Islamic Architecture in Spain: Alhambra and Cordoba Mosque

Alhambra de Granada: Nasrid Architectural Mastery

The Alhambra belongs to the Nasrid period. During this era, architecture returned to the use of the column, characterized by narrow shafts and thin, smooth profiles. The column stands on a base, and the capital comprises a cylindrical body topped by a parallelepiped.

Key Architectural Features

• False Arches: Used within open bays; the horseshoe arch is largely abandoned, appearing only in the mihrab.
• Arch Types: The most common are the stilted arch (where the arrow of the bow is above the semicircle) and the angular stalactite arch.
• Vaulting: A wide variety of vault types are employed.

Major Structures of the Alhambra

• The Mexuar: Features slender columns.
• Court of the Myrtles: Includes a porch, canted arches, and wooden lintel structures.
• Throne Room: Notable for thick walls, balconies with germinated arches, and rich, diverse decoration.
• Court of the Lions: A porticoed space on all four sides featuring the iconic fountain of the lions.
• Generalife Gardens and The Door of Justice.

Mosque of Cordoba: Umayyad Legacy

The Mosque of Cordoba was commissioned under the reign of Abderrahman I between 785 and 788. It underwent several extensions, utilizing materials such as stone, brick, and wood.

Structural Design

The compound is enclosed by a fortified wall featuring buttresses, battlements, and decorative access doors. The facade displays a typology of three bodies adorned with Moorish arches, lobed designs, and intricate lattices. The western wall features a minaret, later converted into a Christian tower.

Interior Layout

• Courtyard of the Oranges: An open space containing four fountains and aligned orange trees.
• Prayer Hall: Originally consisting of 11 naves, it reused column shafts and capitals from earlier granite or marble structures.
• Mihrab: Located on the wall facing Damascus.
• Maqsura: A sacred space reserved for authorities, illuminated by four domes with radial windows, supported by a system of intersecting arches.

Cultural and Political Significance

Following Muslim precepts, the mosque is oriented toward Mecca, with materials chosen to integrate into the natural environment. It serves as the primary expression of the Islamic faith, facilitating the ritual of Friday prayer. Beyond its religious function, the mosque served a political purpose, allowing the caliphs to exert control over the aristocratic and political classes.