Madinat Al-Zahra, Archaeological site in Cordoba, Spain.
Madinat Al-Zahra is an extensive archaeological site near Córdoba in Spain that spreads across several terraces on a hillside. The complex includes remains of palaces, residential quarters, workshops and religious buildings on a wide area.
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.
The visit requires comfortable shoes and sun protection, as the site is extensive and partly without shade. A museum at the entrance helps understand the finds and the layout of the complex.
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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