It is probably deeply ingrained in human hearts to return from time to time to the past through our memories. Of course, we want to reactivate mostly those exceptional, joyful moments, to relive them again and feel the warmth they once provided us. Those trips are like a shelter, like thick walls that separate the ordinary from the treasures that do not fade. They are our palaces of joy.
And just look at this imposing building. The reason for constructing such a mighty structure was certainly not insignificant; not all buildings in the 11th century looked like this. Those with significance were built to last so that time, wars, disagreements, and difficult times would not break them down so easily. This building, the Palace of Joy as it was called at that time, was built by Ahmad al-Muqtadir as the recreational palace of the Muslim kings who ruled the Taifa of Sarakusta (Taifa de Zaragoza).
I have always liked to imagine and wonder what happened between the walls that have witnessed history for decades or centuries. Not just the history you can find in books but the life of those who lived there with their thoughts, emotions, and actions. Were they the same in essence as we are nowadays? Could be. But look at these huge walls and entrances; one must have felt small in front of such a giant.
Once you enter, you find yourself in another world. Walking through the halls and under the arabesque-filled vaults, one is forced to return in imagination to that time and see oneself as a family member of the Banu Hud dynasty. What would be my role there? How I would be spending my days in such a place?
But back to reality and the not-so-distant past. We visited this wonderful place with @palomap3, the very first time we went to Zaragoza. It was in November of 2023 - don't ask me why I am so late with sharing this place with you. I probably saw how beautiful Paloma's photos were and how much she knew about this place so I stepped back. 😅
Then a few times I remembered about it and again got lost among the photos I took, so the preparation of the post went to another little rest. I know @ninaeatshere also wanted to see the upper floor as when she visited it that part was closed (if I understood well, correct me if I didn't). Anyway, today I am finally here with the Palace of Joy. 😊
You can notice that the doors and windows are beautifully shaped and decorated, so typical for Islamic architecture (although many of the ornaments are lost by the ravages of time). This place, the Aljafería Palace, along with the Alhambra in Granada and the Mosque of Cordoba, is one of the artistic jewels of the Muslim presence in this peninsula.
Oh, so much darkness in this room... let's get to the light, to the patio.
They were masters in decoration and irrigation systems, providing these plants and trees with the necessary fresh water.
It was getting late little by little, so we had to quicken our pace and look at other parts of this palace. We climbed the stairs and realized how many changes had occurred after this fortification became the residence of the Christian kings of Aragon.
Entering a different world.
The Catholic Monarchs ordered the construction of their palace, making a second floor on the existing construction. It is a completely different type of architecture; if we were not in the same place.
This is the entrance to a very important hall, the Throne Room.
Our hostess in Zaragoza, Paloma was explaining to us many historical facts about the dynasties, the Christian kings, and architecture... bad me, I forgot almost everything, even though you can see we had our "classroom" for that. 😂
Maybe some important business plans were made here in the past, or some secret confessions. For us, it was fun to try out the little benches and pretend to be one of those important characters who walked through these halls centuries ago.
I do remember that she pointed out the importance and the beauty of the ceilings. I tried to take some photos, though it was not an easy task. You can see here how @ph1102 caught me in action:
This was the moment when the following photo was taken.
I hope your neck is not hurting... as we almost left the building with a neckache after observing for so long time all the details in the ceilings... The only solution would be to lie on the floor of each of these rooms in the palace and look at the ceilings from that position. For the most beautiful one, in the Throne Room, we could stay there for hours, hypnotised.
There were so many rooms and ceilings; we spent quite a time there but then left that area and as the last part we headed toward the Courts of Aragon.
This is the hall where the members of the autonomous parliament of Aragon have their meetings. Locating the Cortes of Aragon in this building certainly influenced in a good way the restoration of this important historical monument in Zaragoza. I am glad that I had the opportunity to visit it, and also that I had this Hiver as a guide.
I also hope that you enjoyed this walk through the Palace of Joy. 😊
@ceciliajess miraaa.
A Cecilia le gusta este sitio, ¿verdad? Si no me equivoco, tiene familiares allí en Zaragoza (creo 😅)
Sí. Papá y hermana y pronto también a mis primos jjj Espero que @dayanart lo conozca primero y luego sea mi guía turística ♥️👏
Así es, me acordaba más o menos bien entonces 😉
Espero se cumpla esto de Dayanart sea tu guía turística 😇
la cultura árabe tan rica en su arquitectura! dice @paloma que hay una exposición de Goya en el lugar... que pena no poder disfrutarla
Sí, ahora hay una exposición de Goya, he visto su publicación :)
Desde esta visita mía al palacio pasó ya más que un año, voy un poco lenta jajaja 😅
I think that if they explained all that information to me... I would also forget it, but I couldn't stop looking at so much beauty, I could spend a whole day there! My god what a beauty! I died... but I'm a cat! Really, what a beautiful place!😍
y tú, don't keep dying I'm afraid you'll run out of lives 🤣
Infinite lives like video games .... I will always resurface🤣
When I did a little research on what we could see in Zaragoza and I saw this palace, I knew it would be on my list without skipping it. And I don't regret it, you see how nice it is. Hahaha, a cat with many, many lives 😆
Too many lives.... immortal! hahaha that place is beautiful from another world!
Wao how spectacular, I love to visit and know places like this. Beautiful 😍😍😍 Your photos are wonderful. Best regards @mipiano 🤗
Thank you very much @mayramalu, such places are a must to visit! 😇
And here time does not pass... Whattttt, November 2023? Apretaste, Aljafera 😱. ¿Qué tal Alfajora? es que esa palabra me recuerda a los dulces 😂.
I think that for those of us who can't get there to lie on the floor, waiting for mipiano's post wasn't a very viable option, but it's another one, no doubt.
Ya, apreté jaja, bueno hay cosas que visité antes, en enero de 2023 y todavía no llegaron a Hive 🤐
Alfajor no sabía de este dulce, seguro que con café con café y leche con leche va bien jaja
😃
Tal vez puedes hacer este dulce, será menos complicado y demorado que la crema de castañas. ¡Buenos días!
no sé, creo que me podré tumbar al suelo mirando al techo y esperando que el dulce se haga solo, yo esperando 😂
por cierto, no entendí muy bien la segunda parte de tu primer comentario
Será porque omití los cojines 🤣
Que para nosotros los que no podemos llegar hasta allá para tumbarnos en el suelo y ver los techos, esperar por tu post no era muy viable ya que te demoras mucho tiempo en publicar (necesitamos muchos cojines), pero sí es otra opción. Decías que la única opción era acostarse en el piso... 🙃
ajá, ahora lo entiendo, gracias - faltan los cojines y voy muy lenta 😂
No tengo Hives, aunque veas que tengo. y te faltó uns N en comentario. 🤣
😂 cosas del karma
entonces otro edit tiene que suceder por esa letra
hay más, si ya estamos?
🤣
si ya estamos 😁 - pues sí. Hay tanto a lo largo de la historia... tanto que he visto a través de los mundos. Ya deja esos edits... 🤷♀
What beautiful ceilings, wuaooo I wonder why in the throne room they decorated the ceiling like that, is it to make it look like the sky, that must have a mystery.
At that time I know what your job was, you were the king's musician, who played the lyre with a long white linen tunic. Maybe I'm a little wrong about the place. 😁 @mipiano
Hmm, that would be cool, the Kings' musician, in the outfit you describe. I would take that job immediately 😁
😄😆😉
Islamic architecture has a certain something about it, against the flat insipid style of the govt. building. it is even more striking.
And these days you also show us those cool places with Islamic architecture. Your finds are quite authentic
Obrigada, @ewkaw 😇
I can't believe this!! We have both published about the same place almost at the same time. We are connected!! Right now that palace looks very different, there is an exhibition of Goya. And there is no access to the small trust banks! 😱
By the way, your photos are just as beautiful as mine. Don't take away your honour. 😘
Hahaha, yeah 😆
We probably determined this day to publish our posts while talking on those little trust banks 😂
The architecture is simply amazing, I always wonder how on earth they built those enormous buildings back then! The doors and those ceilings stand out, and so does the change from Muslim to Christian!
Like you, I always think about the people who used to live, laugh, and toil behind those walls throughout the ages, fascinating!
Your photos are beautiful😍Stunning @mipiano!
That's right, it is curious how they built all of those massive, huge constructions in the past, right? Impressive! Thank you very much dear @lizelle 🤗
It looks amazing 😍 I hope I will be able to visit it one day 😊
!discovery 25
There is an entrance fee which I forgot to mention but something quite cheap. No need to reservation, it can be bought there, close to the entrance. Grazie mille @delilhavores 😇
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The architecture and those ceilings are seriously mesmerizing! It's like stepping into a different time
Indeed it is like that ;)
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Such palaces have been built with solid structures since long ago, so that they do not collapse in the face of all kinds of problems. Such places, I have seen in many places in Bangladesh and they actually revive us anew. Such places awaken memories from the ground in our hearts. I enjoyed this place a lot. What are the famous old monuments here?
Yes, these solid structures are built to remain for centuries! Good to be able to enjoy them nowadays!
Such places arouse our interest in learning about history and all those imperial events.
Absolutely amazingly beautiful, I really really love the beauty of the building ❤️
It was so nice, more the interior than the facades
The architecture of the building is quite beautiful.
True!
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Yes memories do matters a lot that is why l take pictures of some wonderful moments
!PIZZA
Amazing beauty, hopefully one day I can visit there
The Aljafería Palace is a perfect example of the incredible skill and creativity of the architects and craftsmen who built it. Its beauty and historical significance are simply unmatched, making it a must-see for anyone who appreciates art and architecture. I’ve always dreamed of visiting places like this, where history comes alive through its design.
I love how it was built