Madinat al-Zahra is considered to the one of the most important medieval archaeological sites in Spain and Europe, because of its size (112 hectares) and its historical importance. It was the political and administrative capital of Al-Andalus for a good part of the 10th century and the finest material expression of the Muslim presence on the Iberian Peninsula and the high cultural level it attained.
Currently, only a tenth of the intra mural city has been excavated and even today archeologists continue to be amazed and impressed as research advances with the aim of learning more about this complex, highly symbolic place as the political stage for the new Caliphate regime established by Abd al-Rahman III.
a view from the top
Servants' Quarters
Roman sarcophagus used by the Muslims as a bathtub.
Another sarcophagus used as a trough in the stables.
House of the Pool
House of Ya'far
Try and imagine the walls as they used to be: covered in gold and gems.
POW!
maybe an oven?? I wasn't really listening....
Cell phone series: What could be more funny than chatting on my moblie in ancient ruins?
Upper Basilic Building
cruciform garden
Grand Portico
Aljama Mosque - oriented in a totally different direction than all other structures; towards Mecca.
Many people from far away lands would come to see the califa, but before the califa would receive them, they were forced to bath here and were annointed with perfumes because all that traveling would make one smell nasty. oooOOoh.
Hall of Abd al-Rahman III
working on putting humpy dumpty back together again
Yes, they sell beer/wine here too.
The whole "califa" thing makes me wonder if the name of California has anything to do with the Muslim presence in Spain for way back when. Wouldn't that be wacky!
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