The Alhambra

The day started early, 5:45, when we got up to go to stand in the queue outside the ticket office. Our hotel was very close so we got there at 5:55 and there were around 60 people ahead of us. 

When the ticket office opened at 8:00 the number of people queuing was around 400. We got our tickets for the 14:00-20:00 session by 8:25.

These 3 photos are the view from our window in Hotel Alixares.

Before we went into the Alhambra we had a pizza for lunch in another hotel just across the road.

Although at normal magnification the map which I have included is not very clear hopefully you will be able to see more detail if you click on it.

The first area we visited was the Generalife.

This area was constructed by the Kings of Granada as a recreational area where they could get away from the business of the day and relax.

And relaxing it certainly was with wonderful gardens...

...and superb displays of flowers, bushes and trees...

...not forgetting the all important...

...element of water...

...with many fountains producing soothing noises.

This area is known as the lower gardens.

This is a view towards the Palace of the Generalife.

All the routes are very clearly set out...

... so that for most of the tour everyone is walking in the same direction.

The gardens above the lower gardens are known as the upper gardens.

Water is a most important feature throughout and this is a view of the Water Tower, Torre del Agua,...

...and the Royal Water Channel which carried the water from it to be used throughout the lower parts of the garden.

And in the photo above you can see where the water comes from throughout the year.

Following the route to the remaining parts of the Alhambra we pass the Convent of San Francisco which is now a Parador...

...and the archaeological area of the Palacio de Abencerrajes.

Inside the Parador the gardens are cool and shaded.

After our most welcome refreshment we continued to the Palacio de Carlos V which is a wonderful building and is used as the Museum of the Alhambra.

Charles V decided to build this palace when he visited the Alhambra in 1526 after his wedding to Isabella of Portugal.

The building, square on the outside and round on the inside, is one of the most important works of the Spanish Renaissance.

Typically, no photos are allowed in the museum.

Our afternoon visiting tickets had a time on them when we could visit the Nasrid Palaces.

This area is made up of 3 palaces built between 1314 and 1391...

...and displaying some of the most wonderful Muslim art and wall decoration ever seen...

...with a central theme of "paradise on Earth."

The designs in the tile work is remarkable.

Outside the buildings of the Alhambra they look austere and plain but the insides are sumptuous.

The decoration is carved stucco, plaster, rather than stone...

...and despite many centuries of neglect has stood up well...

... although the once bright blue, red and golden colours originally used have faded.

In places the decoration consists of Arabic inscriptions manipulated into geometric patterns.

Another feature of the water was to keep the area cool. This is the large Patio de Arrayanes, Court of the Myrtles.

The Patio de los Leones, the Court of the Lions, is quite spectacular.

There are 12 marble lions and on the hour water would gush from the mouth of a different lion to indicate the time.

On leaving the Nasrid Palaces we see the church of Santa Maria de la Alhambra.

Finally, the earliest construction, the Alcazaba which is derived from the word fortification, which was the military area of the complex.

The views from the tops of the towers are stunning. Notably one of the snow covered peaks of the Sierra Nevada which can be seen in the distance is also known as the Alcazaba.

According to my pedometer, we walked almost 16 km that day...

...but every step was worth it!

To see my video of our visit, click HERE.