“How charmed was I with this fairy palace! Everything here appeared as if just raised from the ground… and yet centuries had passed away.”—“Tales of the Alhambra by Washington Irving”

Irving’s writing blends history with a romantic, almost dreamlike atmosphere. He sees the Alhambra not just as architecture, but as a living memory of a vanished world. From the outside, though, it is not impressive. Once inside, though, that changes.

The Alhambra in Spain reminds me of The Forbidden City in China. They feel similar because both were designed as enclosed royal worlds, where power is expressed through ordered space,

controlled movement,

and rich decoration.

Both are a mix of fortress,

palaces,

and an inner city.

“The silent and deserted courts… the fountains murmuring in the midst of solitude… all conjure up visions of the past.”—Washington Irving

Each pathway lead you through courtyards,

halls,

and gardens.

This is a gardener’s paradise.

The Moors were from places that lacked water and vegetation. Here they could have both and did so with unbridled energy.

Plus, there is symmetry and balance that is turned inward,

focusing beauty inside its walls, integrating nature with water, light, and gardens.

It creates a sense of harmony and paradise.

The Alhambra and The Forbidden City differ in styles. The Islamic geometric and calligraphic artistry versus the Chinese use of bold color, symbolism, and imperial image.

Yet, they feel surprisingly connected.