The Mosque, designed by portuguese architects, opened doors in 1985, thanks to donations from several muslim countries: Saudi Arabia (1 million USD), Kwait, Lybia, U.A.E. and Oman.
So Portuguese and Arabic — amazing and beautiful! -- Don't forget to vote for the April theme! We get two choices this time, thanks to Elaine. Please help spread the word too.
The blue tile set against the blue sky is wonderful.
Wasn't at least part of Portugal Moorish for a time? I seem to recall that the Christian "re-conquest" (if that is a correct term) occurred much earlier in Portugal than it did in Spain. I think the last Moorish ruler of Spain left the Alhambra in Grenada in 1492 (an easy date for Americans to remember).
Thank you for your comments left on my blog, to which I responded on my blog. I will add one additional comment here about your story of being stuck in Houston for three days due to bad weather on the East Coast delaying flight connections in New York. I did not leave these comments on my blog because I did not want to offend anyone from Houston who might read them.
Houston was the largest city in America without any local zoning. I don't know if they have adopted zoning in recent years, but it is too late. Without zoning anyone can build whatever they want whereever they want. While there are parts of Houston that are very pretty, there are entire districts where businesses built plain, ugly, box buildings with no regard for architecture or aesthetics.
I don't know how much traveling you have done in the USA, but I hope you will not judge the country by what Houston looks like.
this is a beautiful mosque. I wonder what the inside looks like. I really enjoyed seeing the awesome the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, Turkey. also, when I stayed at my stepson's penthouse in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he had a gorgeous view of the very large mosque and polo fields. Everyday I woke up to this view. And, the El Mesquita in Cordoba, Spain is quite unique because it was later turned into a Gothic Cathedral. The red and white arches are just gorgeous. I also enjoyed the baroque mosque in Ortakoy, Istanbul, Turkey. Very ornate. We have a photo of it on our hallway wall in our house. I love the intricate and colorful tiles and designs in Arabic structures. I also took great photos of the people and architectural elements at the Jama Masjid mosque in Delhi, India. Your photo brought all of these mosques to my memory today. Thank you.
Much like Julie, I'm wondering what it looks like on the inside. And no, that's not a request. I guess it's not just a matter of walking in with your camera in hand.
The arabs were expelled by the 1st portuguese king in the XII century, when Portugal became a nation, but they have remained in (what is now) southern Spain a couple of centuries more. You were absolutely right.
As to Houston, you've just guessed: I didn't like it... :-) Thank you for all the information, it's allways very welcome!
Seen from the terrace of the building next to it.
23 comments:
Wow very beautiful. I love the blue colors. Sorry I missed this when I was in Lisbon.
blue blue blue ,i love the first one !
I like that dome on the mosque.
So Portuguese and Arabic — amazing and beautiful!
--
Don't forget to vote for the April theme! We get two choices this time, thanks to Elaine. Please help spread the word too.
The blue tile set against the blue sky is wonderful.
Wasn't at least part of Portugal Moorish for a time? I seem to recall that the Christian "re-conquest" (if that is a correct term) occurred much earlier in Portugal than it did in Spain. I think the last Moorish ruler of Spain left the Alhambra in Grenada in 1492 (an easy date for Americans to remember).
Thank you for your comments left on my blog, to which I responded on my blog. I will add one additional comment here about your story of being stuck in Houston for three days due to bad weather on the East Coast delaying flight connections in New York. I did not leave these comments on my blog because I did not want to offend anyone from Houston who might read them.
Houston was the largest city in America without any local zoning. I don't know if they have adopted zoning in recent years, but it is too late. Without zoning anyone can build whatever they want whereever they want. While there are parts of Houston that are very pretty, there are entire districts where businesses built plain, ugly, box buildings with no regard for architecture or aesthetics.
I don't know how much traveling you have done in the USA, but I hope you will not judge the country by what Houston looks like.
great architecture, love the third photo :)
Wow, what fantastic tile work and that gorgeous blue! A truly beautiful building.
this is a beautiful mosque. I wonder what the inside looks like. I really enjoyed seeing the awesome the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, Turkey. also, when I stayed at my stepson's penthouse in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he had a gorgeous view of the very large mosque and polo fields. Everyday I woke up to this view. And, the El Mesquita in Cordoba, Spain is quite unique because it was later turned into a Gothic Cathedral. The red and white arches are just gorgeous. I also enjoyed the baroque mosque in Ortakoy, Istanbul, Turkey. Very ornate. We have a photo of it on our hallway wall in our house. I love the intricate and colorful tiles and designs in Arabic structures. I also took great photos of the people and architectural elements at the Jama Masjid mosque in Delhi, India. Your photo brought all of these mosques to my memory today. Thank you.
Such beautiful blue color and the shape of the tower gives a modern yet graceful look to the building. The tile-work is extraordinary.
Those colors are wonderful! We definitely don't have anything that looks like that around here.
This is so pretty. I really like the blue dome!
Nice blues!
Your gorgeous sky makes it more beutiful. The domes look like giant Christmas ornaments. Lovely.
V
Certainly a nice building or complex. You must have a fairly large complement of Muslims there?
Much like Julie, I'm wondering what it looks like on the inside. And no, that's not a request. I guess it's not just a matter of walking in with your camera in hand.
beautiful blue colors!
A sight definitely not common in my part of the world.
I like the surprise of buildings from other cultures placed in a different country. Embassy buildings often provide that type of surprise too.
the dome ornaments and colors are beautiful, JM. how big is it?
Another nice example of gorgeous blue tiles! so well suited with your sky.
David,
The arabs were expelled by the 1st portuguese king in the XII century, when Portugal became a nation, but they have remained in (what is now) southern Spain a couple of centuries more. You were absolutely right.
As to Houston, you've just guessed: I didn't like it... :-) Thank you for all the information, it's allways very welcome!
Nice capture. Mosques, temples and churches are great for photography because of their brilliant designs.
This is a very beautiful mosque. Thanks for showing it to us!
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