A traditional Spanish garden is a style of
garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the cultivation, display, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The single feature identifying even the wildest wild garden is ''control''. The garden can incorporate bot ...
or
designed landscape developed in historic Spain. Especially in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, the term tends to be used for a
garden design
Garden design is the art and process of designing and creating plans for layout and planting of garden, gardens and landscapes. Garden design may be done by the garden owner themselves, or by professionals of varying levels of experience and expe ...
style with a formal arrangement that evokes, usually not very precisely, the sort of plan and planting developed in southern Spain, incorporating principles and elements from precedents in ancient
Persian gardens,
Roman gardens and
Islamic gardens, and the great Moorish gardens (historically known as
''riyad''s) of the
Al-Andalus
Al-Andalus () was the Muslim-ruled area of the Iberian Peninsula. The name refers to the different Muslim states that controlled these territories at various times between 711 and 1492. At its greatest geographical extent, it occupied most o ...
era on the
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...
.
In other parts of Spain, public parks and large gardens have been more influenced by the
Italian garden,
French formal garden
The French formal garden, also called the , is a style of "Landscape architecture, landscape" garden based on symmetry and the principle of imposing order on nature. Its epitome is generally considered to be the Gardens of Versailles designed ...
, and even the
English landscape garden
The English landscape garden, also called English landscape park or simply the English garden (, , , , ), is a style of "landscape" garden which emerged in England in the early 18th century, and spread across Europe, replacing the more formal ...
. Spain has a variety of climatic conditions, especially in
altitude
Altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum (geodesy), datum and a point or object. The exact definition and reference datum varies according to the context (e.g., aviation, geometr ...
and rainfall, and modern Spanish gardens are very varied accordingly. Spanish urban housing has long had more apartments than small houses, and the small houses have traditionally lacked
front garden, with not that much to the rear either, often just a paved
patio
A patio (, ; ) is an outdoor space generally used for dining or recreation that adjoins a structure and is typically paved. In Australia, the term is expanded to include roofed structures such as a veranda, which provides protection from sun ...
with small beds by the walls, and space for plants in pots. Until recently, "full" gardens were mostly found in the country or very large urban houses, but some modern suburban developments have gardens closer to those of northern Europe and North America.
Traditions
Traditionally, the
paradise garden is interpreted with a central cross axis, in the four
cardinal direction
The four cardinal directions or cardinal points are the four main compass directions: north (N), south (S), east (E), and west (W). The corresponding azimuths ( clockwise horizontal angle from north) are 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°.
The ...
s, with long ponds or water channels (a
rill or stylized
qanat) where water reflects and flows, set in a walled
courtyard
A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky.
Courtyards are common elements in both Western and Eastern building patterns and have been used by both ancient and contemporary a ...
. The remaining quadrants often had fruit trees and fragrant plants. Thus, characteristic sensory experiences are refreshing coolness, humidity, sounds, greenery, and fragrance. This type of garden is compatible with the Spanish climate of sun and heat. Provisions for shade are given with the use of
arcades,
pergolas,
trellising, and garden
pavilion
In architecture, ''pavilion'' has several meanings;
* It may be a subsidiary building that is either positioned separately or as an attachment to a main building. Often it is associated with pleasure. In palaces and traditional mansions of Asia ...
s.
Ceramic
A ceramic is any of the various hard, brittle, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at a high temperature. Common examples are earthenware, porcela ...
elements and
tile
Tiles are usually thin, square or rectangular coverings manufactured from hard-wearing material such as ceramic, Rock (geology), stone, metal, baked clay, or even glass. They are generally fixed in place in an array to cover roofs, floors, wal ...
s are often used: in
water features; for structural, decorative, and seating elements; and as
paving; with solid fields, embellishments and accents; and in
pottery
Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other raw materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. The place where such wares are made by a ''potter'' is al ...
. A clarity from the symmetrical simplicity often results.
Historical design eras
Spain has a long tradition of making gardens. Significant gardens were made by:
* immigrants from the
Carthaginian and
Roman Empires; for example, the
Palmeral of Elche in
Alicante
Alicante (, , ; ; ; officially: ''/'' ) is a city and municipalities of Spain, municipality in the Valencian Community, Spain. It is the capital of the province of Alicante and a historic Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean port. The population ...
* nobility, Christians in the
Spanish Medieval period
*
Islamic
Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
rulers and artisans of
Al-Andalus
Al-Andalus () was the Muslim-ruled area of the Iberian Peninsula. The name refers to the different Muslim states that controlled these territories at various times between 711 and 1492. At its greatest geographical extent, it occupied most o ...
, the
Moorish
The term Moor is an exonym used in European languages to designate the Muslim populations of North Africa (the Maghreb) and the Iberian Peninsula (particularly al-Andalus) during the Middle Ages.
Moors are not a single, distinct or self-defi ...
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...
or Spanish territories, especially in present-day
Andalusia
Andalusia ( , ; , ) is the southernmost autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain, located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, in southwestern Europe. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomou ...
in Southern Spain; for example, the
Alhambra
The Alhambra (, ; ) is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Spain. It is one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture and one of the best-preserved palaces of the historic Muslim world, Islamic world. Additionally, the ...
,
Generalife
The Generalife (; ) was a summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid rulers of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus. It is located directly east of and uphill from the Alhambra palace complex in Granada, Spain.
Etymology
The most commonly c ...
in
Granada
Granada ( ; ) is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada (Spain), Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence ...
.
* post-
Reconquista
The ''Reconquista'' (Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese for ) or the fall of al-Andalus was a series of military and cultural campaigns that European Christian Reconquista#Northern Christian realms, kingdoms waged ag ...
Mudéjar
Mudéjar were Muslims who remained in Iberia in the late medieval period following the Christian reconquest. It is also a term for Mudéjar art, which was greatly influenced by Islamic art, but produced typically by Christian craftsmen for C ...
design and artisans; for example, the
Alcázar of Seville.
[Goodwin (1990), pp. 13–17]
* catholic monarchs during the
Spanish Renaissance
The Spanish Renaissance was a movement in Spain, emerging from the Italian Renaissance in Italy during the 14th century, that spread to Spain during the 15th and 16th centuries.
This new focus in art, literature,
Quotation, quotes and scienc ...
,
Spanish Gothic, and
Spanish Baroque periods; for example, the
Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso.
* landowning and business dynasties during the Romantic and Modern periods; for example,
Park Güell.
* civic projects and expositions; for example,
Maria Luisa Park and
Plaza de España in
Seville
Seville ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Spain, Spanish autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir, River Guadalquivir, ...
.
* In 21st century Spain, gardens are designed by garden and
landscape design
Landscape design is an independent profession and a design and art tradition, practiced by landscape designers, combining nature and culture. In contemporary practice, landscape design bridges the space between landscape architecture and garde ...
ers,
horticulturalists
Horticulture (from ) is the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. Horticulture is commonly associated with the more professional and technical aspects of plant cultivation on a smaller and mo ...
, artists, architects, and
landscape architects; for example, the Olympic village public outdoor spaces for the 1992
Barcelona Olympics or the public spaces for the Universal Exposition of
Seville Expo '92
The Universal Exhibition of Seville 1992 – Expo '92 (officially: ) was a universal exhibition held from Monday 20 April to Monday 12 October 1992, at the , in Seville, Spain. The theme for the expo was "The Age of Discoveries", celebrating the ...
.
Many historic gardens are protected by a heritage designation, ''
Jardín histórico''.
Gallery
Image:Maria Luisa Park in Seville the Garden of the Lions.jpg, Garden of the Lions from Maria Luisa Park
Image:Sevila9.JPG, Gardens from Alcázar of Seville.
Image:SevillaJardinDeLosLeones03.JPG, Maria Luisa Park, Seville
Image:Alhambra-Granada.jpg, Jardín de la Alhambra
Image:Sevilla reales alcázare garten.jpg, Jardín del Alcázar de Sevilla
Image:Alcazar (12).jpg, Jardín del Alcázar de Córdoba
Image:Jardinmuseosorolla.jpg, Jardín del Museo Sorolla de Madrid
Image:Alcazaba 2.JPG, Jardín de la Alcazaba de Málaga
Image:Jardines de las Delicias 1.jpg, Jardines de las Delicias de Sevilla
Image:AlcazarJerez.JPG, Jardín del Alcázar de Jerez
Image:Goelbirdnests06390137.JPG, Bird nests built by Gaudí in the Park Güell terrace walls.
See also
*
Gardening in Spain
*
List of garden types
A wide range of garden types exist. Below is a list of examples.
By country of origin
*Chinese garden
**Lingnan garden, Cantonese garden
**Sichuanese garden
*Dutch garden
*Gardens of ancient Egypt, Egyptian garden
*English garden
* ...
Notes
References
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spanish Garden
Spanish gardens
Islamic gardens
Garden
Culture of Spain