Once upon a time, the Moors, in fact, conquered Spain and ruled it for more than 700 years: from 711 to 1492. These were Islamic tribes from North Africa, so that the architectural heritage that remained in Spain after their departure is in stark contrast to the local order. What is definitely worth seeing when you find yourself in Spain and decide to get acquainted with the Moorish monuments?
Seville: Giralda Tower
Once on the site of the current Seville Cathedral (the largest Gothic temple in the world, for a minute) stood the Grand Mosque - alas, now there is only one Tower left of it, which served as a minaret. But what! It is noteworthy that instead of a staircase, a gentle ramp leads to the bell tower, so that you can climb to the very top on a horse or donkey.
Cordoba: Mezquita, Cathedral Mosque
It was built in 784, and in the Middle Ages it was the second largest in the world. It was built "based on" the mosques of Jerusalem and Damascus, it faithfully served as an Islamic center in Cordoba for almost 300 years. In 1236, christians recaptured Cordoba and rebuilt the mosque into a temple, in which Catholic services are still held to this day.
Seville: Alcazar
The Alcazar was built for Pedro I of Castile, and this, to be honest, is not an outright Moorish heritage – rather an homage to Moorish culture, a dedication to Islam and a polite bow. The builders were advised by masters who worked on the Alhambra, so the result was magnificent. Until now, the Alcazar of Seville (the oldest royal palace in Europe!) serves as the Seville residence of the royal family of Spain.
Cordoba: Madina ah-Zahra
Alas, now these are ruins - UNESCO did not soon take them under its care and included them in the list of World Heritage Sites. Once it was a rich trading city (936-940), a bustling and vibrant center of the Caliphate of Córdoba, which included houses, craft workshops, mosques, and a mint with the government. The civil war did not spare Madina ach-Zahra, and by 1010 it was destroyed - only at the beginning of the XX century the ruins were discovered and began to literally get out of the ground. Considering that the excavations have so far exposed only 1/10 of the entire area of the ancient city, the scale is striking.
Zaragoza: Aljaferia Palace
The palace was built in the XI century, for a long time it served as a residence for the Christian kings of Aragon, and now - for the regional parliament.
Toledo: Cristo de la Luz Mosque
In general, Toledo for a long time was a city where three religions peacefully coexisted, that period was even called La Convivencia ("cohabitation"): Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Accordingly, both the cultural and architectural heritage of the city is extremely rich. The Cristo de la Luz Mosque was built in 990 so that the masonry resembled the Grand Mosque of Cordoba.
Granada: Alhambra
Perhaps the most famous Moorish monument of Spain, which many have heard of. The name "Alhambra" translates as "Red Castle" (hello game of thrones fans!). The Alhambra was built in 889 as a small outpost, and in the middle of the XIII century it was moved to a large palace (the Emir of Granada tried by order). Since 1492, the royal court of Catholics - Isabella I and Ferdinand II - has stood here.
