Saturday, October 4, 2008

Did Alcazar Inspire Addison Mizner ?

( garden at Alcazar )
What I have read of Addison Mizner is that he was completely inspired with Spanish architecture, including the Spanish Colonial in Guatemala where he lived with his family as a young man.
' Mudejar Style '
Seville ( Andalusia ) is more than two thousand years old, in early Roman times it was known as “Hispalis” (Iberia). After many conquest of this Roman province by Vandals and Visigoths (eastern German tribes) in the 5th and 6th centuries, the city was conquered by the Moors in 712.
The Islamic Conquerors’ of Spain ( Moors )came from the shores of Northern Africa in 711; their reign lasted for almost 800 years. Alcazar is one of the best remaining examples of Mudejar architecture, a style under Christian rule in Spain but using Islamic architectural influence.
Elements of style,..... hm.......reminds me of Venice.


Under the control of the Islamic Moors, Seville ( and CORDOVA) became the most sophisticated and cultured center of western civilization. The Moors ruled fairly, Jews and Muslim’s lived side by side in harmony. They also believed that when you were young and strong you paid taxes, and when you were considered old, you were forgiven taxes.
Individuals of different faiths lived peacfully and without judgment from the Muslims.
How incredibly far the extremist and terrorist of Islam have taken themselves from their origins.
It remained under Muslim control, and under the rule of the Umayyad, Almoravid and Almohad dynasties, until falling to Fernando III in 1248.
The Christians so loved the Moorish architecture, they wanted the new Christian Palace built by the Moors.
In the main square across from the sprawling cathedral sits Seville’s Christian ‘Alcazar Palace’.
It was built by the Muslim artists and architects that chose to stay behind in Seville under cruel Christian rule, and this gave this Seville ‘ The Mudejar Style’ .
* Mudejar means, literally, ‘those who stayed’.

The Alcazar Palace feels like an Arabian Nights fairy-tale.


In 1503, Queen Isabel created a new palace wing to administer Spain's New World adventures along with a monument in honor of Columbus pictured above.
It's no accident that 1492 is a date famous for two events: the final expulsion of the Moors, and Columbus' "discovery" of America.
This is in the Plaza de España, ( The Spanish Square ) in Seville .

If I can deal with another article, I will do Granada's Alhambra. If I do not , you really need to google it. Cordova is so beautiful, and the History is fascinating. I want to go there very badly.
This is an old civilazation that has been quite diversified through the centureies.

Ah.......there is so much to learn, I can learn until I die.


(please click on any pic to enlarge)
Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her blog of her Adventures in Design