Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Record ID
monument;ISL;es;Mon01;4;ar
Library Location
Zaragoza, Spain
Notes
The Al-Jaafariyya Palace forms a complex group of buildings that were arranged throughout its history, from the Islamic period during which it was built, through the Christian restorations during the Middle Ages until our days. The Islamic Palace remains the best preserved court group from the entire period of the Taifa Kings. The fortified walls, of rectangular design, retain part of their initial mud-brick perimeter. These walls were supported by large semicircular towers, to which must be added, in the northern part, a rectangular tower called the “Borg Troubadour” (Wandering Poet Tower), the lower part of which constitutes the oldest monument in the group. Inside, this enclosed enclosure of walls protects the residential buildings of the palace, which we enter through a door above which an open arch extends in the eastern part. The Jafariyya Palace follows the traditional models of Islamic court architecture: a courtyard. A large central one overlooked by all rooms, with two basins at the northern and southern ends. The annexes intended for ceremonial or private use are located in the north-south axis, and are preceded by arcades composed of arches of different lines and multi-lobed lines that extend around both sides of the central courtyard in the form of visual curtains. The best-preserved part constitutes the northern wing of the building. In this space - on the eastern side of the portico, next to the hall known under the name “Gilded Hall” or “Alabaster Hall”, which we believe was Al-Muqtadir’s reception hall - remains a small and beautiful mosque, with an octagonal plan. Its location, special features, and miniature dimensions indicate that it was designed as a prayer hall for the private use of the king and his close family circle. As was the case with the northern wing, the southern wing of the palace contained a large hall, side halls, and a space with a portico that was undoubtedly used as a waiting room. Unfortunately, this hall was destroyed in order to build the Church of San Jorge in the fourteenth century AD, which was eventually demolished in 1867. However, before the demolition of this church and the adjacent spaces, we were able to salvage some arches, capitals and other decorative elements that have now made it possible to rebuild the portico and two side halls. The architectural and decorative elements of the palace were inspired by Cordoban models, but in the Jaafaria they become more complex; The rare arrangement of arches with different lines and multi-lobed braided lobes, and their abundant floral decoration, increase the complexity of the decorative design. In contrast to its external character as a simple castle, the palace reveals on the inside an outstanding decorative skill and a breathtaking aesthetic that expresses two completely different worlds: the outside is defensive and the inside is civilized and delicate, in which the ruler lived surrounded by his entourage.
Sample Text
Margarita Sánchez Llorente “Jaafaria Palace (Islamic part)” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;es;Mon01;4;ar
