the interior view of the
Mezquita
Construction of the Great Mosque at Cordoba beginning in 785 AD marks the
beginning of Islamic architecture in the Iberian peninsula and North Africa
(see Moors). The mosque is noted for its striking interior arches. Moorish
architecture reached its peak with the construction of the Alhambra, the
magnificent palace/fortress of Granada, with its open and breezy interior
spaces adorned in red, blue, and gold. The walls are decorated with stylize
foliage motifs, Arabic inscriptions, and arabesque design work, with walls
covered in glazed tile.
Even after the completion of the Reconquista, Islamic influence had a
lasting impact on the architecture of Spain. In particular, medieval
Spaniards used the Mudéjar style, an imitation of Islamic design. One of the
best examples of the Moors' lasting impact is the Alcázar of Seville. |
