A nod to the BBC Sherlock series, modern retelling of Sherlock Holmes, in this discussion of a mind palace; a place in our heads dedicated to thought. Such a place functions as a retreat, a refuge, a sanctuary of the cognitive kind. I’d like my conceptual safe haven to look like the Alhambra Palace of Granada, Spain. I would be inspired to form beautiful, well-crafted ideas.
The Córdoba Mosque, the Giralda and Alcázar in Sevilla and the Alhambra in Granada are stunning examples of the magnificent buildings Islamic rulers left behind in Spain, when the Catholic Kings finally sent them packing in 1492. I had a chance to visit the Islamic Palace in Granada when I was a student. I was lucky to return there with my family in 2013. I’ll share with you some of my favorite images of the meditative designs and intricate ornaments.


Islamic tradition prohibits the use of art that depicts animals and people in religious art. Those figures are considered graven images. As a result, geometric art is developed to a high level.

Patio of the Lions; the carved lions are one of the only examples of representational art of an animal in the palace. Such carvings were allowed in secular art.

Tremendous calligraphy also developed as an art form in the Islamic tradition.

What is your interior retreat? How does it look or feel? Is it silent or is music playing?
Gracias for commenting and reading Fake Flamenco! ¡Olé! –Rebecca
Sooooo Wonderfullllllll!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much! The Alhambra is one of my favorite places.
LikeLike
Thank you Rebecca for such a great post! Yes, some of our most beautiful buildings were from the Islamic times. Lovely photographs as well. Take good care and all the best,
Francisco
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gracias, Francisco. I appreciate your compliment. What is the architecture of your mind palace? Saludos, Rebecca
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re bringing back a memory of visiting the Alhambra in Granada decades ago. Beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you’ve seen it. The Alhambra is in my top ten sights of those I’ve visited in Spain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the Alhambra and the Mesquite in Cordoba. Amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Darlene. I find both of them to be spiritually uplifting places.
LikeLiked by 1 person
To answer your question… my interior retreat is a project to build SVG versions of Islamic designs. Alhambra is deffo on the bucket list, once the COVID situation allows it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very cool! The geometries are so intricate, they’d look great in SFG. The Alhambra in Granada and buildings in Sevilla have beautiful Islamic designs. Hope the vaccines are available soon so you can travel there!
LikeLike