History of the Alhambra's Paradisal Gardens and Courtyards
Inspired by paradise itself, Granada’s Alhambra holds the power to transport us from the cares of the outside world. In spite of being photographed thousands…
Islamic
Moorish Architecture and Views in Granada’s Albaicín District
When asked to picture Granada, most people conjure visions of the Alhambra. But the city’s historic heart has always been the Albaicín (or Albayzín). For…
The Mosques, Synagogues and Churches of Toledo, Spain
Toledo’s Muslim heritage permeates the city, from its layout of tiny, winding streets oriented to keep it cool to the Arabic inscriptions within its fortified…
Norman Sicily: The Cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale
When Richard the Lionheart and the Crusaders stopped in Sicily en route to Jerusalem, they found a startlingly cosmopolitan society. Christian women wore the latest…
A Guide to Palermo’s Architectural Curiosities
I made it less than five minutes on Palermo’s Via Maqueda before I had to stop and do a slow 360-degree turn. On either side…
Seville's Architecture: an Islamic Legacy
Before the Inquisition and before Spain’s heyday as the gateway to the Americas, the Iberian Peninsula flourished with an exhilarating jumble of cultures. Muslims called…
Islamic Architecture and Enlightenment in Córdoba's Mezquita
The best way to experience medieval Spain is through its architecture. The buildings of Córdoba are a physical manifestation of the cultures who lived there,…