Moorish Granada: The Alhambra

The great complex of the Alhambra is the best-preserved
medieval Arab palace in the world and, with nearly two
million visitors annually, it is also the most popular
monument in Spain. Built on the largely inaccessible
Sabika Hill overlooking the city of Granada, its most
distinctive phase began in the 11th century as the qa’lat
al-Hamra (Red Fort) of the Ziridian rulers. From the 13th
to almost the end of the 15th century the kings of the
succeeding Nasrid dynasty embellished the site in a most
spectacular fashion. The later Christian additions,
although handsome in their own right, are generally
thought to clash with the delicate, evocative architecture
of the Moors.
Each ticket is marked with a half-hour time slot of entrance, which cannot be changed.

Top10 Features

1 Puerta de la Justicia
Built in 1348, this magnificent horseshoe arch
makes use of Arab defensive techniques – a steep
approach combined with four right-angled turns – to slow
down invading armies.

2 Puerta del Vino
The “Wine Gate” – so called because it was used
as a wine cellar in the 16th century – marks the main
entrance arch to what was once the Medina (market).

3 Plaza de los Aljibes
From these ramparts
visitors can enjoy superb
views of Granada. The giant
cisterns (aljibes ) underneath
were built by the Christian
conquerors.

4 Alcazaba
Although largely in ruins, this fortress is well worth
a look. Don’t miss climbing up onto the Torre de la Vela
for views of the Sierra Nevada.

5 Palacio de Carlos V
This Italian Renaissance palace is the masterpiece
of Pedro Machuca, a student of Michelangelo. Housed
here are the Museo de la Alhambra, with a fine collection
of Nasrid art, and the Museo de Bellas Artes, with a
range of interesting Christian works.

6 Palacios Nazaríes
The Nasrid palaces are built of simple brick, wood
and stucco, in keeping with Islamic thought not to
compete with the creations of Allah.

7 Palacio de Mexuar
The most poorly preserved of the three palaces,
this area was the most public space, dedicated to judicial
and bureaucratic business. The original structure dates
from 1365, but there are obvious Christian overlays, since
it was converted to a chapel in the 16th century.

8 Palacio de Comares
Built in the mid-14th century, this area constituted
the Serallo , where the sultan would receive dignitaries
and deal with diplomatic issues. Inside is the Salón de
Embajadores, the main throne room of the Alhambra. In
front of the palace is the Patio de Arrayanes , where
serene fountains and pools, fragrant plantings, and
elaborate wood and stucco work are all strictly geometric
in design yet delicately refined, often featuring inscribed
poems in praise of Allah.

9 Palacio de los Leones
Dating from the late 1300s, this palace was the
Harem, the private zone reserved for the sultan and his
family. The fountain of 12 lions – which may represent
the 12 signs of the zodiac, the 12 hours of the clock, or
the 12 tribes of Israel – has become emblematic of the
whole Alhambra.

10 Partal
As you leave the Alhambra, stroll through the
gardens with their fountains and water-courses laid out
in an area that used to have palaces of its own. All you
can see of them now are five porticoed arches . This
area leads up to the Generalife, the summer palace. (see
Moorish Granada: Generalife).