Nestled among the tallest mountains in Spain, just outside Granada, is an exquisite palace-cum-fortress that represents the high-water mark of Islamic architectural achievement in Western Europe. The Alhambra was built by a succession of Moorish kings in the Nasrid dynasty, beginning with Muhammad I in the 13th century. (more…)

In 1825 Frederick William III of Prussia purchased an estate south of Sanssouci Park as a gift for the Crown Prince Frederick William. The estate already had an 18thy century manor house, which was remodeled jointly by Karl Friedrich Schinkel and the Crown Prince to create the Charlottenhof Palace. Schinkel was abroad while much of the reconstruction work was underway, so his assistant, Ludwig Persius, supervised the project. (more…)

On the European shore of the Bosphorus in Istanbul stands one of the most lavish palaces in the world. It was built for the Ottoman sultan Abdulmecid I, who wanted a building to accommodate his harem, the court administration, and enormous state rooms, where visiting rulers and ambassadors could be entertained. The imperial architect, Garabet Amira Balyan, delivered a building that performed all of these functions with a grandeur and a scale that is almost overwhelming. (more…)

Regarded as one of the iconic symbols of the state of Rajasthan, the Hawa Mahal – Palace of Winds – sits peacefully in the centre of the busy city of Jaipur. Built as an extension to the women’s chambers of the city palace, it was intended as a viewing screen. Through this screen women of the royal family and harem could freely view the bazaar and its vibrant proceedings unseen. (more…)

Castle Coole, set in 283 hectares of parkland, is an outstanding example of the uniquely Irish response to the Palladian ideal. Coolly classical, this mansion house is a model of symmetry. The quality of its Portland stone masonry is consummate, with all four frontages equally perfect. (more…)

Although it was built for the heir to the Imperial Russian throne, Grand Duke Paul Petrovich and his second wife Maria Fedorovna, the choice of architect for Pavlovsk Palace was dictated by the Grand Duke’s mother, Catherine II. Charles Cameron was her favourite designer. Although Cameron’s concept for Pavlovsk was never fully realized, it represented a complete and ideal world that remained dear to him long after he had fallen out with its owners. (more…)