alminar
An alminar is the Spanish word for minaret. Both alminar and minaret derive from the Arabic for lighthouse. manara, in the Spanish case taking the Arabic definite article, al, while minaret passed first through Turkish.
The Giralda in Sevilla was built as an alminar in 1184 as part of the Mosque of Sevilla. It was based on the Kutubia of Marrakech, and is considerered as one of the masterpieces of Hispano-Islamic architecture. In the 16th century it was capped with a Christian bell tower. Famously, The Giralda has no stairs, but rather 34 ramps to ascend the tower, sufficiently wide for themuezzin, often the sultan, to ride a horse to the top of the tower to recite the call to prayer.
Image of the Giralda from Wikipedia
External links
- The Giralda (Wikipedia)
“The Giralda has several sister towers. The same architect, Jabir, who built the Giralda also built similar towers in what is now Morocco. The tower of the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakesh served as a model for the Giralda and its sister, the Hassan Tower in Rabat.”
Spanish minarets, minarets in Spain, history of Giralda, Giralda origin.