns and archways which have an arresting effect. Lavish and intricate details, particularly in the maqsura, a private prayer space for the ruler, are captivating. Three hundred years after Ferdinand III, who gained power in Cordoba in 1236, declared the mosque a cathedral, church officials proposed demolishing the mosque so a traditional catholic structure could be built in its place. Opposition to the idea was so fierce that, in an unprecedented move, a Gothic cathedral was simply inserted into the center of the Great Mosque. The contradicting architectural styles parallel underlying differences of belief systems and cultures. This national monument is an attractive, if curious, thing to see.
Great Mosque of Cordoba
14003 Córdoba
Córdoba, Spain
+34-95-747-05-12
mezquitadecordoba.org
La Caruna Harbor, in the northwest region of the country, is home to one of several monuments that reflect Spain's Roman heritage. The Tower of Hercules was built in the first century A.D., when it was originally called Farum Brigantium. Its status as a national monument has resulted in careful preservation efforts. Updated in the 18th century, The Tower of Hercules is now the only functional Roman lighthouse. The 180-foot structure is surrounded by a sculpture park featuring an old cemetery and Monte dos Bicos rock carvings that date from the Iron Age. Besides being an excellent relic of Roman architecture, the Tower of Hercules additionally offers insights to ancient navigational systems and maritime routes.
Tower of Hercules
Avenida de Navarra s/n 15002
Coruña, A Espana
+34-98-122-37-30
