Palace-City of Madinat al-Zahra

Islamic, Spanish; architectural firm: Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos (Spanish, founded 20th century)
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Alternative Titles
Palace-City of Medina Azzahra
Palace City of Madinat al-Zahra
Palace City of Medina Azzahra
Palace City of Madinat al Zahra
Palace-City of Madinat al-Zahra'
Palatine City of Madinat al-Zahra
Madinat al Zahra Museum
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.3/53921
Date
936-1010
Description
Madinat al-Zahra, a planned palatine city located a few miles west of Cordoba, was founded by 'Abd al-Rahman III in 936, shortly after the proclamation of the Umayyad caliphate in al-Andalus. Construction continued during the reign of his successor al-Hakam II. The city is composed of three terraced platforms, separated from one another by walls, and enclosed by fortified walls. The uppermost terrace contained various buildings for government administration and royal ceremony, as well as residential quarters and gardens for the caliph and the court. The middle terrace was composed mainly of gardens with pavilions and pools, and orchards, while the lowest terrace contained the congregational mosque, markets, and probably residential quarters for the military and for the merchants associated with the market. Source: Archnet
 
plan (drawing), site plan with museum site highlighted, with inset aerial view
 
Type of Work
Palace; City; Museum
Subject
Museums, Islam -- History, Royal palaces, Ruined cities, Umayyad dynasty, Aga Khan Award for Architecture (Organization), Architecture, Domestic, Islamic cities and towns, Architecture --Islamic influences, Architecture --Spain, Architecture, Modern --21st century, Abd al-Rahman III, Caliph of Cordova, 891-961, Hakam II, Caliph of Spain, d. 976
Rights
(c) Aga Khan Award for Architecture
Rights Statement
All rights reserved
Item is Part of
117407139856
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