Islamic architecture: The six best places to visit

ALHAMBRA, GRANADA, SPAIN

Named "The Red One" for the colour of its walls, Spain's greatest Moorish monument is a mighty fortress on a crag, backed by the snow-dusted Sierra Nevada. Founded in the ninth century, most of the current structure dates from the mid-13th. Its intimate courtyards are apparently simple in design, but cunning artistry created their elegant proportions, latticework, Arabic calligraphy and gorgeous pool reflections. Rose gardens meander uphill to Generalife, a fountain-splashed summer palace that showcases the Islamic mastery over water. Views from the Alhambra's ramparts over the medieval Albayzin Arab quarter of cubist white houses are tremendous. See granadatur.com.

IMAM SQUARE, ESFAHAN, IRAN

One of the world's largest public squares lies at the heart of the 17th-century, monumental capital of the Safavid dynasty, and is surrounded by an ensemble of mosques and palaces. Any one of its fabulous buildings could themselves make this list, including the floral-motif Imam Mosque and the lovely, dark-blue, intimate Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque. Ali Qapu Palace leads through to parkland and more palaces. The dome-topped covered passageways of Bazaar-e Bozorg are also a delight, and remain a vibrant shopping destination where craftsmen work in metal and ceramics as veiled women haggle over herbs. See tourism.isfahancht.ir.

SHEIKH ZAYED MOSQUE, ABU DHABI, UAE

This massive, contemporary mosque in blinding white marble, popping with domes and soaring minarets, fuses various architectural traditions, including Mughal, Moorish, Ottoman and Arab. Close up, its monumental white facade reveals gorgeous floral inlay in agate, jasper and amethyst that might recall the Taj Mahal. Inside, chandeliers glitter with Swarovski crystals, the world's biggest carpet unfolds, and the airconditioning is frigid. Completed in 2007, the mosque is a splendid testament to contemporary Islamic craftsmanship, though its sheer size – enough to hold 40,000 worshippers – is somewhat intimidating. At sunset its gorgeous marble glows pink. See szgmc.ae.

TOPKAPI PALACE, ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The vast Topkapi complex was a pleasure palace, luxury prison and political heart of the empire for generations of Ottoman sultans, their walled-up wives and eunuchs, and hundreds of courtiers. More an entire town than a palace, it sits high on a bluff above the Bosphorus with commanding views over the water and city from its marble-flagged terraces and dainty pavilions, which are shaded by cypress and perfumed with roses. Arabian Nights architecture and tile work apart, it's also now a museum crammed with fat emeralds, superb calligraphy, armour, blue porcelain and relics of the Prophet Mohammed. See topkapisarayi.gov.tr.

PALATINE CHAPEL, PALERMO, ITALY