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Spain

Spain, a charming country full of culture

Spain is characterized by beautiful beaches, spirited cities, classic Andalusia, and delicious food. In Mondo Verde, you will soak up the local culture of classic Andalusia in a very special way. Because in the Spanish Gardens you will visit 2 outstanding curiosities: the Alhambra and the Real Alcázar de Sevilla.

Alhambra

The Alhambra is located in Granada, Andalusia. This monument stands at a strategic point in Granada, providing a view of the entire city and surrounding area. The Moorish rulers used the Alhambra as a fortress. Later, Spain transformed this fortress into a magnificent Islamic palace. The palace has several rooms such as a courtroom, public meeting rooms, the royal palace, and many women’s quarters. In addition, this monument has 4 main courtyards in a Moorish architecture, as do the intermediate buildings. The interior of the Alhambra is characterized as richly decorated with many art treasures.

Palacio de los Leones

In 1377, the Spaniards began the construction of the Palacio de los Leones. This patio gets its name from the impressive marble fountain carried by 12 lions. This stands in the middle of the patio. In Mondo Verde, you admire the Lion Fountain outside near the Alhambra. Surrounding the Lion patio are 124 magnificent columns.

Real Alcázar de Sevilla

In Sevilla stands the Real Alcázar de Sevilla, or Sevilla’s royal palace. “Alcazar” means “castle” in Spanish and “fortress or palace” in Arabic.

The Real Alcázar de Sevilla was built by the Spanish in Mudejar style. This architectural style is characterized with influences from Moorish and Christian culture. This palace is known as the oldest palace in use in Europe.

Mondo Verde has recreated the gate of the Real Alcázar de Sevilla. Above the gate is a shield with a clawing lion. Mondo Verde altered the text on the shield with a Dutch motto: “Je Maintiendrai” (I will uphold). Columns and jagged arches accent the gallery on the inside, with sunken gardens on either side.

The entire Alhambra in Granada and Real Alcázar de Sevilla are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Spain, a variety of flora

Spanish flag

Originally, the Spanish flag (Lantana camara) comes from South America. This subtropical plant belongs to the genus in the Verbenaceae family. This genus includes about 150 species of herbaceous plants.  The Spanish flag is also called Big-sage and Shrub verbena in English. The flowers attract many insects and birds. This is because of the smell these orange-red flowers give off. Do not eat the fruits as they are known to be poisonous!

Also discover the other world gardens, such as