The Outstanding Alhambra
An architectural miracle
The south of Spain is visited by millions of tourists; the thing that attracts them here every year is the amazing Alhambra, the palace that guards the city of Granada from the top of the Sabika hill.
What is so special of Alhambra, which in Arabic means “The Red?” Well, Alhambra is the most representative and outstanding example of Moorish skills in architecture. In the year 1994, UNESCO designated Alhambra World Heritage due to its beauty.
The history of the impressive palace
The history of Alhambra starts with the conquest of southern Spain by the Moors, who in 711 AD crossed the Gibraltar and started the Moorish rule. Documents show that a red castle named Qal’at al Hamra was starting to see the light of day in the 9th century, but was left to ruin for about four centuries.
In 1238 Ibn Nasr, the same who founded the Dynasty of Nasrid, ordered the construction of the palace that tourists from all over the world visit every day. The palace also had the role of a fortress, as Ibn Nasr was trying to escape from King Ferdinand, who wished to put an end to the Moorish rule in Spain.
This is the reason why Alhambra was imagined by Ibn Nasr as a complex of six palaces, bathrooms, towers, and a sumptuous building that was using a canal system of its own; it is the same canal that provided the water for the numerous cascades and fountains that had the role to beautifully decorate the lush gardens. Throughout the decades, the rulers of Granada did changes on their own tastes to the palace, which barely survived Napoleon. However, 1828 is the year when Jose Contreras started the restoration of the initial palace, restoration which was continued by Rafael, his son.
The complex
Alhambra is formed out of three sections: the Nasrid Palaces, the Alcazaba Fortress and Generalife. Alcazaba is the citadel, the fortification detail of Alhambra, while Generalife means the Architect’s Garden. Their beauty charms tourists and gives them a special feeling.
If you want to visit this jewel, you should know that you can do it between 8:30 am and 8:00 pm, from Sunday to Thursday. The ticket costs 10 Euros and one important thing related to visiting hours is that if you get to Alhambra in the evening, you will only have the chance to visit the Nasrid Palaces; the other two sections are closed.