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Granada
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Now, a trip to Granada to visit the famed Alhambra palace. Although I have spoken to people about their experiences visiting the Alhambra, none of the superlatives and descriptions I have heard really meant anything until I actually saw it for myself . Even showing these pictures do not give it justice.
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The palace compound, built mainly by the Moors, rambles up the top of a ridge extending down from the mountains that come right to the edge of the city of Granada.
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As in virtually all buildings of consequence in Spain, water is one of the constant themes, with many fountains, streams and reflecting ponds throughout. Many of the Moorish fountains have a laid back, quiet nature. In many places the quiet gurgle of water flowing in a small stream or from a fountain can be heard.
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The construction, ornamentation and artwork in the buildings that make up the Alhambra are nothing short of amazing, and although from a distance it is obvious that the place is large and impressive, there is little outside to hint at the beautiful artwork inside the complex. I will attempt to describe the experience. First, the artisanry is manifested in many forms.
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The architecture of the buildings mixes both indoor and outdoor spaces, and makes much use of incredibly detailed ornate arches to pass through from one space to another. The basic construction is stone and mortar, with mostly marble floors throughout. Virtually every surface is decorated - the upper walls and ceilings with plaster shaped with ornate repetitive geometric patterns. Lower walls are usually covered with ceramic tile arranged in criss-cross or checker-board patterns. The difference being that rather than having large tiles with a repeatble pattern designed in, these tiles are much smaller, with the pattern being made up by many smaller tiles. It is similar in concept to mosaic, but the tiles have consistent shapes and colors.
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