Now that school is out for Spring Break, many educators are eager to include travel in their vacation plans. Teachers know that travel is not only fun and intellectually stimulating, but it is also is one of the most meaningful learning opportunities available for both themselves and for their students. Recently, I returned from a vacation to Spain, Portugal, and Gibraltar, and while I was there I could see many opportunities for incorporating travel experiences into classroom curriculum.
Part of my Iberian tour was a visit to the medieval fortress and palaces known as the Alhambra, located in Granada, in the Andalusia region of Spain. The place, which has been called one of the seven wonders of the modern world, is visited by thousands every year from all over the world. In fact, for the Alhambra’s outstanding universal cultural value, the site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
The author Terry Lee Marzell and her husband, Hal, visit The Alhambra in Granada, Spain. Photo Credit: Terry Lee Marzell
World History teachers will note that the Alhambra was the former rural residence of the emirs who ruled Granada in the 13th and 14th centuries. The fortress was built by the Nasrid Dynasty, who governed the region from 1232–1492. The Nasrids were the last Muslims to rule in Spain. After King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I reconquered Granada from the Moors in 1492, the “Catholic monarchs” temporarily established their court in the Alhambra’s palaces.
The Alhambra features three main sections: The Alcazaba, a military base that housed military guards and their families; the palatial structures, which contained several palaces for the sultan and his family; and the Medina, an area where court officials lived and worked. There are also carefully cultivated ornamental gardens, vegetable gardens, and landscaped paths incorporated throughout the grounds. In all, the Alhambra complex encompasses 26 acres.
The palatial zone is divided into three distinct and independent areas. The first includes the Mexuar, a semi-public part of the palace used for administering justice and business of state. The second is the Comares Palace, the official residence of the sultan. The Comares Palace is comprised of several rooms that surround the Court of the Myrtles, an outdoor area containing a lovely, rectangular-shaped pool lined with myrtle bushes. These rooms include a throne room, a reception, and a meeting hall. The third is the Palace of the Lions, a private area of the palace which served as the residences for the king and his family and concubines.
The Alhambra complex contains numerous other structures, perhaps the most famous of which is the Courtyard of the Lions. This Courtyard was named for the central fountain, which is surrounded by 12 lions ejecting jets of water. Alas, the jets were not functioning on the day of my visit. Encircling the courtyard is an arched covered patio supported by a series of slender columns.
Author Terry Lee Marzell admires the Moorish architecture and embellishments found in rooms that surround the Courtyard of the Lions. Note the channel of running water built into the floor at left. Photo Credit: Hal Marzell
Throughout the complex, the royal spaces and formal rooms are lavishly decorated with intricate architectural embellishments carved into stucco panels, and they feature equally stunning geometric tile dadoes, which are lower wall panels distinct from the stucco areas. The most formal rooms are also adorned by lacy-looking carved ceiling embellishments. These ornate decorative features display exquisite curvilinear artistic designs and inscriptions presented in Islamic calligraphy. Many of these rooms were kept cool in the summer months through a series of fountains and carefully constructed channels of running water built into the floors.
Descriptions of the Alhambra have been enchanting readers for centuries. In fact, English teachers will no doubt know that in 1829, American author Washington Irving established his residence at the Alhambra. Inspired by the grandeur of the place, he wrote and published a collection of essays and stories about this palatial city which he titled Tales of the Alhambra. Students may enjoy reading these tales.
You and your students can take a look at a virtual tour of this wonderful historical site at this link: The Alhambra. Here is another really informative website your students can explore: The Alhambra SmartHistory. Students can access another excellent source of information about the Alhambra provided by Khan Academy.