Al-Andalus is the name of the old Arabic name for the overall Iberian peninsula, now Spain. It then became associated only with the southern portions under Muslim control, that control extending some 800 years. For the first 300 years, the nearby city of Cordoba and its caliphate dominated. See Saudi Aramco World magazine, Granada's New Convivienca Sept-Oct 2003, article by Tor Eigeland, at http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200305/granada.s.new.convivencia.htm,
Granada was known for its mutual tolerance of other religions, with restrictions that those others could tolerate.
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Then factions weakened Cordoban control, and by the 14th-15th Centuries, the smaller kingdom of Granada represented the remainder, was the capital, and it remained glorious in its smaller geographic setting. It finally surrendered to Christian forces of Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492.
Granada is the city in southern Spain where the Sultan's Palace, the Alhambra, is located - see http://lexicorient.com/spain/alhambra.
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Granada, Spain. Alhambra garden courtyard
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The guidebook may say that you have to have advance tickets to do the Alhambra palace. Not so. If you get there later in the afternoon, you can see it all, and avoid the tour buses. We spent the night in town, and went back the next day to fill in anything we missed.
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Alhambra, Granada, Spain, Lion Fountain
While the Moors ruled, there was an extensive flowering of architecture, culture, mathematics, architecture, etc. See http://www.home.att.net/%7Ea.f.aly/renaissance; and http://www.andalucia.com/cities/granada.
There is a new mosque at the Albaicin, the first in 500 years.
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Albaicin, Arab Quarter, Old Grenada, Spain (view from the Alhambra)
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There is a fine view to old Granada from the Arab Quarter, The Albaicin is the area where the Christians, upon retaking Granada in 1492, forced the Arab Muslims to live. It became known as the Arab Quarter, and is located on a steep hillside, now the Old City. See http://www.vivagranada.com/, fine photos and notes by Lorenzo Bohm. Details for tourists at http://www.andalucia.com/cities/granada/albaicin.htm. Take time at the spice market in the Albaicin, heaps of turmuric, others, and take time to wander and get totally lost. You will find your way back.
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In the cathedral here are Ferdinand and Isabella, and our favorite, Juana la Loca, see this site and read every word, at http://www.xs4all.nl/~kvenjb/madmonarchs/juana/juana_bio.htm. There she is, in stone, with her fingers lightly tented over her chest, moving ever so slightly, and her head turned just a tad away from her husband, Philip (handsome but....) beside her, as her mind still wanders. Or doesn't, or never did.
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Read her story in James Michener's extensive novel, "Iberia" - see http://www.longitudebooks.com/find/p/1804/mcms.html. We are looking for the pages about Juana now. La la la. But not all is necessarily as it seems....
Granada was known for its mutual tolerance of other religions, with restrictions that those others could tolerate.
.
Then factions weakened Cordoban control, and by the 14th-15th Centuries, the smaller kingdom of Granada represented the remainder, was the capital, and it remained glorious in its smaller geographic setting. It finally surrendered to Christian forces of Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492.
- SaudiAramco World is an excellent resource, photos, reviews, articles, heavy glossy paper, and also online. At the end of articles is a section for other related materials in other issues. This Sept-Oct 2003 issue is especially fine for its overview of the Muslim religion, see it at Islam FAQ's, http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200305/islam-faqs.htm.
Granada is the city in southern Spain where the Sultan's Palace, the Alhambra, is located - see http://lexicorient.com/spain/alhambra.
.
Granada, Spain. Alhambra garden courtyard.
The guidebook may say that you have to have advance tickets to do the Alhambra palace. Not so. If you get there later in the afternoon, you can see it all, and avoid the tour buses. We spent the night in town, and went back the next day to fill in anything we missed.
.
Alhambra, Granada, Spain, Lion FountainWhile the Moors ruled, there was an extensive flowering of architecture, culture, mathematics, architecture, etc. See http://www.home.att.net/%7Ea.f.aly/renaissance; and http://www.andalucia.com/cities/granada.
There is a new mosque at the Albaicin, the first in 500 years.
.
Albaicin, Arab Quarter, Old Grenada, Spain (view from the Alhambra).
There is a fine view to old Granada from the Arab Quarter, The Albaicin is the area where the Christians, upon retaking Granada in 1492, forced the Arab Muslims to live. It became known as the Arab Quarter, and is located on a steep hillside, now the Old City. See http://www.vivagranada.com/, fine photos and notes by Lorenzo Bohm. Details for tourists at http://www.andalucia.com/cities/granada/albaicin.htm. Take time at the spice market in the Albaicin, heaps of turmuric, others, and take time to wander and get totally lost. You will find your way back.
.
In the cathedral here are Ferdinand and Isabella, and our favorite, Juana la Loca, see this site and read every word, at http://www.xs4all.nl/~kvenjb/madmonarchs/juana/juana_bio.htm. There she is, in stone, with her fingers lightly tented over her chest, moving ever so slightly, and her head turned just a tad away from her husband, Philip (handsome but....) beside her, as her mind still wanders. Or doesn't, or never did.
.
Read her story in James Michener's extensive novel, "Iberia" - see http://www.longitudebooks.com/find/p/1804/mcms.html. We are looking for the pages about Juana now. La la la. But not all is necessarily as it seems....
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