Alfiz
The alfiz (Spanish: [alˈfiθ], Portuguese: [aɫˈfiʃ], perhaps from Andalusian Arabic alḥíz, from alḥáyyiz, from Classical Arabic ḥayyiz, meaning 'a container';[1] Catalan: arrabà [ərəˈβa]) is an architectonic adornment, consisting of a moulding, usually a rectangular panel, which encloses the outward side of an arch. It is an Islamic Arab architectonic ornament, but has appeared in non-Arab Spanish architecture since the 8th century.
![](../I/m/Alfiz.tipos02.jpg)
It is frequent in the Islamic Hispanic art and mozarabic art (usually in connection with the horseshoe arch). As the image illustrates, there are two alfiz variants:
- A Alfiz starting from the impost.
- B Alfiz starting from the floor.
The space between the arch and the alfiz is called enjuta or arrabá, usually richly decorated (iron-gray in the illustration). Each curved triangle is called albanega (spandrel).
References
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alfiz. |