Tag Archives: fountains

A Stunning and Ornate Andalusian Courtyard in Cordoba, Spain

February 24, 2023 Globetrotting Gardener Leave a comment

Cordoba is famous for its beautiful patios and courtyards, and even has a Patio Festival every year, where many private residences will open their doors to the public to show off their blooming patios. It is a source of pride to many of the people in Cordoba, and the door of many buildings are left open during the day so passerbys can admire the may courtyards dotting the historic old town.

The patios of Cordoba and Andalusia in general, show the strong influence of the Moorish occupation that lasted in Spain until 1492, when Granada was the last city to fall back to the Catholic rulers Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. That influence is obvious in the designs of the interior courtyards and in the use of the many water features, tiles and statuary to create green retreats.

This particular patio on Calle Encarnacion is actually two courtyards opening one into the other. The first one is a bit more formal:

The second one offers covered areas and is more an extension of the living space:

Formal gardens, Historic gardens

The Alcazar Gardens in Cordoba, Spain

March 5, 2018 Globetrotting Gardener Leave a comment

The Alcazar de los Reyes Christianos (Alcazar of the Christian Kings) blends the formality of royal palace gardens with the strong Moorish influence often found throughout Andalusian Spain’s gardens.

The gardens are laid out as terraces, with the top one collecting water from the mountains and irrigated the lower terraces. This top terrace features two large pools, and steps lead to the lower terrace which features three large ponds. A middle terrace is located at the southern end.

The gardens are planted with tall cypress edges, while boxwood in a grid pattern edges rose gardens. The water features are the focal point of these gardens, and the entire perspective follows the large pools framed in by the plantings.

Botanical gardens, Historic gardens, Theme gardens

The Jardins d’Essais: Rabat’s Historic Botanical Gardens, Part IV, Aquatic Garden and Succulents

July 2, 2017 Globetrotting Gardener Leave a comment

The city of Rabat, capital of Morocco, is a Unesco World Heritage site, and the Jardins d’Essai Botaniques, literally meaning Gardens of Botanical Trials, was classified a national heritage site in 1992.

These gardens were created between 1914 and 1919, under a joint initiative of the sultan Moulay Hafid and the French Protectorate. They were designed by one of my favorite garden architects, Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier, best known for the Rose Garden and the Iris Garden of Bagatelle outside Paris, but who created gardens in Spain and Morocco in addition to his city planning work as a French public servant, laying out the plans for the modern cities of Morocco.

The gardens were reopened by the current King in 2013, following extensive renovations after years of neglect. They include over 650 species of plants, including rare varieties of tropical, sub-tropical, and succulents, and an arboretum.

The Jardins d’Essais are separated by a road into two distinct gardens. the western side includes the Moorish garden and museum, while the eastern garden is a bit larger and more formal, with distinct garden areas for various types of plants.

Because there is a good bit to see here, I am dividing this into several posts, and this is the final post featuring the Aquatic Garden and the Succulents and Cacti Garden.

Both of these gardens are set off the main promenade which is the axis for all the different theme gardens such as climbers, roses, palms, etc.

The aquatic gardens, much like other areas of the gardens, are still a work in progress.

The succulents garden is more mature and literally is a small cacti forest, with many large mature specimens, and a great many species not found outside greenhouse in the western hemisphere.

Botanical gardens, Historic gardens, Theme gardens

The Jardins d’Essais: Rabat’s Historic Botanical Gardens, Part III, Vines, Fruit Trees and Palms

June 14, 2017 Globetrotting Gardener Leave a comment

Because there is a good bit to see here, I am dividing this into several posts, and this is the third post on the eastern gardens.

This is the largest part of the gardens, with a large promenade in the center starting from the main gate, and going up in terraces to culminate in a large series of ponds and fountains at the vey top, from which one is afforded sweeping views of the gardens. It is also the most formal part of the gardens, yet, in true Forestier style, intimate theme gardens are dotted along the sides.

An intricate arbor walk displays different varieties of climbers. An area is allocated to fruit tree with a country style orchard. There are also areas for pomegranates (of which the gardens grow no less than 18 varieties) and olive trees, rose, and palms.

Morocco, Rabat, Jardins d'Essais, Botanical Gardens — Central promenade

City Parks and Gardens, Historic gardens, Patios & Courtyards, Theme gardens

Maria Luisa Park in Sevilla: the Garden of the Lions

June 27, 2016 Globetrotting Gardener Leave a comment

Maria Luisa, Infanta of Spain (1832-1897) was the younger sister of Isabella II, queen of Spain. She married Antoine, Duke of Montpensier, youngest son of the French King Louis Philippe, and became Duchess of Montpensier.

Most of the grounds that form Maria Luisa Park today where originally part of the Palace of San Telmo and donated by Maria Luisa to the city in 1893 to be used as public gardens. The palace , a magnificent example of Spanish baroque architecture was rehabilitated and converted in the 1990s into the seat of the autonomous government of Andalusia. It stands today just outside Maria Luisa Park.

French urban planner and landscape designer Jean Claude Nicolas Forestier, who also created the Bagatelle Rose Garden and the Laribal Gardens in Barcelona, started work on the park in 1911. Also in preparation of the 1929 World’s Fair, architect Anibal Gonzales began work on the Plaza de Espana building and some of the pavilions.

Under Forestier, who had been heavily influenced by the gardens of Andalusia and Morocco, the Park became a Moorish inspired extravaganza of tiled fountains, ponds, arbors, pavillions and other structures, planted in a lush Mediterranean style with vines, bougainvilleas, roses, palms orange trees and flower beds.

I discovered Forestier’s work when in Barcelona, visiting the stunning terraced Laribal Gardens on the hill of Montjuic. These gardens lead from fountains to gazebos to arbors to rose gardens to the top of the hill where you discover the sweeping views down the hill with water stairs inspired by the Alhambra leading back down. This element of surprise and wonder is one I have found in all of Forestier’s gardens, whether in Paris at Bagatelle, Morocco at the Jardins d’Essais or here.

This park being such an expansive and complex creation, I am featuring it through several posts.This first one showcases the Garden of the Lions (11) and the Fountain of the Alvarez Quintero Brothers (14) just behind it. Both are stunning in very different ways. The Fountain of the Lions features large fountains surrounded with sculptures and geometrical borders with a clear Moorish influence. The Quintero fountain is a masterpiece of tile work that ties in with the incredibly detailed allover moasaics of the Plaza de Espana at the other end of the park.

Historic gardens, Theme gardens

The Hassan Tower Gardens in Rabat, Morocco

May 3, 2016 Globetrotting Gardener 1 Comment

The city of Rabat, capital of Morocco, is a Unesco World Heritage site, One of the most famous and distinctive landmarks in the city is the Hassan Tower. Begun in the 12th century, it was at one time the second largest mosque in the the islamic world, but little remains of it besides the tower of minaret, reminiscent of the Koutoubia in Marrakech.

At the foot of the tower, are some pleasant gardens, typical of Moorish and Andalusian gardens, with landscaped terraces, meandering paths, and of course the ever present water features connecting multiple levels with canals, ponds and fountains. While not extraordinary in any way, these are very pleasant gardens worth visiting on a trip to see the Hassan Tower.

City Parks and Gardens, Historic gardens, Patios & Courtyards, Theme gardens

Maria Luisa Park in Sevilla: Fountain of the Frogs and Island of the Birds

February 26, 2016 Globetrotting Gardener Leave a comment

This park being such an expansive and complex creation, I am featuring it through several posts.This one showcases the Fountain of the Frogs (34 on map) and the Island of the Birds (6, Island of the Ducks on the map). The whimsical Fountain of the Frog has colorful Andalusian ceramic frogs surroundinga fountain, followed by a pond that leads the Garden of the Lions to the Isleta de los Patos, or Birds Island. The island provides a sanctuary for the many birds inhabiting the park; its focal point is the Pavilion of King Alfonso XII, which dates back to the time it was part of the San Telmo Palace.

City Parks and Gardens, Historic gardens, Patios & Courtyards, Theme gardens

Maria Luisa Park in Sevilla: the Glorieta de las Conchas and Arbors

November 9, 2015 Globetrotting Gardener Leave a comment

This park being such an expansive and complex creation, I am featuring it through several posts.This first one showcases the northern section of the park. The Glorieta de las Conchas (8) features statues and planted borders arranged around a central fountain. Glorieta de Dona Sol (9) has a beautiful mosaic surrounded by hedges, and Glorieta de Ofelia Nieto (10_ is a meandering arbor covered in trumpet vines and bougainvilleas. At the end of the avenue is the Museum of Archeology (30), also built for the 1929 Exhibition.

Leading towards the Fountain of the Lions is Gurugu Mountain (15 on the map), a small mad made “mount” with an observation point and gazebo up top. This is a perfect example of Forestier’s playfulness in garden design, interjecting surprises at every turn throughout his gardens.

City Parks and Gardens, Historic gardens, Patios & Courtyards, Theme gardens

Maria Luisa Park in Sevilla: Water-lily Pool (Estanque de los Lotos)

November 6, 2015 Globetrotting Gardener 2 Comments

This park being such an expansive and complex creation, I am featuring it through several posts.This last post features the Water-lily Pool (Estanque de los Lotos).

On the way from de Island of the Birds to the Lily Pool is the Glorieta de Juana Reina, named after a famous Spanish actress born in Sevilla in 1929.

Then at the western end of the Park, one reaches the Water-lily Pool (Estanque de los Lotos), a stunning pond bordered by arbors.

To the side is another pond and statuary.

Towards the exit gate are centennial trees.

An alley with a series of fountains in the Moorish style to the southern gate.

City Parks and Gardens, Historic gardens, Patios & Courtyards, Theme gardens

Maria Luisa Park in Sevilla: Plaza de Espana

September 5, 2015 Globetrotting Gardener Leave a comment

This park being such an expansive and complex creation, I am featuring it through several posts.This one one showcases the Plaza de Espana. Although not strictly a garden of course, the Plaza de Espana is not only emblematic of the city of Seville, but also the focal point of the park around which much of the gardens are laid out.

It was designed for the World Fair of 1929 and is now used for central government offices. It is a masterpiece of Renaissance Revival architecture, designed by Aníbal González. It features a series of tiled alcoves representing the provinces of Spain.

Plaza de Espana is laid out in a half moon, with the building curving around a monumental plaza with canals and tiled bridges. The square is tiled in the peble style so often found around Andalusian patios and squares.