During my trip to Spain, I got to see architecture and art along the coast of the Mediterranean. Something I noticed about this area were all the influences from across the sea, and across the continent that made their way into Spanish art history.
The most prevalent and most spectacular, in my opinion, was La Sagrada Familia. The gigantic church, designed by Antoni Gaudi, remains under construction until 2026. So many aspects of the architectural wonder are pulled from other cultures, especially middle eastern and islamic design.
The sky-scraping towers of the temple's 5 chapels are the tallest structure in the city of Barcelona, and claims La Sagrada Familia the title of tallest temple in the world. The Spires and towers of the church reminded me of something my Professor Sarah Parrish lectured about when covering Islamic styles of architecture, like how sandcastle towers can be built up by letting wet sand slip through one's hand and pile up into an organically shaped tower, Islamic influences on architecture often show in organic shapes, stalactite & stalagmite relief fixtures.
All of this and more took my breath away at La Sagrada Familia, when I did a google search of Gaudi's process on the behemoth building, I read that he knew he would never live to see his masterpiece finished, and I was moved to tears!
Throughout coastal Spain more of Gaudi's work, as well as work from other artists, reflect clear Islamic influence. The Islamic influence on religious architecture in the region leads to question how Islam influences religious practices there as well. Or, even more broadly, how do influences from all the cultures that coast the Mediterranean cross into each other? North African, Egyptian, Greek, Italian, French, Spanish, Middle Eastern, Indian, and Portuguese.
Even as far north as Grenada, Islamic influences in Spain remain strong in historical and religious architecture.
America is known for its "melting pot" of arts, culture, and social life, but these regions are so heavily intertwined with each other, and have been since pre-history. Similarities can be drawn in religious practices, architecture, but especially... TILES!!!!!
Both historical and contemporary, Spanish artists have taken Middle Eastern style tile-work, and implemented it across their own cities as well as rural cultural sites.
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