The Alhambra: Granada, Spain

A Visit to Spain's Magnificent Moorish Palace

Apr 27, 2008

The Alhambra is divided into four parts: here's what you'll see at each one, plus some helpful tips!

The Alhambra (“Red Fortress” in Arabic) was a Moorish palace and castle built outside the city of Granada during the rule of the Nasrid Dynasty (1212-1492). When Spanish forces under King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella captured the city in 1492, the Alhambra became the property of the Spanish crown. Today, it is one of Spain’s most important tourist attractions, and even was considered for one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, decided upon in 2007. Visitors to the Alhambra will find it divided into four different sections. The sections of the Alhambra are very close to one another, so walking between them is not a problem.

The Nasrid Palace

When you think of the Alhambra, you picture gracious gardens, ornate plasterwork and luxurious chambers, right? That’s the Nasrid Palace. This is the part of the Alhambra where the Sultan and his immediate family lived. The rooms are bare now, but it is easy to imagine them draped in colorful tapestries and lavishly decorated, like a scene from The 1001 Nights. One of the highlights is the Courtyard of the Lions. The courtyard walls are formed of 124 graceful columns supporting some of the most intricately formed walls in the palace. In the middle of the courtyard stands a fountain ringed by twelve stone lions.

The Generalife Gardens

The gardens of the Generalife (“hen-a-rall-ee-fay”) are adjacent to the main Alhambra complex. For a long time after the Moors left Granada, the Generalife was private property, but now is part of the Alhambra complex. Cooler than the Nasrid Complex, the Generalife was a summer palace of sorts for the Sultan and his family. The gardens, pools and fountains are quite beautiful. If you were unlucky enough to get a ticket that does not allow you to go into the tightly-controlled Nasrid Palace, you can get a bit of the flavor of it from the buildings in the Generalife.

The Palace of Charles V

Ferdinand and Isabella’s grandson, Charles V, was fond of the city of Granada and the Alhambra in particular. He ordered the construction of an impressive building that would serve as his home, and work got under way in 1527. The project never really reached conclusion: it was never a permanent home to Spanish nobility and although it was mostly completed by the seventeenth century, it wasn’t completely done until the 20th century. The squarish, Renaissance-style building is elegant but seems out of place in the lavish, decadent Alhambra. Today, the Charles V palace houses the informative Alhambra Museum.

The Alcázar

Overlooking the city of Granada is a series of towers and battlements: this is the Alcázar, or fortified part of the Alhambra complex. In its day, the Alhambra was more than a palace: it was a very formidable fortress. During the Napoleonic Wars, the fort saw some action and some towers were destroyed. The Alcázar is worth walking through, as the views of the city are excellent.

Tips:

Because of the increased tourist traffic to the Alhambra, they have decided to limit the number of visitors who can come to the Nasrid Palace. Be sure you book ahead of time or arrive very early, because otherwise you may miss the best part of the tour. There are no limits on how many people may visit the Generalife, Alcázar and Charles V Palace.

If you have a ticket that allows you to see the Nasrid Palace, pay close attention to the time-stamp on it: you’ll have a half-hour window in which to enter the Palace. All in all, plan on about three to four hours for a good visit to the Alhambra.

You may want to consider seeing the Alhambra at night. There are far less tourists, it is much cooler (it can get scorching hot during the day) and the palaces are well-lit with a romantic night that will allow your imagination to carry you back to the days of the Sultan!