Mudejar Architecture is a beautiful amalgamation of Christian, Muslim and Jewish influences on Art and its expression through Architecture in Aragon. The region predominantly comprises buildings that include Churches and Towers of religious and public importance. The Aragon period lasted for a long duration from the 12th century till the 17th century. This art was a result of different factors like Social, Economic, and Political conditions that affected Spain after Reconquista. The property is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its uniqueness in its expression, form, use of materials, and construction techniques.
There have been more than 100 structures in Mudejar Architecture era and amongst those 10 buildings that are the part of UNESCO World Heritage Site are Santa María Magdalena de Zaragoza, Church of Santa María de Calatayud, Church of San Pedro de Teruel, Santa Tecla de Cervera de la Cañada, Church tower of Salvador de Teruel, Church of Santa María de Tobed, Church of San Pablo de Zaragoza, San Gil Abad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza Cathedral, Teruel Cathedral. These buildings are the evidence about the art and style of Mudejar Architecture and its wonderful languages. The Mudejar Architecture incorporated a very unique way of representing beliefs through buildings.
The structures are mainly Islamic in their characters and have a strong influence on Gothic and European styles. The major materials used in Mudejar Architecture are bricks, glazed tiles, ceramic, plaster, and wood. The brick was the most widely explored and experimented with material of all. The buildings had the scale and proportions of Islam character and had elements inspired from Gothic as well as Byzantine, Sassanid, etc. The structures had different forms and each one had varied patterns that were resultant of the mix of materials and textures. There were many decorative elements like motifs, eaves, gold and silver ornamentation, plasterwork, painting, and many more.
The buildings are also a witness of the cultural fusion that happened during the period and how that has widely affected Art and Architecture. The Santa María Magdalena de Zaragoza is a 14th-century structure particularly in Romanesque Style with interiors in a Baroque way makes a unique mix of two languages of expression. The Church of Santa María de Calatayud is one the primary example of Mudejar Architecture with its octagonal plan and buttresses depicting the mix of Islamic and Gothic style of Architecture.
The Church of San Pedro de Teruel is one of the earliest examples in Mudejar Architecture style and was very subtle until its interior was done after the 17th century. The Santa Tecla de Cervera de la Cañada is one the most typical examples of Mudejar architecture in Aragon and is a fine example of a Fortified church and hence has gained much importance as a Heritage site.
The Church tower of Salvador de Teruel is clear evidence of Islamic Style that was prevalent in Mudejar Architecture and hence is a very important structure of the Aragon. The Church of Santa María de Tobed is a fortress Church and one of its kind in Spain during the Aragon period as it was a very concept at that time.
The Church of San Pablo de Zaragoza is an important example of Mudejar Architecture and also the finest example for the Tower during the era. The San Gil Abad de Zaragoza is a 14th century Church that was earlier built in typical Mudejar style and later had Baroque additions to it.
The Zaragoza Cathedral was built on sites of two different monuments and it is evident due to the minaret present at the site still today. The Teruel Cathedral was earlier only a Church in Romanesque and later a tower of typical Mudejar Architecture style was added to it and thus was converted into Cathedral.
All these structures are living proof of how the different styles, religions, and other factors had affected the Art and Architecture of a region along with its culture and tradition. The Mudejar Architecture is a very strong and bold expression in the History of Architecture and is very effectively preserved by the Government of Aragon. This is also a good example of Heritage conservation and preservation that has kept the structures enacted to date for generations to look forward to.
