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Alhambra de Granada (Spain) - The Nasrid palaces
I left you in front of the door, one month ago - now, let's visit those beautiful palaces built by the Nasrid dynasty during the 14th century, true heart and jewel of the Alhambra ( Read more... ) -
Granada (Spain). Early morning in the Alhambra, with Washington Irving.
This is the first of a serie of posts about the amazing Alhambra, in Granada.
Under this word, Alhambra, what do you find ? A large fortified hill, with many things inside : lovely gardens, a ruined militar area, a luxury hotel, a church, moorish baths, a few private houses, a quite arrogant Renaissance palace built by Charles V and the most ( Read more... ) -
Alcazaba of Almería - Spain
About 200 km east from Malaga, on the same southern coast of Spain, Almería also has its big Moorish fortress, a bit older and even larger ( Read more... ) -
Alcazaba of Malaga - Spain
Alcazaba (from the arabic al-qasbah, citadel) is the name given to Moorish fortifications in Spain. In southern Spain especially, a lot of cities have their Alcazaba, sometimes a mere tower on a hill, sometimes a much more sophisticated building with a real palace hidden inside the ramparts. The Alcazaba of Malaga is one of those, and probably the ( Read more... ) -
Palazzo Vecchio - Florence - Italy
Built between 1299 and 1314, the Palazzo Vecchio is certainly the most remarkable building of Florence. It was given quite many names durind in long existence : Palazzo dei Priori, palazzo della Signoria (la Signoria was the ruling body of the city in medieval and Renaissance times), Palazzo del Popolo, Palazzo Ducale (when Cosimo de Medicis became ( Read more... ) -
Palazzo del Bargello - Florence - Italy
Built in 1255 for the Capitano del popolo (municipal officeholder), the Bargello appears to be the older public building in Florence. Its austere crenelated walls and tower served as model for the more famous Palazzo Vecchio at the end of 13th century.
In 1261, the Podesta, the highest magistrate of Florence city council, settles down in the new ( Read more... ) -
Palazzo Medici-Riccardi - Florence - Italy
Designed by Michelozzo for Cosimo the Elder, founder of the Medici dinasty, and built between 1444 and 1484, the palazzo stayed in the family for only one century. In 1540, Cosimo I, first Grand Duke of Tuscany, leaves the place for the more significant Palazzio Vecchio (siege of the political power since the early 14th century) and then the ( Read more... ) -
Fort Chambray - island of Gozo - Malta
Built between 1749 et 1758 by Jacques François de Chambray, knight of the Order of Malta and Governor of Gozo, Fort Chambray became an hospital during the 19th century and a leprosarium between 1937 and 1956 - and is now converted into a luxury residential complex. You can easily find an apartement to rent for your holidays, here - but the most ( Read more... )
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