Moorish architecture facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Moorish architecture

Top: Great Mosque of Córdoba, Spain (8th century); Centre: Bab Oudaya in Rabat, Morocco (late 12th century); Bottom: Court of the Lions at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain (14th century)
Years active	8th century to present day

Moorish architecture is a cool style of building that grew in the western Islamic world. This includes Spain and Portugal (called al-Andalus back then), and parts of North Africa like Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. People sometimes call it the "architecture of the Islamic West." The name "Moorish" comes from how Europeans used to call the Muslim people in these areas "Moors".

This building style mixed ideas from older Roman, Byzantine, and Visigothic buildings. It also took inspiration from Islamic art in the Middle East and traditions from North African Berber people. Important cities for this style were Córdoba, Kairouan, Fes, Marrakesh, Seville, Granada, and Tlemcen.

Moorish architecture has some special features. Look for the unique horseshoe arches, beautiful riad gardens (courtyards split into four parts), square minarets (towers for calling to prayer), and amazing geometric and arabesque designs. These designs were often made from wood, stucco (a type of plaster), and tilework (especially zellij). Unlike buildings further east, Moorish architecture didn't use many big domes or vaults.

Even after Muslim rule ended in Spain, Moorish building styles continued in North Africa. They also influenced the Mudéjar style in Spain, where Christian rulers used Moorish techniques. Later, in the 1800s, people in Europe and America started building new structures that looked like old Moorish ones. This was called Neo-Moorish style.

How did Moorish Architecture Start?

Early Islamic Buildings (700s–800s)

In the 600s, North Africa became part of the growing Muslim world. Kairouan in Tunisia became an early center for Islamic culture. The Great Mosque of Kairouan was founded here around 670, though the building we see today is from later times.

Spain: Al-Andalus

In 711, most of Spain and Portugal was conquered by a Muslim army. This area became known as Al-Andalus, with Cordoba as its capital. In 785, Abd al-Rahman I started building the Great Mosque of Cordoba. It's one of the most important buildings in the western Islamic world.

This mosque was famous for its huge hall with many columns and double arches. These arches included the special horseshoe arches, made with alternating red brick and light stone. The mosque was made bigger several times. One of its western gates, Bab al-Wuzara (now Puerta de San Esteban), shows early Moorish designs. It has a horseshoe arch with different colored stones inside a decorative rectangular frame called an alfiz.

North Africa: Ifriqiya

In Tunisia, the Ribat of Sousse and the Ribat of Monastir are two old military buildings from the late 700s. A ribat was a fortress that also served as a spiritual retreat. The Ribat of Sousse has the oldest prayer hall in North Africa. It also has a tall tower, probably a lighthouse, from 821.

In the 800s, the Aghlabid dynasty ruled Tunisia. They built many important buildings, including the Great Mosque of Kairouan, which was rebuilt in 836. This mosque was a major example for other mosques in the region. It has a huge courtyard, a large prayer hall, and a thick, three-story minaret. The prayer hall has a "T-plan," meaning the central aisle and the aisle along the prayer wall are wider. The mihrab (prayer niche) is beautifully decorated with marble and ceramic tiles. Next to it is the oldest surviving minbar (pulpit) in the world, made of carved wood.

The Great Mosque of al-Zaytuna in Tunis was also rebuilt by the Aghlabids. The small Mosque of Ibn Khayrun in Kairouan (866) has what some say is the oldest decorated outside wall in Islamic architecture.

Western Maghreb

In Morocco, the Idrisid dynasty founded the city of Fes in the late 700s. It became an important center. The famous Qarawiyyin and Andalusiyyin mosques in Fes were founded in the 800s. They were built in the hypostyle style (many columns supporting the roof), but were later rebuilt.

Powerful Empires (900s)

The Caliphate of Córdoba

In the 900s, Abd al-Rahman III declared a new Caliphate in Spain. He built a huge, fancy palace-city called Madinat al-Zahra near Cordoba, starting in 936. This city was later destroyed, but its remains show how grand it was. The most lavish building, the Salón Rico ("Rich Hall"), had walls covered in amazing stone carvings with geometric and tree of life designs. Madinat al-Zahra also had the oldest known geometrically-divided gardens in the western Islamic world.

The "caliphal" style of horseshoe arch became popular here. Back in Cordoba, Abd ar-Rahman III also added the first true minaret to the Great Mosque. This square minaret became the model for later minarets in the region. His son, al-Hakam II, made the mosque even grander. He added a special area called a maqsura with intersecting multifoil arches, fancy ribbed domes, and a richly decorated mihrab with gold mosaics.

Other buildings from this time include the Bab al-Mardum Mosque in Toledo and some old city gates. In Morocco, the Qarawiyyin and Andalusiyyin mosques in Fes were expanded, and their square minarets were added, following the Cordoba style.

The Fatimid Caliphate

In Tunisia, the Fatimids built a new fortified capital called Mahdia. Construction started in 916. The Great Mosque of Mahdia is one of the best-preserved Fatimid buildings. It had a unique main entrance that stuck out from the wall, possibly inspired by old Roman triumphal arches. It didn't have a minaret, which was unusual.

Smaller Kingdoms (1000s)

Spain: The Taifas

After the Cordoban caliphate fell in the early 1000s, Spain split into many smaller kingdoms called Taifas. Even though there was political trouble, art and architecture continued to grow. Important palaces and fortresses were built or made bigger. The Alcazaba of Malaga is a key example, with horseshoe arches and carved designs. The Aljaferia Palace in Zaragoza is another famous example from the late 1000s. It has amazing stucco arches and a unique octagonal prayer room.

North Africa: Zirids and Hammadids

In North Africa, new Berber dynasties like the Zirids ruled. The Hammadids, a branch of the Zirids, built a new fortified capital called Qal'at Bani Hammad in 1007 in Algeria. This city is one of the best-preserved medieval Islamic capitals. It had palaces, a grand mosque with a large square minaret, and early examples of glazed tile decoration.

Berber Empires (1000s–1200s)

The late 1000s saw Christian kingdoms taking back land in Spain. Two big Berber empires from North Africa, the Almoravids and then the Almohads, took over Muslim lands in Spain and North Africa. Both empires had their capital in Marrakesh. This time was very important for architecture in Spain and North Africa, setting many styles for centuries to come.

Almoravids

The Almoravids used Spanish craftsmen, which helped spread the fancy Spanish architectural style to North Africa. Almoravid buildings used complex interlacing arches and introduced new decorations like muqarnas (honeycomb-like carvings) and the lambrequin arch (a special arch with points and lobes). They also started using pillars instead of columns in mosques.

Important Almoravid mosques include the Great Mosque of Algiers (1096–1097) and the Great Mosque of Tlemcen (1136) in Algeria. In Morocco, the Qubba Ba'adiyyin in Marrakesh and the Almoravid expansion of the Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fes are key examples. These show the first clear muqarnas decorations in the region. The Almoravid palace in Marrakesh has the earliest known example of a riad garden in Morocco.

Almohads

Almohad architecture was simpler than Almoravid, focusing on bigger shapes and good proportions. They refined earlier designs and used decoration more carefully, balancing decorated and empty spaces.

The Kutubiyya and Tinmal mosques are seen as models for medieval mosques in the region. The "T-plan" in mosques became very common. The huge minarets of the Kutubiyya Mosque, the Giralda in Seville, and the Hassan Tower in Rabat, along with grand gates like Bab Agnaou in Marrakesh, set the style for future buildings.

The Almohads also built palaces and gardens. They founded the Kasbah of Marrakesh in the late 1100s as their main home. They also created large country estates and gardens with big water reservoirs, like the Agdal and Menara gardens in Marrakesh.

Arab-Norman Architecture in Sicily (1000s–1100s)

Sicily was under Muslim control before being conquered by the Normans. The Norman rulers, especially Roger II in the 1100s, created a unique mix of Norman, Byzantine, and Arab-Islamic styles. This is called "Arab-Norman" architecture.

The Palazzo dei Normanni in Palermo has the Cappella Palatina, a famous chapel. It combines different styles: Norman architecture, Arabic arches and scripts on the roof, and Byzantine domes and mosaics. The chapel's central ceiling has a huge muqarnas vault, which is the largest of its kind.

Marinids, Nasrids, and Zayyanids (1200s–1400s)

The Almohad Empire fell apart in the 1200s. New dynasties took over: the Marinids in Morocco, the Zayyanids in central Algeria, and the Hafsids in Tunisia. In Spain, the Nasrid dynasty ruled the Emirate of Granada until 1492. These dynasties continued to improve the Moorish style. When Granada fell, many Muslims and Jews moved to Morocco, bringing more Spanish influence.

The building styles of the Marinids, Zayyanids, and Nasrids were very similar. Craftsmen likely traveled between kingdoms, sharing ideas. Their buildings had even more detailed decoration on every surface, especially in wood, stucco, and zellij (mosaic tilework).

The Marinids, who made Fes their capital, were the first to build madrasas (schools for Islamic studies) in the region. The madrasas of Fes, like the Bou Inania, al-Attarine, and as-Sahrij, are considered masterpieces. The Marinids also built their own fortified palace-city, Fes el-Jdid ("New Fez").

The most famous Nasrid buildings in Granada are the Alhambra palaces. This hilltop area is a fortress with some of the best-preserved Islamic palaces. The oldest palace, the Partal Palace, shows the typical layout: a courtyard with a pool, porticos, and a mirador (viewing tower). The most famous palaces are the Comares Palace and the Palace of the Lions. The Palace of the Lions has a courtyard with a fountain and twelve lion sculptures. Its rooms have incredibly fine stucco decoration and amazing muqarnas ceilings. The summer palace and gardens called the Generalife were also built nearby.

In Christian Spain, Moorish art continued in the Mudéjar art style. Muslim craftsmen or others following their traditions built beautiful structures for Christian rulers. Famous examples include the Alcazar of Seville, rebuilt by Peter the Cruel with help from Granada craftsmen. Some old Jewish synagogues, like the Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca in Toledo, were also built in Mudéjar style.

In Algeria, the Zayyanid dynasty built monuments in their capital, Tlemcen. They added minarets to mosques and built the Mosque of Sidi Bel Hasan. They also built the first madrasas in Tlemcen, like the Madrasa Tashfiniya, known for its rich tile decoration. The Marinids also built the monumental Mansurah Mosque near Tlemcen.

Hafsids of Tunisia (1200s–1500s)

In Tunisia, the Hafsids became independent rulers. They built many structures, especially in their capital, Tunis. Unlike architecture further west, Hafsid buildings were mostly stone and had less decoration.

The Kasbah Mosque of Tunis was an early Hafsid work. Its minaret looks very much like the earlier Almohad minaret in Marrakesh. The Hafsids also introduced the first madrasas to Tunisia, starting with the Madrasa al-Shamma῾iyya in 1238.

Later, the Ottomans took over most of North Africa except Morocco. This led to Moroccan architecture staying traditional, while Algerian and Tunisian architecture mixed with Ottoman architecture styles.

Sharifian Dynasties in Morocco (1500s and after)

In Morocco, the Saadian dynasty continued the Moorish-Moroccan style. The Saadian Tombs in Marrakesh are considered a high point of this style. The Saadians built many mosques in Marrakesh, like the Mouassine Mosque and the Bab Doukkala Mosque. These mosques were often part of larger complexes with fountains, bathhouses, and schools. They also built the famous El Badi Palace (1578–1593), known for its rich decoration and expensive materials like Italian marble.

The 'Alawis took over from the Saadians and still rule Morocco today. Many mosques and palaces in Morocco were built or restored by the 'Alawis. Sultan Moulay Isma'il (1672–1727) built a huge imperial capital in Meknes. Later sultans also built beautiful palaces, now museums, like the Bahia Palace in Marrakesh.

Ottoman Rule in Algeria and Tunisia (1500s and after)

Algeria and Tunisia came under Ottoman control. Architecture here mixed with Ottoman styles, especially in coastal cities. Some European influences also appeared, like marble from Italy.

Tunisia

In Tunis, the Mosque complex of Yusuf Dey (around 1614) was one of the first to bring Ottoman elements into local architecture. It included a mosque, school, and even a café, similar to Ottoman külliye complexes. Its minaret has an octagonal shape, showing Ottoman influence.

The Mosque of Hammuda Pasha (1631–1654) used similar elements, including marble columns from Italy. The Zawiya of Abu al-Balawi in Kairouan was restored, with walls decorated with unique Qallalin tiles from Tunis, painted with blue, green, and yellow designs.

The Sidi Mahrez Mosque (1696–1699) was the first and only Ottoman-style domed mosque in Tunisia. Its prayer hall has a large central dome with four smaller domes, typical of Ottoman design.

Algeria

In Algeria, most major buildings from this time are in Algiers. Mosques here show a mix of influences. Domes inspired by Ottoman architecture were used, but minarets usually kept their traditional square shape.

The Ali Bitchin Mosque (1622) in Algiers is the oldest surviving Ottoman-era mosque. Its prayer hall has a large octagonal dome. The most famous building is the New Mosque (Djamaa el Djedid) (1660–1661). It has a large central dome and barrel-vaulted spaces, giving it a cross-like shape. Its design mixes Ottoman, North African, and European ideas.

Beyond the Islamic World

Moorish architecture also influenced buildings in the Americas. Elements of Mudéjar architecture, like decorative wooden ceilings called armadura, were popular in Spanish colonies, especially in Mexico and Central America.

Later, in the 1800s, the Moorish style was copied in Europe and North America as part of the "Orientalism" trend. This Neo-Moorish style was often used for Jewish synagogue architecture, seen as a way to show Judaism's non-European roots.

What are the Main Features of Moorish Architecture?

Moorish architecture includes mosques, madrasas (schools), palaces, forts, hammams (bathhouses), and inns. Key features are horseshoe-shaped, interlacing, and polylobed arches, often with alternating colors. You'll also see internal courtyards, riad gardens, ribbed domes, and square minarets.

Decoration uses arabesques (plant patterns), geometric designs, muqarnas (honeycomb carvings), and Arabic writing. These are made from carved wood, stucco, and zellij (mosaic tiles). Unlike architecture further east, Moorish buildings weren't usually very tall, except for minarets. Exteriors were often plain, while interiors were richly decorated.

Arches

Horseshoe Arch

The most famous arch in Moorish architecture is the "horseshoe" arch. Its curves go past the middle, almost closing in. This arch was common from the start of the Islamic period. It might have come from older Byzantine or Visigothic buildings. In Spain, the "Moorish" horseshoe arch was more refined than earlier versions. Arches were used for support and as decoration, like in the mihrab of a mosque.

Later, in the Almoravid period, pointed horseshoe arches appeared. These became common during the Almohad period and likely came from North Africa.

Polylobed Arch

Polylobed (or multifoil) arches have many lobes or curves. They first appeared in Fatimid architecture and then in Spanish Taifa buildings like the Aljaferia. In the Almoravid and Almohad times, these arches were used more for decoration.

"Lambrequin" Arch

The "lambrequin" arch has a complex shape with points and lobes. It appeared in the Almoravid period and became common in later Almohad, Marinid, and Nasrid buildings. It was often used near the mihrab in mosques. This arch is sometimes called a "muqarnas" arch because it looks similar to muqarnas carvings.

Domes

Domes were used to highlight special areas, like the space in front of the mihrab in a mosque. In the Great Mosque of Cordoba, al-Hakam II built ribbed domes. Their "ribs" cross each other off-center, forming a square or octagon in the middle.

These ribbed domes influenced later mosques. The Bab al-Mardum Mosque in Toledo has similar domes. In Tunisia, the 9th-century dome in the Great Mosque of Kairouan and the 10th-century Qubbat al-Bahw in the Al-Zaytuna Mosque are elegant ribbed domes with stone decorations.

Decorative Motifs

Floral and Vegetal Motifs

Arabesques, or stylized plant patterns, come from old Roman and Syrian art. Early arabesques in Cordoba used acanthus leaves and grapevine designs. Later, Almoravid and Almohad buildings used a general leaf pattern. Palmettes (palm-leaf shapes) and pine cone images were also common.

Sebka Motif

Sebka (meaning "net") is a pattern of interlacing diamond shapes. It became popular on minarets in the Almohad period and later on walls in Marinid and Nasrid buildings. Some scholars think it came from the large interlacing arches in the Great Mosque of Cordoba. One common version, darj wa ktaf, looks like a fleur-de-lys or palmette.

Geometric Patterns

Geometric patterns, often with intersecting lines forming star shapes, were common. They are found in carved stucco, wood, and especially in zellij mosaic tilework. The ceiling of the Salón de Embajadores in the Alhambra is a famous example. It has 8,017 wooden pieces forming a pyramid-like dome with a 16-pointed star pattern, believed to symbolize the Seven Heavens of Paradise.

Arabic Calligraphy

Arabic writing was an art form in Islamic buildings. Inscriptions recorded building dates and patrons, or featured verses from the Qur'an. Early writing used the Kufic script, with straight lines. Later, Kufic letters were decorated with floral shapes.

In the 1100s, the cursive Naskh script appeared and became common from the 1200s onward. Kufic was still used for formal inscriptions but became very stylized, sometimes forming intricate knots.

Muqarnas

Muqarnas (also called mocárabe) are 3D geometric carvings that look like honeycombs or stalactites. This technique started in Iran and spread across the Muslim world. The Almoravids brought it to Spain and North Africa in the early 1100s. Muqarnas were used in domes, to smooth transitions between building parts, and to highlight windows.

Zellij (Tilework)

Zellij is a type of mosaic tilework used on lower walls and floors. It uses hand-cut pieces of glazed tile in different colors to create complex geometric patterns, often based on stars. Zellij appeared in the 900s and became very popular by the 1300s. It might have been inspired by Byzantine mosaics.

In Morocco, zellij tiles are cut by hand into specific shapes that fit together to make patterns. This method, called hasba, has been used for centuries.

Riads and Gardens

A riad is an inner garden found in many Moorish palaces and homes. It's usually rectangular and divided into four parts, with a fountain in the middle. Riads probably came from Persian architecture and became a key feature in palaces in Spain (like Madinat al-Zahra and the Alhambra) and Morocco.

Many royal palaces also had huge gardens, sometimes outside the main walls. Examples include the gardens of Madinat al-Zahra, the Agdal Gardens in Marrakesh, and the Generalife near the Alhambra.

Types of Moorish Buildings

Mosques

Mosques are places of worship for Muslims. Muslims pray five times a day, facing the qibla (direction of prayer). Every neighborhood usually had mosques. "Friday mosques" were larger and more important, used for special Friday prayers and sermons. Mosques often had other facilities for the community.

Moorish mosques were often rectangular with a hypostyle hall (many columns supporting the roof). The qibla was marked by a decorative niche called a mihrab. Next to the mihrab was a minbar (pulpit). Mosques also had a sahn (courtyard) with fountains for washing before prayer. Many medieval mosques used the "T-type" plan, where the central aisle and the aisle along the qibla wall were wider and more decorated.

Mosques are known for their minarets: tall towers where the muezzin calls people to prayer. Minarets usually have a square shaft and a smaller tower on top with copper or brass spheres. Some North African minarets have octagonal shafts. Inside, stairs or ramps lead to the top.

The direction of prayer (qibla) was important. Today, it's the shortest way to the Kaaba in Mecca. But in early Islamic times, there were different ideas. Many early mosques in Spain and North Africa faced south.

Synagogues

Synagogues had different layouts than mosques, but in North Africa and Spain, they often shared similar decorations, like colorful tilework and carved stucco. Famous historic synagogues in Spain include the Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca in Toledo and the Synagogue of Cordoba. In Morocco, there's the Ibn Danan Synagogue in Fes.

Madrasas

Madrasas were schools that taught higher education, especially Islamic law. They started in Iran and spread west. In the western Islamic world, they became popular in the late 1200s under the Marinid, Zayyanid, and Hafsid dynasties.

Madrasas helped train scholars for the government. They also showed that rulers supported Sunni Islam. They often provided housing for students from outside the city. Many madrasas had a main courtyard with a fountain, and student rooms on upper floors. Some also had a prayer hall.

Mausoleums and Zawiyas

While most Muslim graves are simple, important figures in North Africa were often buried under a domed structure called a qubba. This was common for "saints" or walis. Many of these tombs became the center of religious complexes called zawiyas. These usually included a mosque, school, and other charity facilities. They were important centers for Sufism (Islamic mysticism).

Funduqs (Merchant Inns)

A funduq (or foundouk) was a commercial building that served as an inn for merchants and a warehouse for their goods. In North Africa, some also had workshops for local artisans. They were often centers for auctions and markets. They usually had a large central courtyard surrounded by rooms for storage and sleeping, often on multiple floors. The Funduq al-Najjarin in Fes is a richly decorated example. In Spain, only the Corral del Carbón in Granada remains.

Hammams (Bathhouses)

Hammams are public bathhouses found in Muslim cities. They were like Roman bathhouses, with a changing room, a cold room, a warm room, and a hot room. Heat and steam came from a hypocaust system under the floors. Only the changing room was heavily decorated. The other rooms were vaulted or domed, with small holes in the ceiling for light. Many old hammams in Morocco are still used today. In Spain, they are mostly ruins or historic sites.

Palaces

Rulers' palaces were usually in a separate, fortified area of the capital city. These areas had offices, reception halls, kitchens, bathhouses, and private homes for the ruler and family. Palace architecture varied, but courtyards and inner gardens were always important.

Many palaces were built inside existing fortified areas called Alcazabas (fortified enclosures) or Alcázars (palaces with fortifications) in Spain, and Kasbahs in North Africa. The Alcazar of Cordoba and the Alcazar of Seville are examples. In Marrakesh, the Almohad Caliphs built a large new palace district, the Kasbah. The most famous is the Alhambra in Granada, built by the Nasrid dynasty.

Some rulers built entirely new royal cities outside their capitals, like Madinat al-Zahra near Cordoba, or Fes el-Jdid near Fes. Others built new capital cities centered on their palaces, like Qal'at Bani Hammad in Algeria. Rulers also built private estates with gardens in the countryside, like the Generalife near the Alhambra.

Fortifications

In Spain

Many castles and forts from Al-Andalus survive in Spain and Portugal, often on hilltops. Important Spanish terms include Alcazaba (a fortified enclosure) and Alcázar (a fortified palace). Fortifications were built from stone or rammed earth (packed earth). Stone was more common early on, rammed earth later.

In the Umayyad period (700s–900s), a large network of forts protected the borders. Examples include the Castle of Gormaz and the Burgalimar Castle (967). Many early forts had simple designs with straight entrances. They were usually square with rectangular towers. Some had a coracha, a wall connecting the castle to a tower on a riverbank for water access.

Smaller forts and many round watchtowers were also built. These towers could send messages quickly using fire or smoke signals.

After the Caliphate fell in the 1000s, cities were fortified more. The Zirid walls of Granada and the walls of Niebla are from this time. Fortified gates began to have bent entrances, meaning they turned one or more right angles to slow down attackers.

The Almohads (1100s–1200s) built and restored many forts and city walls to fight the Christian Reconquista. Examples include the fortress of Alcalá de Guadaíra and the walls of Seville. Military technology became more advanced, with outer walls (barbicans) and albarrana towers (towers outside the main wall, connected by an arch). Fortification towers became taller and stronger. Famous examples include the Calahorra Tower in Cordoba and the Torre del Oro in Seville.

In the 1200s–1400s, the Nasrids fortified Granada and its Alhambra. They also built or rebuilt the Gibralfaro Castle in Málaga. This period saw huge towers, possibly influenced by Christian military architecture.

In North Africa

Some of the oldest Islamic buildings in North Africa are military structures in Tunisia, like the Ribat of Sousse and the Ribat of Monastir (800s). These ribats were residential fortresses guarding the borders. The city walls of Sousse and Sfax also date from this period.

The Fatimids built a heavily fortified capital at Mahdia in the early 900s. Its narrow land entrance was protected by a very thick stone wall and a long, vaulted passage called the Skifa al-Kahla.

From the Almoravid and Almohad times (1000s–1200s), most forts in Morocco were similar to those in Spain. City walls were usually made of rammed earth, with square towers and merlons (the solid parts of a battlement) shaped like blocks with pyramidal caps. Major examples are the walls of Marrakesh, walls of Fes, and walls of Rabat. Gates often had bent entrances and ranged from plain to very grand. Famous Almohad gates include Bab Agnaou in Marrakesh and Bab er-Rouah in Rabat.

The Marinids (1200s–1400s) also built in rammed earth, like the double walls of Fes el-Jdid and the walls of Chellah. The Hafsids in Tunisia also used rammed earth for the walls of Tunis. Later, Moroccan rulers mixed traditional walls with European military ideas, especially after seeing Portuguese forts.

In Morocco, a "Kasbah" can mean a fortified area, from small forts to large government centers. Sultan Moulay Isma'il built many kasbahs across the country. In the Atlas Mountains and desert oases, "Kasbah" (or tighremt) also refers to fortified mansions, often made of rammed earth or mud-brick, with square corner towers and geometric decorations.

Examples by Country

Here are some important Moorish buildings and sites. Many are in Spain, especially southern Spain (Andalusia). There are also many in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

Spain

Major Monuments

Caliphate of Córdoba (929–1031):

• Great Mosque of Cordoba
• Medina Azahara
• Mosque of Cristo de la Luz in Toledo

Period of Taifas, Almoravids, and Almohads (11th–13th century):

• Aljaferia palace (late 1000s) in Zaragoza
• The Giralda, formerly the minaret of the Almohad Great Mosque of Seville
• Torre del Oro, an Almohad defensive tower in Seville

Nasrid Emirate of Granada (1232–1492):

• The Alhambra
• The Generalife, a country palace near the Alhambra
• Corral del Carbón, a funduq (caravanserai) of Granada (1300s)
• Alcazar of Seville, mostly rebuilt under Christian rule but in Moorish style

Other Monuments

• Alicante
  • Castle of Santa Bárbara
• Antequera
  • Alcazaba
• Almería
  • Alcazaba
• Archez
  • Nasrid minaret at the Mudéjar-style Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación
• Badajoz
  • Alcazaba
• Baños de la Encina
  • Burgalimar Castle (Umayyad-era castle built in 967)
• Córdoba
  • Caliphal Baths
  • Calahorra Tower
  • Synagogue
• Gormaz
  • Gormaz Castle (900s castle)
• Granada
  • Albayzín quarter
    • El Bañuelo (Arab Baths)
    • Dar al-Horra Palace
    • City walls and gates
• Jaén
  • Arab Baths of Jaén
• Jerez de la Frontera
  • Alcazar
• Málaga
  • Alcazaba
  • Gibralfaro Castle
• Mérida
  • Alcazaba
• Murcia
  • Castillejo de Monteagudo
• Niebla
  • City walls and gates
• Ronda
  • Arab baths of Ronda
• Seville
  • Walls of Seville
  • Buhaira Gardens (former Almohad palace and garden)
• Tarifa
  • Castle of Tarifa
• Toledo
  • Puerta de Bisagra
  • Puerta de Alcántara
  • Mosque of las Tornerías
  • Church of San Román (Mudéjar architecture)
  • Synagogue of Santa Maria la Blanca (Mudéjar architecture)
  • Synagogue del Tránsito (Mudéjar architecture)

Portugal

• Albufeira
  • Paderne Castle
• Silves
  • Silves Castle
• Mértola
  • Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Anunciação (former mosque)
• Sintra
  • Castle of the Moors

Morocco

• Fez
  • Fes el-Bali ("Old Fes")
    • Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque
    • Mosque of the Andalusians
    • City walls and gates
    • Madrasa as-Sahrij
    • Madrasa al-Attarin
    • Madrasa Bou Inania
    • Zawiya of Moulay Idris II
    • Funduq al-Najjarin
  • Fes el-Jdid ("New Fes")
    • Dar al-Makhzen (the Royal Palace)
    • Great Mosque of Fes el-Jdid
• Marrakesh
  • Almoravid Qubba
  • City walls and gates
  • Kutubiyya Mosque
  • Kasbah Mosque
  • Bab Agnaou
  • Saadian Tombs
  • Ben Youssef Madrasa
  • Mouassine Mosque
  • El Badi Palace
  • Bahia Palace
• Tin Mal Mosque (at the village of Tinmel)

• Rabat & Salé
  • Kasbah of the Udayas
  • Hassan Tower
  • Chellah
  • Bab er-Rouah
  • Madrasa of Salé
  • Bab Mrisa
• Meknes
  • Bou Inania Madrasa
  • Kasbah of Moulay Ismail
  • Bab al-Mansour
  • Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail
• Taza
  • Great Mosque of Taza
• Tangier
  • Great Mosque of Tangier
  • Kasbah Mosque

Algeria

• Algiers
  • Great Mosque of Algiers
  • Sidi Ramdane Mosque
  • New Mosque of Algiers (mix of Ottoman, European, and Moorish influences)

• Tlemcen (and nearby)
  • Great Mosque of Tlemcen
  • Mosque of Sidi Bel Hasan
  • El Mechouar Mosque
  • El Mechouar Palace
  • Mosque of Sidi Bu Madyan
  • Mosque of al-Mansourah
  • Minaret of Agadir
• Qal'at (Citadel) of the Banu Hammad (ruins near M'Sila)

Tunisia

• Tunis
  • Great Mosque of al-Zaytuna
  • Kasbah Mosque
  • Hammuda Pasha Mosque (local blend of Ottoman and Moorish/Tunisian styles)
• Kairouan
  • Great Mosque of Kairouan
  • Mosque of Ibn Khayrun (Mosque of the Three Doors)
  • Aghlabid Reservoirs
  • Zawiya of Abu al-Balawi (Mosque of the Barber)
• Sousse
  • Ribat of Sousse
  • Great Mosque of Sousse
• Monastir
  • Ribat of Monastir
• Sfax
  • Great Mosque of Sfax
  • Kasbah of Sfax

Images for kids

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  Bab al-Wuzara gate of the Great Mosque of Cordoba (8th–9th centuries)

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  The Great Mosque of Kairouan in Tunisia, founded in 670 and rebuilt by the Aghlabids in the 9th century

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  Dome in front of the mihrab of the Great Mosque of Kairouan (9th century)

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  Decorated façade of the Mosque of Ibn Khayrun in Kairouan (866)

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  Elaborate stucco arches in the Aljaferia Palace in Zaragoza, Spain (second half of 11th century)

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  Fragment of painted decoration depicting a flutist, from the al-Qasr al-Seghir in Murcia (12th century)

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  Bab Agnaou, the monumental gate of the Kasbah of Marrakesh (late 12th century)

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  The ceiling of the Palatine Chapel: the central nave is covered by a large muqarnas vault (above), while the rest of the church is covered in Byzantine-style mosaics

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  Muqarnas dome in the Palace of the Lions (14th century) in the Alhambra

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  Courtyard of the Marinid-era Bou Inania Madrasa in Fes, Morocco (1350–1355)

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  The minaret of the Great Mosque of Tlemcen, which was added by the Zayyanid sultan Yaghmorasan in 1236

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  Interior view of the main dome of the New Mosque (Djama' el-Djedid) in Algiers (1660)

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  Example of a Mudéjar-influenced wooden ceiling in the Cathedral of Tlaxcala in Mexico (c. 1662)

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  Pointed horseshoe arches in the Mosque of Tinmal

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  Interlacing polylobed arches at the Alcazaba of Malaga in Spain (11th century)

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  Polylobed arches at the Almoravid Qubba in Marrakesh, Morocco (early 12th century)

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  A polylobed arch in the Mosque of Tinmal in Morocco (mid-12th century)

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  Polylobed arches in the Mudéjar-style Patio de las Doncellas at the Alcazar of Seville in Spain (14th century)

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  Lambrequin arches in the Mosque of Tinmal (mid-12th century)

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  A lambrequin/muqarnas arch (top) in the gallery of the Courtyard of the Lions in the Alhambra, Granada (14th century)

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  Lambrequin arches in the Bahia Palace in Marrakesh, Morocco (late 19th century)

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  The ribbed dome at the beginning of al-Hakam II's extension of the Great Mosque of Cordoba (circa 965)

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  The ribbed dome in front of the mihrab of the Great Mosque of Cordoba, covered in mosaics (circa 965)

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  Smaller ribbed domes in the Bab al-Mardum Mosque in Toledo (circa 1000)

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  Detail of decoration inside the dome before the mihrab of the Great Mosque of Kairouan (circa 836)

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  The Qubbat al-Bahw (or Qubbat al-Bahu) at the Al-Zaytuna Mosque in Tunis (991)

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  Arabesque motifs and a palmette image carved into stone in the spandrel of the Marinid gate at Chellah, Rabat (14th century)

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  Arabesques carved in stucco over an archway in the al-Attarine Madrasa in Fes (14th century)

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  Arabesques in stucco in the Court of the Myrtles at the Alhambra (14th century)

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  Arabesque and pine cone motifs along with Kufic inscriptions around the Ben Youssef Madrasa's mihrab, in Marrakesh (16th century)

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  Variation of the sebka motif with a trefoil-like shape on the minaret of the Kasbah Mosque in Marrakesh, Morocco (late 12th century)

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  Sebka pattern filled with other motifs in carved stucco decoration at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain (14th century)

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  Darj wa ktaf motif on Bab Mansour in Meknes, Morocco (early 18th century)

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  Geometric patterns in stucco decoration at the Hall of the Two Sisters in the Alhambra (14th century)

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  Geometric patterns in zellij tilework at the Al-Attarine Madrasa in Fes (14th century)

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  Twelve-pointed star motifs in zellij tilework at the Saadian Tombs in Marrakesh, Morocco (16th century)

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  Geometric motifs on the bronze plating of the doors of the Al-Attarine Madrasa (14th century)

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  The enormous wooden ceiling of the Salón de Embajadores (the Nasrid throne room) at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain (14th century)

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  Another example of geometric patterns in a (smaller and simpler) wooden ceiling in the Ben Youssef Madrasa in Marrakesh (16th century)

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  Painted geometric motifs on a wooden ceiling in the Bahia Palace in Marrakesh (late 19th century)

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  Kufic Arabic inscriptions in gold mosaics above the mihrab of the Great Mosque of Cordoba (10th century)

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  Late 12th-century Kufic inscription carved into stone on the Almohad gate of Bab Agnaou in Marrakesh

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  Kufic script with floral and interlacing flourishes, painted on tile, in the Al-Attarine Madrasa, Fes, Morocco (early 14th century)

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  Cursive (Naskh) Arabic script carved into stucco in the al-Attarine Madrasa in Fes (early 14th century)

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  Calligraphic inscription carved into wood in the Sahrij Madrasa in Fes, surrounded by other arabesque decoration (early 14th century)

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  Calligraphy in the Salón de Embajadores in the Alhambra, Granada (14th century): above is the Nasrid motto ("There is no conqueror but God") in cursive script, repeated more than once, while below is a larger inscription in "Knotted" Kufic

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  Small muqarnas cupola inside the mihrab of the Mosque of Tinmal (mid-12th century)

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  Muqarnas above a window in the Bou Inania Madrasa of Meknes (14th century)

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  Closer view of the details at the apex of a muqarnas dome in the Sala de los Reyes in the Alhambra

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  Extreme close-up of carved and painted details in constituent niches of a muqarnas dome in the Sala de los Reyes in the Alhambra

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  Rectangular muqarnas vault carved in cedar wood at the Bou Inania Madrasa in Fes, Morocco (mid-14th century)

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  Muqarnas carved in wood in the Dar al-Makhzen of Tangier (17th century or later)

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  A riad garden in the 19th-century Bahia Palace of Marrakesh

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  The mihrab (left) and minbar (right) in the Great Mosque of Kairouan

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  Prayer hall of the Great Mosque of Algiers (late 11th century; photograph from 1890s)

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  The sahn of the Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fes