Andalucia # 3 - Welcome to Tarifa ! by billcody
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Hi there,
my wife and I came to south Spain in 2011 and back in 2013 to study the old islamic architecture. We searched for "arabic" architecture relicts like this here.
We thought about the Alhambra in Granada or the Great Mosque in Cordoba or some buildings in Sevilla, but we had to learn very quickly that there was so much more! Nearly every village and city in South and Middle Spain has relicts and whole neighbourhoods in this "arabic" style and that`s no wonder: The islamic period of Spain lasted nearly 800 years from 711 to 1492.
The official name for this type of architecture is "moorish" after the Moors, the inhabitants of Morocco, Algeria, Parts of Lybia and Mauretania, who came after 711 a. Chr. with the Arabs to Spain and Portugal.
A moorish village had some typical elements:
-A very compact core of white houses with narrow streets between them, surrounded by a mighty city wall with well armed gates and doors, named as "MEDINA"
-One or more mosquees inside, divided for men and women
-One or more central plazas, often used as market places and placed in front of the mosquee
-A castle for protection, called ALCAZABA, inside the village or nearby on a hill.
-two or more fine constructed and well armed doors through the city ringwalls like here....
And now:
WELCOME TO TARIFA, to the old village core, the Medina. This gate here is typical with its oval on top and the columns on both side. This gate here looks very shabby, but notice: It could be very old, maybe 1000 years, who knows? Imagine countless humans, their camels, horses and donkeys - workers, farmer, trader, slaves, soldiers.. And maybe, this gate was covered with ornaments, arabesces in its better days....
Tomorrow we will look inside the medina..... hope you are here.
Thanks for your interest and your comments here for my older pics, I hope this project is on a fine way. It grows slowly in my brain in this moments.
billcody, Berlin

Comments (11)
Fantastic capture !!!
Thanks: very informative.
Nice shot and info!
wonderful shot. I like it
So inviting! I love the fact that it has seen so much.
very good shot!! If you like photos I have some of mine here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/107293413@N04/sets/
It is a wonderful piece of Moorish architecture and looks like it's been there for a long time too
This is terrific, beautiful and unique Bill. An outstanding capture. This turned out great. Wonderfully written. Really farout image. Huggs... Silkylady...
fabulous image
A fantastic ancient archway to start your journey. A wonderful photo!
Beautiful capture Wolfgang. Love the architecture!l