Palace of Charles V Granada
by Joan Carroll
Title
Palace of Charles V Granada
Artist
Joan Carroll
Medium
Photograph - Digital Art/photography
Description
Curiously, there were few people in the courtyard of the Palacio de Carlos V at the Alhambra in Granada Spain. Maybe it was too hot, maybe it was the time of day. And the few who were there were staying in the shade under the colonnades. The Palace of Charles V is a Renaissance building located among the Moorish splendor of the Alhambra. It was commanded by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who wished to establish his residence close to the Alhambra palaces. Construction of the palace was begun in 1527. This inner circular patio, however, has no precedent in Renaissance architecture, and places the building ahead of its time. Wikipedia describes the archtecture of the patio thus: "The lower (level) consists of a doric colonnade of conglomerate stone, with an orthodox classical entablature formed of triglyphs and metopes. The upper floor is formed by a stylized ionic colonnade whose entablature has no decoration. This organisation of the patio shows a deep knowledge of the architecture of the Roman Empire, and would be framed in pure Renaissance style but for its curved shape, which surprises the visitor entering from the main fa�ades. The interior spaces and the staircases are also governed by the combination of square and circle. Similar aesthetic devices would be developed in the following decades under the classification of Mannerism." Oddly, the palace was not completed as the court and government became established in Madrid, and remained roofless until the late twentieth century! Not everyone thinks this buiding is wonderful...reviews by the Lonely Planet suggest that "This huge Renaissance palace sticks out like a sore thumb in the Alhambra, because it clashes spectacularly with the style of its surroundings...". I guess you have to visit and decide for yourself!
FEATURED PHOTO, Spain and The Iberian Peninsula group, 7/22/15
FEATURED PHOTO, Landscape and Landmark Photography group, 5/8/15
FEATURED PHOTO, Spanish Theme Artwork group, 5/8/15
FEATURED PHOTO, The Road To Self Promotion group, 5/7/15
Uploaded
May 7th, 2015
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