Andalusian Architecture: The Legacy
- Mazhoud Halal Tourism - Rubén Alba
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Almohad Rigor, Brick Geometry, and the Giralda
The Almohads, hailing from the Moroccan Atlas, imposed a much more austere and puritanical vision of Islam than the refined Taifa kings. This mindset translated into an architecture that rejected the luxury of marbles and excessive colors, opting instead for the grandeur of proportions and the sophistication of geometry applied to brickwork.
1. The Giralda: The Triumph of "Sebka"
The great symbol of this period is the minaret of the Great Mosque of Seville, known today as the Giralda. In it, architectural design reaches an impressive mathematical maturity.
The Sebka Panel: This is the major Almohad contribution. It is a network of diamonds arising from the interlacing of lobed arches. This motif is not merely decorative; it allows large wall surfaces to be covered with a play of light and shadow that breaks the monotony of the brick without the need for expensive materials.
The Interior Ramp: Unlike other minarets with stairs, the Giralda features wide ramps that allowed the muezzin to ascend on horseback to call for prayer, a testament to the monumental scale of their structures.
2. The Torre del Oro and the Defense of the Guadalquivir
Almohad military architecture perfected the innovations of the previous period. The Torre del Oro is the purest example of a dodecagonal albarrana tower.
Strategic Function: It was part of the defensive system that closed access to the port of Seville by means of a thick chain stretching across the river.
Materiality: The name "del Oro" (of Gold) is not due to precious metals, but rather to the glint produced by the mortar of lime and pressed straw that originally coated it, reflecting the sun upon the river.
3. The Court of the Oranges and Almohad Civil Spaces
Despite their austerity, the Almohads had a deep fascination with order. Their religious and civil architecture was always organized around perfect rectangular courtyards, where water flows through symmetrical channels—a legacy preserved in the Patio de los Naranjos (Court of the Oranges) of Seville Cathedral.
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