ES-368427 The Mudéjar style of architecture in Zaragoza, Spain

These 4 churches in Zaragoza are (1) the Church of St Gil (2) the Church of St Pablo (3) Church of Sta. Maria Magdalena and (4) the Church of San Miguel. They all exhibit a distinctive style of architecture.

The Mudéjar style, a symbiosis of techniques and ways of understanding architecture resulting from Muslim and Christian cultures living side by side, emerged as an architectural style in the 12th century on the Iberian peninsula. It is characterised by the use of brick as the main material. Mudéjar did not involve the creation of new shapes or structures (unlike Gothic or Romanesque), but the reinterpretation of Western cultural styles through Islamic influences. Mudéjar art was influenced by ancient Arabic scripts which follow repetitive rhythmic patterns.

The dominant geometrical character emerged conspicuously in the accessory crafts using less expensive materials: elaborate tilework, brickwork, wood carving, plaster carving, and ornamental metals. To enliven the planar surfaces of wall and floor, Mudéjar style developed complicated tiling patterns. Even after Muslims were no longer employed in architecture, many of the elements they had introduced continued to be incorporated into Spanish architecture, thereby giving it a distinctive appearance. The term Mudéjar style was first coined in 1859 by José Amador de los Ríos, an Andalusian historian and archeologist.

This postcard came from Alena (2 September 2015) Postcrossing.