IES CAURA
HERITAGE OF THE PAST – FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE
“Heritage of the past. Foundation for the future”
Page 1
1. TRADITIONAL ART.ARCHITECTURE AND CRAFT.
3000 years of settlement by many different people have left their
traces in Andalusia. Not only Phoenicians, Greeks and the Tartessians
but also the Romans and Arabs have contributed to the architectural
style. The architectural inheritance of this time is very varied. Besides
many other things, the remains of the former Roman city of Itálica,
located close to the village of Santiponce (nearSeville), can be visited
today.
From the period of the Arab supremacy there are some
outstanding splendid buildings in Córdoba ("Mezquita"), Granada
("Alhambra") and Seville ("Alcázar" and "Giralda"). Above all the street
labyrinths of the ancient town centers remind us of the Muslimera.
Beside the construction of religious buildings, such as mosques, the
Arab builders created spectacular water routes and defense systems.
After the end of this period arose the Mudéjar style influenced by the
Moorish builders, a mixture of styles which combines Gothic and then
Renaissance elements with the traditional Almohad style.
During the 15th Century the famous Cathedral of Seville was built,
today the largest Gothic church and the third biggest Cathedral in
the world.
The Renaissance shows its influence in the so-called Plateresque
style with its playful ornamental art. It is followed by the Baroque
style (17th and 18th Century) with a more decorative and
monumental appearance. In the early 20th Century there arose a
variety of the Historic style, which cites and mixes various older
architectural styles.
Examples of this can be found in Seville, city of the IberianAmerican world exhibition in 1929.
For the world exhibition Expo '92 in Seville many modern works of
architecture were constructed.
Andalusian arts and crafts are also influenced by Arab instructors.
Ceramic(s), carpenter works, silversmith production, carpets as well
as cloth weaving and leatherwork are to be mentioned in the first
place. Furniture, guitar production and metalwork, especially iron
forging have also a long tradition.
There are purchase possibilities almost everywhere in the large
cities. You may take a look at the following list.
Ceramic(s) and pottery
Leatherwork
Silversmith
production
Cloth and carpet
weaving
Woodwork
and furniture
Guitar production
Metalwork, iron forging
Others
Granada and its surroundings, Seville
(Triana quarter) and its surroundings,
Córdoba, Conil de la Frontera,
Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Cádiz),
Aracena (Huelva), Andújar (Jaén),
Albox, Níjar (Almería)
Ubrique, Prado del Rey (Cádiz), boots:
Valverde del Camino (Huelva),
shoes: Montoro (Córdoba),
riding leather goods: Jerez de la
Frontera, Alcalá de los Gazules,
Villamartin (Cádiz)
Córdoba
Arcos de la Frontera (Cádiz), Moguer
(Huleva), Sevilla, Antequera, Estepona
(Málaga)
Granada (marquetry), Ronda (Málaga),
Valverde del Camino, Galaroza,
Zalamea la Real (Huelva)
Granada, Córdoba, Marmolejo (Jaén),
Algodonales (Cádiz)
Cortegana (Huelva), Arcos de la
Frontera (Cádiz), Estepona (Málaga)
Fans, capes and combs (Seville)
Glassware (Almería)
Marble and stone carving (Jaén)