History of the Grand Alhambra

The Alhambra is an Islamic Palace complex located in Granada in Spain. It is one of the most well preserved Arabian palaces and derived its name Alhambra from the red color which is found on the mountain on which the palace is built. The palace was built long ago, from 1333 to 1391 under King Yusuf and his son Mohammed. Later some alterations were made by the Catholic Monarchs and Charles the Fifth who built a Renaissance palace in the middle of this grand structure, but these paled in comparison to the grandeur of the place.

The Alhambra was the residential home of the higher administrative officers and privileged soldiers of the Nasrid Dynasty which ruled from 1238-1492. It is well known for its work of art and its grand architectural structures. The Alhambra palace was initially chosen as a site for the court from where a close watch could be kept on the capital of the empire. However, with time the structure changed and included a palace as well as a court. This development saw an expansion and modification of the palace. There are four major parts of the palace which gives us an idea about the entire structure in brief.

The Fortress Alcazaba

The Alcazaba is found high up at the top of the hill, and was used as the armed forces head office during the Nasrid rule. This structure was constructed to provide quarters for the defense force, and to protect the royal family who lived here. There are two entrances to the palace, but the most interesting one is from the Puerta de la Justicia. The entryway portrays the Islamic sign of a key with an outstretched hand which is carved out of marble. The five fingers of the hand represent the 5 percepts of the Koran.

The entrance then leads to the Adarves garden which takes one to the fort of Alcazaba. For splendid views of the city and its surroundings, one can walk up to the watchtower known as the Torre de la Vela. After passing the central courtyard known as Plaza de las Armas, you can see an Arab wash house, quarters for living, prisons and stables. A person can even see great views of the neighboring regions of the Sacromonte and Albayzin districts.

Alhambra and the magnificent Nasrid Palaces

The highlights of the Alhambra palace are the royal palaces found within the complex which have well-designed rooms and courtyards which were used by the Muslim rulers in the past. The three main parts of the palace were the Mexuar, the Harem and the Serallo which consisted of a large number of well decorated rooms used for various reasons. The Mexuar palace was the place where the King held meetings with ministers and the people of the community. This was followed by the Golden room known as the Cuarto Dorado which is decorated in a brilliant golden color and made in the Mudejar style. This was the place where the Sultan made important military decisions.

The Harem encompassed the popular Patio de los Leones which has a central fountain supported by twelve lion pillars which is also called the Fountain of Lions. Several poems in praise of the Sultan were engraved on this fountain which is surrounded by the enchanting palace gardens and a gallery made with one hundred and twenty four marble columns.

The official home of the Sultan was called the Serallo, which enclosed the Patio de los Arrayanes or the patio of the Myrtles which has a large central pool. In the northern part of the patio there is a wooden ceiling which is upturned in the shape of a boat. This leads to the Salon de Embajadores where discussions were held between the Christian representatives and the Sultan.

The other rooms in the palace include the Hall of the two sisters called as Sala de dos Hermanas, the dressing room of the Sultan’s wife called as Sala de los Ajimeces where she could relax, the hall of the Kings called as Sala de los Reyes and more.

Generalife Gardens

The Generalife gardens are magnificent and fascinating gardens that surround the palace. These contain several fountains and patios with several trees and aromatic herbs in the complex. The main part of the garden has a lengthy pool surrounded by plants with two loggias and 2 complexes of buildings at the end. The other part consists of a portico, a square mirador and a long hall. There are several waterways and gardens above the main part as well, which are led up to via a staircase with water running down the handrail of the stairs. These stairs lead to an oratory, and go higher up to several more pavilions. However, they mostly no longer exist. The Generalife is also known as the Noblest of Gardens or as the Garden of the Architect. The present layout of the gardens has been renovated and reconstructed.

Medina or the Town area

This encompasses the largest area of the walled area as it consists of several buildings which were built after the Arabs were defeated and expelled from the province by the Christians who took over. Carlos V’s palace was built which is in contrast to the delicate Arabic structure found in the earlier structures. There are two museums here which display large collections of paintings, ceramics, furniture and coins from the Islamic period. This structure was built for Emperor Carlos V in 1527 by a former pupil of Michelangelo named Pedro Machuca. The central patio is now used as a venue for holding concerts and orchestras by theatre companies in the International Music and Dance festivals.

The other structures which were rebuilt were the San Francisco Parador which was once a mosque, but is now a four star hotel where one can come and stay. The Santa Maria Church built on top of a mosque in the Alhambra complex is worth visiting as this is one of the extensions which was built at a later date. Further information on Spain travel tourist guide