Overview | Search the Andalusian Gardens | Introduction (Original PDF)
The first catalogue in the project, this resource covers twenty-nine Andalusian gardens that were constructed under Umayyad, Almoravid, Almohad, and Nasrid rulers over parts of southern Iberia. Subsequent commissions of Spanish kings of Castille and Aragon have also been included to illustrate interreligious continuity and fluidity of stylistic forms in garden design (e.g., Patio del Vergel in Convento del Santa Clara, Tordesillas) or to identify major alterations following the Spanish reconquest (e.g., Convent of San Francisco in the Alhambra, Granada). The original contributors also point to moments of disuse and considerable damage done to some of these sites during dynastic changes between Muslim rulers (e.g., al-Munyat al-Na‘ura, Toledo). Using archaeological studies, chronicles, and travel accounts, the contributors to the catalogue include historical data on the horticultural aspects of the gardens, dates of gardens that survived beyond the reign of the Islamic dynasties under which they were first installed, as well as information on how their form and function shifted over time. Owing to extensive archeological inquiries that these sites underwent—the records of architect Leopoldo Torres Balbás’s restoration works on the most well-known ones throughout the early half of the twentieth century are especially important—, their life spans are often much more clearly indicated than in the other catalogues. As most of the palatial complexes changed shape under different rulers (e.g., Alhambra, Madinat al-Zahra’), gardens associated with each new addition are listed individually (e.g., Palace of the Abencerrajes, Alhambra; Patio della Alberquilla, Madinat al-Zahra’).
Multiple images, including plans and archaeological photographs, accompany each catalogue entry.