The Alhambra, whose name means "The Red" in Arabic, is the most beautiful representation of Moorish architecture in the world. It is a palace and fortress complex on the hills of Sabika, overlooking the city of Granada, in southern Spain. The Alhambra, Generalife and the Medieval Moorish enclave of Albayzín are recognised by Unesco since 1994 as World Heritage Sites. At the time it was built, Alhambra was known as Al-Andalus. Alhambra occupies a hilly terrace on the southeastern edge of Granada. Although it used to be the residence of the Muslim rulers of Granada, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V also built a palace in the Renaissance style and placed it within the Alhambra complex.
The history of the Moors in Spain started in 711 AD, when a Muslim army crossed the Straits of Gibraltar and within a short span of time, much of Spain was under Moorish rule. The founding of the Alhambra can be traced to the late 9th century, when a red castle called Qal'at al Hamra was built in Granada by Arabs retreating from a bloody warfare with the Muladies. This castle was located in Elvira, in present-day Granada. It was left in a dilapidated state for nearly four centuries, until around 1238, when Ibn Nasr, the founder of the Nasrid Dynasty, built the Alhambra that we know of today.
Ibn Nasr was fleeing religious persecution from King Ferdinand, who was determined to rid Spain of Moorish control. Ibn Nasr retreated to Granada, and there, he planned out his palace complex. It was to have six palaces - five of which grouped together in a royal living area, two circuit towers, numerous bathhouses. Rather than depending on rainwater as the old castle did, the new Alhambra was irrigated by a canal system that totals 8km in length, allowing for a profusion of fountains and cascades within the complex. The entire design transformed the austere fortress into a sumptuous palace.
At the Alhambra we see the last great burst of Andalusian creativity in art and architecture, standing as a small Moorish enclave within Spain. Detached from mainstream Muslim influences, the artists and artisans of Alhambra perfected their style. Creating works of incredible beauty, from graceful calligraphy to elegant arabesque, they adorned the walls, columns and ceilings of Alhambra.
The Christian conquest of Granade by Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella of Castile in 1492 brought an end to Moorish diminion of Alhabra. From then onwards, subsequent wave of non-Muslim rulers injected his own style in altering the palace complex. Charles V (1516-1556) rebuilt portions of it in the Renaissance style. Philip V (1700-1746) italianised some rooms, and put up his palace in the middle of the comples, blocking up sections in the process. In 1812 Count Sebastiani blew up some of the towers. The entire complex barely escaped being totally demolished by Napoleon - a soldier who wanted to save the palace defused the explosives. Neglect, defacement and vandalism added to the sorrows of Alhambra.
The earliest recorded restoration of Alhambra began in 1828, by architect José Contreras, and after his death, continued by his son Rafael.
The Alhambra consists of three different sections which you would explore separately:
Nasrid Palaces
Alcazaba Fortress
Generalife
The Nasrid Palaces
The Nasrid Palaces are the palaces of the Moorish rulers of Alhambra. It is located in the middle portion of the complex. Overwhelming this whole section and rather out-of-place with the surrounding architecture, is the Palace of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, which is of Renaissance style.
It's in the Nasrid Palaces section that you find the famous Court of Lions and the Court of Lions Fountain, perhaps the most recognised icon of the Alhambra. It was commissioned by Muhammed V and constructed between 1362 - 1391 AD. The Fountain of the Lions is a most unusual theme for a Muslim palace, as Islamic architecture would forbid representing lifeforms. By the time the lions were built, the Moors in Granada have been cut off from the rest of the Muslim world, and the use of the lions as figurative motifs reflects Castilan influence to Nasrid art. Incidentally, the lions of the fountains were believed to have been carved not by Muslim but rather by Jewish artisans.
Alcazaba
The Alcazaba, or citadel, is the original Moorish fortification of Alhambra. It is the oldest section of the fortress and is located on the western end of the complex.
Generalife
Officially Palacio de Generalife, this summer palace derived its name from Arabic, Jannat al-Arif, meaning Garden of Arif, or Garden of the Architect. It is the country estate of the Nasrid sultans of Granada, whose palaces are at the Alhambra a short distance below. The palaces and gardens of Generalife were begun during the rule of Muhammad III (1302-1309), and continued by his brother Abu I-Walid Ismail (1313-1324AD)
Where in the world is Alhambra?
Alhambra is located in the city of Granada in southern Spain.
Alhambra consists of the Nasrid Palaces, the Alcazaba citadel and the Generalife Palace. The famous Lions Fountain is located within the Nasrid Palaces.
How to get to the Alhambra
The Alhambra is located on the hills of Sabika, in the city of Granada, in the Granada Province, Andalucia, Spain. Granada Airport is located half an hour from the city. There are daily flights connecting Granada with Madrid and Barcelona by Iberia (http://www.iberia.es/) From London, budget carrier Ryan Air (http://www.ryanair.com/) connects Granada with Stanstead International Airport, London, and with Liverpool. Monarch (http://www.flymonarch.com/) connects it with Garwick International Airport, London.
From the bus terminal in Granada are bus services connecting it with Seville, Cordoba, Algeciras and Malaga. Train services are also available connecting Granada with Cordoba, Malaga, Almeria and Seville. For details, visit the website of Renfe, the National Railway, http://horarios.renfe.es/hir/ingles.html
Visiting Alhambra
The Alhambra is open from 8:30am - 8:00pm on Sundays-Thursdays with extended hours till 10:00pm on Fridays and 11:30pm on Saturdays, between March to October. From November to February the opening hours are shorter, from 8:30am - 6:00pm Sundays - Thursdays, with extended hours till 8:00pm on Fridays and 9:30pm on Saturdays. Admission fee is €10, and ticket office closes an hour before the gates. Evening visits is limited to the Nasrid Palaces only.
Guided tours are available every day for €44.50 that includes entrance fee, transport and tour guide.
Alhambra
