The Republican journal., 1900-05-03
Nuevo,-just beyond the city gate which

Philip III. caused to be erected on the
ruins of the Moorish Babu-l- Kanterah
Gate OF the Bridge" The Alcazar
(royal palace proper, was built ON the
site OF Roderics' castle, the last of the
Gothle, whose father, Theofred was A
duke OF Cordoba. During Arab suprem-
acy, the Archepiscopal palace. stable
and huerta were under one roof Later
the lnquisition occupied part of the
same building: and half century ago
It's lower portion was converted into
stables for the royal stations. A large
open space close by, called the Gamma
Santa, was the scene of MANY Christian
martyrdoms under the Moslems. TIE
visit the old high-walled garden of tho
Alcazar one must obtain special per
mission IN town, and also pay an adj
mission fee. In it the orange trees and
roses are still tlourishing-or their lin
| cal descendants-which the first Arab
ruler i'll Spain planted for his Sultan
pleasure, hundreds of years ago. The
place seems haunted by the shades of
dark-eyed beauties secluded here-many
thousands of them during the five CEN
turtles of Moorish occupation.
a favorite excursion is to the Uermi-
tages of Val Paraiso, yale of Paradise"
III the Sierra Morena four miles distant,
a carriage may go most of the way but
mule-back is better. for the road is ex-
tremely rough i'll places and finally as
cends by paths too steep for wheels,
Part of the way runs through charming
woods, bright in spring time with cistus
and purple iris. but not altogether safe
from robbers, who may follow one out
from the city. The bravest experience
a; creepy sensation at the sight of armed
figures coming down the narrow trail:
but generally it is only some returning
visitors or the Hermits going to town.
who pass with the friendly Spanish sal
utation, Eva listed con Dios''-God be
with you. The Brothers of the Hermit
tage are now less than twenty. Their
habits are brown, and they follow the
rule of Saint Paul, the Hermit Close
by, on the mountain side. was once the
most magnificent Moorish structure in
Cordova, the palace of Azzahra, built
for his bride by the Caliph Annasir. 1t
was begun in the year 1885, by artists
from Bagdad and Constantinople. TO-
600 men, $500 mules and 100 camels be-
ing employed in the work The palace
contained 4 500 pillars of various kinds
of precious marbles: it's great hall. the
khalafat, had eight doors overlaid with
gold and encrusted with precious stones.
hung in horseshoe arches of ebony and
ivory. In the lesser hail. called Almun-
is, was a magnificent fountain brought
from Constantinople. decorated with
many figures of animals made of pure
gold, adorned with precious stones, the
water streaming from the mouths. Io-
cal tradition and history agree that the
whole land of Islam contained nothing
to compare with this palace, and its
beauties passed the power OF language
to describe Annasir lived in it twenty
five years. with a folce of 10000 ser
wants, besides $50 >chlavonian garden
ers, the annual expense of the establish
ment exceeding 800, GOO dinars. But in
spite of this unparalleled magniticence
the Caliph and his bride Went the way
of ali the earth, and no doubt worms ate
them as disrespectfully as commoner
clay All the miracles of art in AZzahra
We're totally destroyed in the year 1908:
and now even the exact site of the pal
ace is unknown.
FANNIE B. WARD.