Gardens of Paradise - Alhambra de Granada

The Arabian Garden expresses the longing for the Mohammedan paradise .

The life of the Muslim is linked to his conception of paradise, which he envisions as a garden, a place of joy and pleasure where he can fully satisfy his desires. The Prophet proclaims:

"God has promised to believers and unbelievers Gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will live forever; they will have good dwellings in the Garden of Eden."

That is why the Spanish-Arabian Garden is surrounded by everything that can delight the five senses of man : sight, colour, light and shadow; by fragrance, aromatic plants, or the sweet scent of flowers; in the ear the sound of the water; through the sense of touch, the different textures of the materials; and for the taste, the taste of the fruit. The whole garden is surrounded by a climate of sensuality.

Water lends an exuberant exuberance to vegetation and is the most obvious decorative element, appearing in fountains, pools, gutters and clever contraptions that make it vibrate in waves or light reflections.

The walls are adorned with verses evoking the beauties of the garden, decorated with abstract floral motifs and colored with shades that attract the light from outside. Extensive use of colorful tiles is another characteristic of Arabian gardens.

Willem Vandenameele