AtlasIslamica

Category | Legacy of Andalusia


Expulsions and forces Conversions of Muslims

Moriscos

Descendants of muslims in spain whom the "Holy Roman Catholic church" and the Spanish Crown obliged, under threat of death, to convert to Christianity or self-exile

Treaty of Granada (1491)

The treaty of 1492 was thus an attempt to win religious tolerance for all the Muslims left in Spain after the war. Christians clergy swore by God that all Muslims should have full liberty of faith, work and trade. The...


Islamic Andalusian Legacy

Alhambra Palace

Built by the Nasrid emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar, Alhambra Palace is now one of Spain's major tourist attractions, exhibiting the country's most significant and well-known Islamic architecture

Jannat al-‘Arif (Generalife)

Part of the Alhambra complex, the Generalife boasts gorgeously beautiful gardens and stunning views of the rest of the complex & is one of the oldest surviving Moorish gardens

Nasrid Palaces

Amazing complex of buildings, rooms, court yards, gardens, Nasrid Palaces has its meaning and origins trace their roots to early Islamic gardening, divided in four parts, each one of them symbolizing one of the four...

Mosque of Córdoba

Mosque that bears witness to the presence of Islam in the West, Mosque of Córdoba is an irreplaceable testimony of the Caliphate of Cordoba and it is the most emblematic monument of Islamic religious architecture

Calahorra Tower

Been a prison, a school and now a museum, Calahorra Tower was originally built by the Muslims to defend the city. It is based on the southern end of the Roman bridge and gives good views of the Cordoba Mosque

Kutubiyya Mosque and It’s Minaret

Originally built in the Almoravid times but was later demolished and rebuilt in the 12th century because it was not facing Mecca correctly, The Koutoubia, mosque and its minaret, is a iconic religious symbol built in...

Alcázar of Seville (Al-Qasr al-Muriq)

Preeminent example of Mudéjar (muslims of al-Andalus) architecture, The Real Alcázar (then known as Dar al-Imarah) is the oldest palace in Europe still used as a royal residence

Giralda Bell Tower

Built as the minaret for the Great Mosque of Seville in al-Andalus, Giralda Bell Tower remains one of the most important symbols of the city, as it has been since the Middle Ages

Madinat az-Zahra (Medina Azahara)

Built for the dignity of the Caliph required the establishment of a new city, Madinat az-Zahra palace complex was once so magnificent that courtiers from around Europe flocked to visit it

Aljafería Palace

Only conserved testimony of a large building of Islamic architecture of the era of the Taifas (independent islamic kingdoms), The Aljafería Palace is considered the main Arab monument of Spain outside of Andalusia

Castle of Gormaz

Constructed by Abd ar-Rahman I of Córdoba, and expanded by Caliph al-Hakem II to cover the entire plateau, Castle of Gormaz was one of the largest & oldest standing ensembles of military architecture in Western Europe

Alcazaba of Málaga

More intimate and less polished than the Alhambra but full of atmosphere, Alcazaba of Málaga is an Islamic fortress built in the 11th century is one of the main attractions in Málaga

Tower of Gold (Torre del Oro)

An interesting structure, by the river, Torre del Oro was built by Almohad Caliphate in the early 13th century to act as a watch tower and warn of possible impending threats to the city

The Viana Palace (Palacio de Viana)

An old noble house in historical Cordoba, Palacio de Viana is heir to the Arabic and Roman tradition: from the neighbouring courtyards of medieval origin, an example of local architecture, to the Renaissance courtyards...

Alcazaba of Almería

Second largest Islamic fortress in Spain after the Alhambra, Alcazaba of Almería is massive, perched on a hill overlooking the sea and the city of Almeria

Segovia Fortress

A Muslim era fort, which was itself largely replaced by the present structure, Segovia Fortress is one of the most distinctive castle-palace in Spain by virtue of its shape – like the bow of a ship

House of Zafra

Built in the late 14th century, and located on Zafra Street in the Albaycin quarters of Granada, House of Zafra is a typical example of a small Nasrid palace

El Bañuelo (Hammam al-Yawza)

Used to be the Muslims public bath complex for ritual purification (ablution), Hammam al-Yawza is a 11th century relic which is one of the oldest surviving monuments from the muslims period

Gibralfaro Castle

Famous for Siege of Málaga (1487), From Gibralfaro Castle you get excellent wiew of the historic city center, the harbour area and the surroundings of Malaga

Peniscola Castle

Described by Al-Idrisi in the 11th century AD, as a Islamic Moorish castle overlooking the sea, current form of Peniscola Castle was developed by crusaders by destroying the moorish architecture

Sohail Castle

Built in AD 956 by Abd-ar-Rahman III to strengthen the coastal defenses, Sohail Castle is a castle in Fuengirola, Spain

Zahara de la Sierra Village

Founded by Berber tribes, Zahara de la Sierra is a beautiful small Pueblo Blanco (white village) perched on top of a steep hill in the Sierra de Grazalema about 45 minutes drive from Ronda


Former Mosques (With original buildings destroyed)

Church of Santiago

Built on the site of a former Mosque, this church is built in Mudejar style

Granada Cathedral

Built over the former terrace of the Great Mosque of Granada, Royal Chapel of Granada was built after emirate of Granada, last Muslim kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula fell in 1492

Church of San Román

Built in the Mudéjar style in the 13th century, traces remain to a Islamic mosque are found in the church

Baza Cathedral

Built on the site of an old mosque in 16th century, which was once the main congregational mosque of Baza

Church of Santa Caterina

Converted into church shortly after fall of valencia in 13th century. Church was rebuilt several times since

St Nicholas’ Church

Build on the site of former mosque, St Nicholas' Church is currently one of the oldest churches in Madrid

Guadix Cathedral

This Cathedral sits on the site of principle mosque of Guadix when Muslims ruled it from 711 to 1489

Valencia Cathedral

Originally a Roman temple, it was turned into a mosque under Islamic rule, Reconverted to a cathedral in 1238 after fall of Valencia and rebuilt later


Mosque converted to Cathederal

Toledo Cathedral

Built on the non-preserved site of a former mosque, Toledo Cathedral is considered the magnum opus of the Gothic style in Spain

Almonaster la Real Mosque

Built on the ruins of 5th century Visigoth basilica & converted into a Church after the conquest, Almonaster la Real Mosque is the only Andalusian mosque that has been preserved almost intact in Spain in a rural area

Mosque of Jerez De La Frontera Fortress

Located within former Islamic fortress of Alcazar of Jerez de la Frontera, this is the only surviving mosque building of 18 former mosques in the Jerez city which was converted into church after the fall of andalusia

Mosque of Las Tornerías

Built in a busy commercial neighborhood (Arrabal de Francos), Two-storied Mosque of Las Tornerías was used as a church until 1498-1505. Restoration and preservation are done recently

Tórtoles Mosque

Built in 15th century, Tórtoles Mosque remains almost not altered in the later centuries and currently is attached to the remains of the old fortified tower of town castle

Mosque-Church of El Salvador

Now a rebuilt church but excavations revealed 9th century structures & elements of mosque - horseshoe arch arcade, primitive stone minaret, flooring, courtyard with cistern

Church of San Sebastián

Converted into a church after 1085 Christian conquest of area. This mosque is renovated several times but original interior structure remains

Mudéjar Minaret

Used as a belltower of a church built on mosque location, this 15 meter tall Almohade architecture minaret monument is one of the remaining jewel of Nazarí period

San Sebastian Minaret

Typical element of the arab architecture, San Sebastian Minaret was part of medium-size mosquein in Ronda which was a Muslim city for 700 years. The city had 7 or 8 mosques, none survive today

Minaret of San Juan

One of the original minarets of the mosque in Cordoba that is still in its original shape, Minaret of San Juan is, after the Cordoba Mosque, the best example of Caliphal art preserved in the city of cordoba