Moorish Architecture In Spain

The UniqueRef of Andaluzia and Murcia

An abrupt and savage Sierra, green valleys, the blue of the Mediterranean, olive groves, snowy peaks, coquette villages, Moorish castles, and Renaissance manors are the elements that  will seduce you in Andaluzia and Murcia.

This is the last region that was conquered by King Fernando and Queen Isabela, so it is probably the place in Spain where the Moorish influence still seems alive.

The number of the monuments that tourists can visit here is impressive, but when you get tired of them, you can relax with wondeful views of the virgin landscapes that surround you from every angle.

The Moorish Architecture
Although few Moorish mosques have survived the Christian invasion, the palaces and the baths are still there to remind the tourists of the long lost times of Spain. The vaults and the domes were a common feature of Moorish architecture, and tourists can still admire them; especially when they visits the baths.

They developed in the VIIIth century in the Middle East and were structures having just one level; but they had dome roofs perforated by star shaped spaces that offered wonderul views of the sky from inside the building. The most luxurious Moorish bath is that in Alhambra, where the marble flooring is combined with the wooden and glazed tiles walls.

Horseshoe Shaped Arches
Tourists that come to Spain to see the Moorish architecture say that the horseshoe shaped arches are some of the most beautiful things they have ever seen. The Moorish arch, in its quintessentiality, is horseshoe shaped. The most memorable example in this respect is the Cordoba Mosque.

Although it is said that the mosque is inspired by the Great Mosque in Damasc, some say that the overlapping arches are inspired by the Roman aquaducts. The fact that the bands of stone and brick alternate offers the tourists an even more dynamic image; one that impresses the eye and nourishes the soul.

The Azulejos
The glazed tiles were used to cover big surfaces of the walls in the Moorish and Mudejar buildings. The geometry and the bold coloring offer a powerful visual contrast with the delicate surfaces. Geometry was the Arab’s triumph and it can best be seen on the azulejos buildings that will definetely make you feel that you are on a journey into thewonderful past of Spain. This fantastic country is worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.