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What are the characteristics of the Alhambra palace?

While located in Western Europe, Alhambra showcases traditional Islamic details pertaining to the East, including geometric patterns, column arcades, painted tiles, Arabic inscriptions, reflecting pools, and fountains.



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12 Interesting Facts About Alhambra Palace in Granada
  • Known as the Red Fortress or Red Castle. ...
  • Built on Roman Ruins. ...
  • People from various social classes did not cross paths. ...
  • The Walls of Alhambra Speak. ...
  • It was built to be a paradise on earth. ...
  • The Tiles used in Alhambra were unique.


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It includes some of the typical elements of the andalusian architecture, such as the horseshoe arch with sprandel (square wide frame which envelopes the arch) and the arch scallops (arch scallop of triangular shape), as well as its own special elements such as the capitals of the columns of the Alhambra.

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Islamic religious art cannot contain iconography, so we rarely see any sort of images of people or animals in these structures. However, in the Alhambra, the Muslim king had three paintings made that clearly show iconography. These paintings are in his personal space, so the iconography is allowed.

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Because of its history The Alhambra is an essential monument, as it proves Arabs once ruled this territory and its architectural style is a relic of this former civilisation. For this reason it was recently declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

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The palace complex is designed in the Nasrid style, the last blooming of Islamic Art in the Iberian Peninsula, that had a great influence on the Maghreb to the present day, and on contemporary Mudejar Art, which is characteristic of western elements reinterpreted into Islamic forms and widely popular during the ...

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Traditional Islam prohibits the use of human or animal representation in religious art, whereas Christianity permits these images. Rather than using zoomorphic forms, Islamic art uses calligraphy and motifs for decoration.

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The Alhambra, with its continuous occupation over time, is currently the only preserved palatine city of the Islamic period. It constitutes the best example of Nasrid art in its architecture and decorative aspects.

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