Tag: Spain Islamic History

Best places of Spain to inmerse in Islamic History For a Muslim who has some familiarity with Islamic history in the Iberian Peninsula, a visit to Spain is almost like a pilgrimage. In the era of the Golden Age of our civilisation extending from early 8th to late 15thcentury, coincidental with Dark Ages in the rest of Europe, when Al Andalus was the centre of global civilisation. Its capital Cordoba was Europe's largest city. Greatest Islamic heritage of spain is located here in the south, Andalusia: Granada (Gharnata) and Cordoba (Qurtaba).   Alhambra Palaces When you hear the name Alhambra, somehow the name itself gives you a certain excitement, as the place seems mystical and adventurous. Who would not be in awe of such an amazing place that’s rich in history and culture? The best thing is that it was influenced by various civilizations, especially the Muslim civilization. Just to prove to you how important Alhambra is, I’ll give you a short overview of its history. According to historical documents, in the year 889, Sawwar ben Hemdun needed to seek refuge in a fortress called Alcazaba, which Muslims then had to rebuild due to the struggles that had taken place. The castle then soon turned into a military fortress due to its strategic position as it overlooked the whole city. When the first King of the Nasrid dynasty administered Cordoba, he then established the royal residence in Alhambra. Yusuf I and Mohamed V are the ones responsible for most of the construction in Alhambra that still remains until today. However, when Cordoba fell into the hands of the Catholics, Charles V wanted to rebuild parts of the castle in his name and therefore built several new areas such as the Emperor’s Chambers and the Queen’s Dressing Room. There are so many