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Madraza
The Madraza - from the Arabic word for schoo, medersa - was the Moorish university, the center of learning which attracted philosophers and teachers from all of the known world. It stood next to the Great Mosque, and when the Christians conquered Granada they used it as their City Hall - Casa de Cabildos. Here gathered the Caballeros Venticuatro, the 24 Knights who governed the city, some of whom were moriscos, converted Moors. When, in the 18th century, a baroque palace was built to take its place, the architects spared the old prayer room.
Just step in the monumental door, and cross the shadowy patio to find the horseshoe archway of this precious relic (shown in the inset above).
Because the mirhab was sealed up for many years, much of its original colour survives, helping us imagine the appearance of the rooms in the Nasrid Palaces, built at the same time as the Madraza.
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GRANADA, CITY OF MY DREAMS, a book for the curious traveller, written and illustrated by Lorenzo Bohme and published by Editorial Natívola (2003) is now in its 3rd edition. To read about it and Nativola's other publications, click here. |
