Madinat Al-Zahra, Archaeological site in Cordoba, Spain.
Madinat al-Zahra is a ruined palace-city about 5 km west of Córdoba, built from 936 for the caliph Abd ar-Rahman III. Its excavated area shows tan stone walls on terraced ground, a rectangular hall with a reddish tiled roof, and a tall facade with three arched openings framed by projecting bands.
The caliph ordered the city built from the year 936 as a new residence, and it became the political center of his realm. A few decades later the complex was abandoned and destroyed during armed conflicts.
Visitors notice in the wall decorations and column capitals the motifs of floral ornaments and calligraphic inscriptions that show the Islamic craftsmanship of the period. These elements appear today in many other buildings across Andalusia.
Only about 10 of the site's 112 hectares have been excavated, and this area holds the main palaces, so the walkable route is shorter than the full city. The archaeological museum opened in 2009 at the edge of the site. The ground is stony and terraced, with little shade.
The excavations brought to light coin workshops and craft operations that show not only administration but also production and trade took place here. Researchers found tools and materials from different regions of the caliphate.
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