Here it is–the unedited photo dump from the trip. I apologize in advance for any duplicates, thumbs on the lens, or other irritants–but there are some amazing photos in the mix. I’ll clean things up as I find time. Some photos may appear in more than one album. Seville, City Scenes Seville, Real Alcazar Seville, Cathedral Seville, Salvador Cathedral Seville, Archivo de las Indias Seville, Museo des Belles Artes Córdoba, City Scenes Córdoba, La Mezquita Ronda, City Scenes Ronda, Arab…
We chose to stay in B&Bs wherever possible. (Ronda was the exception.) We hoped that having a personal connection would give us access to information and suggestions that were out of the way or had local flavor. That proved to be true in every case. Seville B&B Case Alfareria 59 Alfareria 59, Triana, Seville, 41010 ES The Good: Location in Triana, an easy walk to Real Alcázar, Seville Cathedral, ceramics shops, the old city (Santa Cruz) Hosts Carlo and…
When you’re a sultan and you need some time off from the rigors of life in the Palacio Nazaríes–you know, the daily grind of sitting around on Persian rugs smoking hookahs and munching on pomegranates–you’d retreat to Generalife, a three-room escape built a half mile or so up the hill from the Palacio. The main attraction here are the gardens and the pools. The fountains were added in the 19th century. The Moors preferred still pools to running water as…
If you climb up the parapet walls in Alhambra and look down on the city of Granada, it’s difficult to miss a grand, sprawling cathedral not far from the base of the hills in which Alhambra is situated. The Granada Cathedral is the second largest church in Spain and one of only two Renaissance cathedrals in the country. (Spain went all in for the Gothic look, apparently.) Admission is four euros and it’s worth spending half a day (or more,…
Day Two at the Alhambra was devoted to examining and appreciating the intricate detail and beautiful symmetry of the Palacio Nazaríes. I went into the day thinking that these were details, minutiae that decorated the soaring columns, arches, floors, and ceilings of the Palacio. They are far from that. What they suggest to me is the infinite complexity of forms that make up the universe. They are mesmerizing. Some of these elements are rendered in carved plaster; others are ceramic…
On Thursday, we spent most of the day in Alhambra, the majority of that in the Palacio Nazaríes. Knowing we would be going back on Friday, we spent most of our time marveling at the columns, arches, pools, gardens, orchards, and other defined spaces that make up the Palacio and grounds. We also spent time in the Alcazaba, the fort that protected Moorish Granada from invaders, and in the Palacio de Charles V, a beautiful Renaissance palace that houses an…
Nothing really prepares you for a visit to Alhambra. At this point, our visit is only halfway over. We secured advanced tickets for two successive days because we were pretty sure that one day would not be enough to take it all in. That proved to be correct. In our five plus hours there today, we didn’t even visit every site in the large complex, much less process what we did see. The experience, while overwhelming, has thus far been…
