Sevilla and Granada

In my Southern Iberian adventures we also hit up Granada and Sevilla. Granada was the last stronghold and lasted approximately 200 yrs after the rest of the Arab cities were taken. It is the home of the Alhambra - a fortress/palace filled with wonder. Anywho it is awesome and I feel inspired to read "The Tales of the Alhambra" by Washington Irving.

This is the celing. How do they DO that?!

Water is a theme in the Alhambra. These people had come from the desert and to them water meant life and vitality as well as rebirth. Everywhere you go the sight and sound of water follows you.

In Islam it is forbidden to portray people or animals in art because Allah is the only creator. Because of that and their advanced knowledge of mathematics, geometry, and astronomy, you see amazing patterns like this all over depicting nature.

Sevilla is famous for its handcrafted tiles and they are all over and beautiful. If I could I would make my house out of them.

This is the Palace of Charles the Fifth, son of Juana la Loca, daughter of Queen Isabella that he constructed in the Alhambra.

Cathedral of Sevilla - This is where lie the remains (or at least some of them) of Cristobal Colon. Before the reconquest this was the site of another mosque. The conquistadors built the cathedral over the mosque, but kept the Mezzanine (tower used to call the faithful to prayer five times a day) and turned it into a bell tower as the ultimate insult to the Arabs.

Here he is! The Pall bearers are representations of the four kingdoms of Spain at that point: Castilla, Leon, Aragon, and Navarre

Hugest Alterpiece Ever. There are over forty scenes depicting the Saviors life carved in wood and coated in gold.

Palacio de los Reyes Catolicos - Chrisopher Columbus met with Isabella here. Sweet! I am learning so much about American history by learning Spanish history. It is so cool and I am becoming a history nerd. I love it!

Goodbye Sevilla! Final fun fact. That little tower was the starting point of many historic voyages including Ponce De Leon, Cristobal Colon, and Magellan.