Gothic wood-carvings, triptychs and illuminated books are fine examples of mediaeval Spanish art, while in the field of architecture, the Moorish palaces and mosques of Al-Andalus (Granada, Cordoba and Seville) are also highly representative of the country's cultural heritage. and Velázquez, and writers such as Cervantes, Quevedo and Góngora. 16th-century Spain welcomed the influence of the Italian Renaissance, as many Spanish artists visited the neighbouring country to acquire first-hand knowledge of the latest aesthetic and technical developments. The Spanish Renaissance was characterized by the prominence acquired by religious subject matter, since the Church was the main patron of the arts. Painting and literature, however, would flourish in the 17th century, which is regarded as the Golden Age of Spanish culture. Seville, Madrid and Valladolid were active artistic centres, attracting painters such as El Greco, Ribera






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