Urban Spain

Hey Fellow Bloggers!

This weeks blog assignment encompasses a critical analysis of the Spanish cities, previously Granada which was transformed into Santa Fe de Granada.

The transition of the original Medieval Islamic controlled city Granada, to the newly founded Iberian city Santa Fe de Granada, demonstrates an influx of new concepts in regards to urban form. These new concepts transformed the structural design and organization, reproducing a new trend for newly founded Iberian cities.

For a proper critical analysis of these two examples of Spanish urbanization practices, the relationship between the old and new cities are to be delineated, the urban form in Santa Fe de Granada is to be analyzed and the significance of such urban form is analyzed.

Santa Fe Granada- Google Maps

The relationship between Granada and Santa Fe is rooted in the actual conquering of Granada by the Spanish Catholics, and the consequent transformation into Santa Fe de Granada. This was part of Reconquista era where Catholic kings aimed to re gain control of the Iberian peninsula, and succeeded. Santa Fe began as the encampment set up by the Catholic Kinds when the siege of Granada commenced. In 1481, the army camp transformed into a town of bricks and mortar in just 80 days, a remarkable speed for not only that time period, but still today.

There are many urban design practices found in Santa Fe that correspond with previous Ancient cities we have already studied. Two main urban design practices that I think are significant to mention is the grid plan imposed on Timgad and Santa Fe, as well as the actual conquering practice that took place in Mexico City and Santa Fe.  

The key elements of Timgad that are evident in Santa Fe is the grid style pattern of urban design, as well as the two main prescribed intersecting routes through the city. In Timgad, the grid system is complex and centered by the decumanus maximus and the cardo. The decumanus maximus is the main East- West oriented road common in Roman cities and the Cardo is the main North- South road. This same grid organization is found in Santa Fe. The layout of Santa Fe is also a grid plan, with similarly mimicked two main roads, intersecting at the center of the city.

ProProfs. “Timgad”. www.proprofs.com

Another similarity to Ancient cities we have previously studied is the conquering of Tenochtitlan and its transformation into modern day Mexico City. In 1519 Hernan Cortes learned about the problems within the Aztec Empire and was able to exploit them, conquering Tenochtitlan. It is evident that a similar conquering occurred, followed by a complete overhaul of the existing society in both Mexico City and Santa Fe.

One last similarity I think worth mentioning is the built up fortification around Santa Fe. This can be connected back to the Citadel at Tiyrns. This structure is built up on a hill, and also has the fortified walls, reiterating the need for defense.

The significant urban form that exists in Santa Fe is quite clearly the grid layout. The city has a protective wall and moat surrounding it providing defense against the Arabs, and reproduced supremacy over them. Furthermore, in Santa Fe they begin to use a different type of architectural vocabulary. There is a new element of the renaissance depicted, not as extreme as plateresque, but still evident. 

One more element of Santa Fe that is significant is the height of the main religious building . The church built on top of the mosc area of the city is significantly the highest point of the city. This helps reproduce power over the surrounding regions, as the city itself is raised, and the church (being a Catholic symbol) is even higher, therefore viewed from far expanses.

FotoCommunity. "Santa Fe Grenada Church." www.fotocommunity.es

Anyways, that is all for this week!