The Andalusian gardens of Morocco are always special. The most important ones are perhaps in the capital, Rabat, but the refined Hispano-Muslim influence of the past made these green spaces an inspiration in many parts of the country. In this post, we give you some keys so that you know how to value and admire these havens of peace.
Origins of the Andalusian Gardens
To understand the keys to the gardens Andalusian of Morocco, it is important to know that they have their roots in the Persian gardens and in the Roman. From the former, they took their strong symbolic and mystical value, and from the latter, the architectural and ‘urban’ order of these spaces, with special care in the pavement and walking areas.
Although the great protagonists of the Andalusian gardens are, logically, the planted plant species, these gardens are an ode to the two elements that give them life. On the one hand, water, and on the other, light. The former, in the form of fountains and irrigation channels, and the latter by making the best use of it, amplified by luminous effects in the water or even in the decoration, with glazed ceramics.
Form and Elements of an Andalusian Garden
Although each garden is different and adapts to the place in which it is located, it can be said that they prefer a square or rectangular shape, often enclosed by walls within a patio or, at least, in a clearly defined perimeter space.
The Andalusian garden usually has an epicenter in the form of a fountain or pavilion, and from there arise four arms in the form of channels or irrigation ditches, which facilitate the perspective of the walker and divide the space into four symmetrical squares. Different plant species amplify these perspectives, such as cypresses.
In these symmetrical squares are inserted ponds or pools, as well as the flowerbeds themselves, with different types of vegetation. Some flowerbeds that are slightly recessed to facilitate their contemplation from the main axes and to facilitate the arrival of water through irrigation channels. In addition, to make the experience more pleasant, there are benches with ceramics or porticoed galleries, which provide a point of shade when necessary.
The Different Aspects, According to the Plant Species
In this harmonious environment, plant species of the most varied kind are planted, which give a defining character to each garden or to each area of the garden. For example, a primordial conception of the Andalusian garden is the mystical: they symbolize the Garden of Eden, in which there was a central fountain that derived into four rivers, symbolized by the four channels mentioned. The sensory pleasure, which includes the pleasant sound of water, facilitates contemplation and communication with God.
Another important value is the horticultural: the fertility of the plants is at the same time a divine gift, and collecting their fruits is a grace from God. For this reason, fruit trees such as lemon, orange or pomegranate trees abound, but also other productive trees such as olive and almond trees. In addition, the beauty and color of their flowering are in tune. And the same goes for shrub vegetation, with myrtles (or myrtles) or lavender being common, among many others.
All this incited the poetic function of the gardens, being a source of inspiration for great writers, who very often used floral and plant metaphors, as many species were purely ornamental: climbers such as jasmine, aquatic plants such as water lilies or flowers such as lilies, irises and violets. Of a more general nature, one cannot forget the scientific function that was attributed to the Andalusian gardens, where medicinal species were planted, something we know from the numerous treatises written about it.
