Al-bustān: Recreational Estates in the Islamic West and Sicily—Architectures and Spaces of Prestige as Symbols of Power.

Dear Colleagues,
We are reaching out to inform you about the Call For Papers for the Special Issue “Al-Bustān: Recreational Estates in the Islamic West and Sicily—Architectures and Spaces of Prestige as Symbols of Power” in the journal Arts (MDPI).

Guest Editors:
Alicia Carrillo, Julio Navarro Palazón

Al-Bustān: Recreational Estates in the Islamic West and Sicily—Architectures and Spaces of Prestige as Symbols of Power:
Historically, almunias or pleasure estates (al-Bustān) were not only places of leisure and recreation for the urban elite but also agricultural and livestock farms that provided significant economic benefits to their owners. Their establishment was a display of power and prestige, and their architecture reflected the status of their promoters; this fact explains why some of the most well-known examples in the Islamic West and Sicily preserve monumental remains of the highest caliber in their palaces, pools, and walls. Examples of some of these almunias include Genoardo and Favara in Palermo, Agdal and Menara in Marrakech, Aljafería in Zaragoza, Castillejo de Monteagudo, or Generalife in Granada—all founded during the Middle Ages.
The aim of this Special Issue is to share findings from recent excavations with the scientific community, along with research conducted through the exploration of written sources and architectural and artistic analyses. Additionally, works related to the study of the architectural typologies used in the almunias, their potential origins in Greco-Roman antiquity, their remaking during the Middle Ages, and their transferal to the Renaissance will be presented.

Keywords: Al-Bustān, belvedere, qubba, botanical gardens, Nymphaeum, pools

Language: English

Dates:
Submissions must be made by December 31 (2024) through the Arts journal website.

Submission link and more information at: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/arts/special_issues/4L20GUF4I1