The Companion Guide to the South of Spain (Companion Guides) [Paperback]

Alfonso Lowe (Author), Hugh Seymour-Davies (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Companion Guides | Publication Date: December 12, 2000

Andalucia in its heyday, after the invasion of the Moors in 711, was famous for its wealth and fertility, and the province's Moorish character remains distinct; even before the Moors, the Phoenicians, the Romans and the Vandals had all been drawn to this beautiful land. The Moors cultivated science and the arts, and their influence was felt throughout western Europe - in the songs of the troubadours, the poems of Dante and the discoveries of Copernicus; their merchants enriched the province; their courtiers and architects set new standards of luxurious living. This glory finally ended in 1492, when the Christian armies of the Reconquista entered Granada, but much remains in the three Moorish towns of Cordoba, Seville and Granada, and the country round about, to recall the great times. Alfonso Lowe is an admirable guide, from the intricacies of the distinction between Mozarabic and Mudejar Moorish styles to the characteristic dishes to be found in restaurants and bars - and to the adjacent territories of Murcia and the greater part of Alicante.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I value the traditional virtues of the Companion Guides... actually written by an individual rather than packaged by production teams... straightforward intelligent guides to cultural sites. --Bookseller

Product Details

• Paperback: 440 pages
• Publisher: Companion Guides; Rev Upd edition (December 12, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1900639335
• ISBN-13: 978-1900639330
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #916,622 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Dense and technical, April 29, 2011

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Gromer "Gromer" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Companion Guide to the South of Spain (Companion Guides) (Paperback)

For my travels, I was hoping to find a good introduction to this subject that wasn't too mainstream/commercial/touristy and thought this book might fit the bill. Unfortunately I ended up not reading it much as I found it too dense and technical in its details. I would not recommend this as a guide book to bring to Spain, but more as a reference book to keep at home should you wish to look up details about a particular church or building. Also, it's a bit dated, so a lot of these impressions and information may not be true anymore.