Dictionary of islamic architecture

See also:
coral, East Africa, Tanzania
Further Reading:
F.Aalund, ‘Zanzibar old stone town’, 
Monumentum
143–
59, 1983.
M.C.Horton and C.M.Clark, 
Zanzibar Archaeological
Survey 1984–5,
Zanzibar 1985.
M.C.Horton, C.M.Clarke and Y.Staelens, Zanzibar
Museums Project 1986, Zanzibar
1986.
J.S.Kirkman, ‘Excavations at Ras Mkumbuu on the island
of Pemba’, 
Tanjanyika Notes and Records
1: 94–101, 1959.
A.Prins, 
The Swahili-Speaking Peoples of Zanzibar and the
East African Coast,
London 1964.
Zaragoza
City in north-west Spain which was Muslim from the
eighth to the twelfth century and which continued as a
centre of Mudéjar culture.
During the Islamic period the town was settled by
Berbers from North Africa who in the eleventh
century were ruled over by their own Dhu Nunid
amirs. The city finally fell to Alfonso VI of León and
Castile in 1085.
Few remains of the Islamic period survive with
the exception of Parts of the city walls and parts of
the Aljafería palace. The Islamic parts of the city walls
have been dated to the late ninth century whilst the
most visible parts are Mudéjar work.
Zaragoza

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The most well-known part of Zaragoza is the
fortified palace complex known as the Aljafería. The
outer walls of this structure have recently been restored
and may be Islamic, the main gate is a round horseshoe
arch between two semi-circular bastions. Remains of
the mosque can be found incorporated into a later
church. Inside, there is a square room covered by a
dome and a mihrab with a horseshoe arch covered by
a semi-dome as in the mosque at Córdoba.
Within the palace most of the building is Mudé-
jar and consists of a series of courtyards decorated
with arches and pools leading to the royal hall. The
arches are cusped and rest on pairs of columns with
re-used Islamic capitals. Between the arches the
building is decorated with ornate interlacing
strapwork and vegetal motifs.
Many of the churches of the city also contain
much Mudéjar work. The cathedral, known as La
Seo, has an interesting mixture of Islamic-style blind
niches and diaper-patterned brickwork with Gothic
windows.