 The ornately lobed arches of the Aljaferia Palace, in Zaragoza |
For those seeking answers to current problems of world terrorism, Spain is a “clue factory” without peer. The country’s rich Islamic heritage, so long disowned or gainsaid, is now being re-discovered. When the burghers of the mid-eastern Spanish city of Zaragoza wanted to build a car park in 2001, excavations revealed the foundations of a mediaeval Islamic city that was once home to over 40,000 people. But the ultimate reconciliation between Islam and Christianity is in the form of Mudejar art. Features include the extensive use of brick- and stucco-work, colourful ceramic tiles, and intricate geometric patterns. Some of the best examples of this genre are to be found in the ancient towns of Teruel and Albarracin, a couple of hours by road from Zaragoza.
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