Alhambra. Earthly Paradise

The Alhambra is an impressive architectural and park ensemble that includes ancient palaces, fortresses and gardens of Muslim rulers and is considered the highest achievement of Moorish architects in Western Europe. Currently, the Alhambra is a museum of Islamic art and culture, which is visited annually by millions of tourists from all over the world.

The Alhambra is located on top of a rocky plateau in the eastern part of the city of Granada in southern Spain. Medieval poets described the structure as "an emerald pearl", noting the expressive structure against the backdrop of green forests, blue skies and mountain landscapes with snow-capped Sierra Nevada peaks.

The name "Alhambra" literally translates from Arabic as "red castle". Some attribute this to the color of the sun-dried clay from which the palaces are built, others believe that the name comes from the "red flames of torches" that illuminated the castle during many years of construction.

History of the Alhambra

The development of the Alhambra is associated with the Muslim conquerors of the Iberian Peninsula, who came to the territory of southern Spain in the VIII century. During the reign of the Muslim Nasrid dynasty (1230-1492), Granada became the capital of the Moorish possessions in Spain - the Emirate of Granada.

The Mauritanian emirs wished to create a piece of earthly paradise on the conquered lands of sunny Spain - this is how the Alhambra arose among the shady gardens of Granada, which became the residence of the conquering emirs. In those days, the vast complex, enclosed in fortress walls with towers, included mosques, residential buildings, baths, gardens, warehouses, a cemetery, and Alhambra palaces dating back mainly to the 14th century have survived to this day.

The interior of the complex can be described as harmoniously combined with the picturesque gardens of the Alhambra, courtyards and terraces with fountains, water cascades, channels and reservoirs with many elegant arches, vaults, slender columns or patterned carved windows. All this splendor is decorated with intricate Arabic ligatures, floral ornaments, colorful mosaics, ceramic tiles, carved patterns on wood and stone.

Water and light play an important role in the overall composition of the Alhambra. The water here sparkles with splashes of fountains, murmurs in canals and briskly flows in cascades, filling reservoirs. All this - on a vast territory surrounded by fragrant orange trees, cypress alleys and flowering flower beds.

The water that came from the mountain slopes of the Sierra Nevada filled the canals and fountains of the Alhambra and was the element that the Moors valued most. Fountains, streams and waterfalls are no less a characteristic part of architecture for the Arabs than columns for the Greeks. It is no coincidence that the inscription has been preserved on the fountain in the Lion's Courtyard: "Look at the water and look at the reservoir, and you will not be able to decide whether the water is calm or marble is flowing."

The road to the Alhambra from Granada goes along the slope of the Cuesta de Gomeres through a park area stretching from the Pomegranate Gate to the Gate of Justice, which was the main entrance to the residence of the Alhambra in Moorish times.

On the huge arches of the horseshoe-shaped gate, there are inscriptions in Arabic script: “Praise be to God. There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet. There is no other authority but God's."

Alhambra architecture

The Alhambra is a complex of courtyards, rooms, passages and towers, each of which had its original purpose and has its own characteristics. The very names of many of them are eloquent: "Myrtle Yard", decorated with evergreen myrtle trellises.

" The Hall of the Two Sisters "got its name from two huge slabs of white marble built into the floor. The tiles and stucco decoration of the Hall of the Two Sisters are perhaps the finest in the entire Alhambra. The dome, made in the form of honeycombs, is the largest of the Arabic stalactite arches, which are about 5000 cells.

The Courtyard of the Lions is so named because of the fountain, around which the statues of twelve predators froze.

The chamber of ambassadors was created for court celebrations of official ceremonies. The dome of this room is decorated with a star pattern, twinkling at a high altitude.

Of particular interest are the numerous towers of the Alhambra with decorated halls, pools and beautiful views of the surroundings from the tops of the towers. The easternmost part of the Alhambra Palace is occupied by the defensive tower Torre de las Damas, with an adjoining vaulted hall, a pool and a small mosque.

In sharp contrast to the rest of the architecture of the ensemble, a later building is the palace of Carlos V, built on the territory of the Alhambra in the 16th century by order of the Roman king Charles V. The square building hides a circular courtyard with an Ionic colonnade on the top floor and Tuscan columns on the bottom. Currently, the palace is a concert venue for music and dance performances. In the interior of the palace of Carlos V there is the archaeological museum of the Alhambra and the museum of fine arts of Granada.

Tickets to the Alhambra

Tickets to the Alhambra are sold for one of the periods: morning, afternoon or evening. You must arrive strictly at the specified time.

Alhambra opening hours:
from 8.30 to 14.00, from 14.00 to 18.00, from 20.00 to 21.30 in winter - from October 15 to March 14;
from 8.30 to 14.00, from 14.00 to 20.00, from 22.00 to 23.30 in summer.

The cost of a general ticket to visit the Alhambra is 14 euros
Children 12-15 years old - 8 euros
Children under 12 free of charge
Adults over 65 and EU pensioners - 9 euros
Disabled people - 8 euros
The cost of an evening visit is 8 euros

Guided tour – 55 euros

Tickets can be purchased at the box office (cash) and terminals (bank cards) at the entrance. Tickets are valid only on the day of purchase, so it is better to come for tickets with a margin.

We advise you to buy tickets in advance at the "Tienda de la Alhambra" store in Granada or by calling the La Caixa bank: 902 88 80 01 for Spain or +34 958 926 031 for calls from abroad.

The average length of the route through the Alhambra complex is 3.5 km. For a comfortable inspection of all the sights, you will need at least 3 hours.

If you are going to the south of Spain, be sure to visit the Alhambra - an invaluable heritage of the Moorish past. Call the Center for Services for Business and Life in Spain "Spain in Russian" and we will help you organize interesting individual or group excursions to the most unforgettable and unique places in the country.

This is an architectural composition, which is an outstanding achievement of Moorish architects throughout Western Europe. It is located on a rocky plateau in the southeastern part of Granada and includes beautiful palaces, paradise gardens and an ancient fortress. Every year, millions of tourists come to the south of Spain to see this miracle of Moorish architecture with their own eyes.

The name Alhambra is translated from Arabic as "red castle". Some associate the origin of the name with sun-dried clay from which palaces are made, others believe that the name comes from red torches that illuminated the territory during the construction of palaces.

History of the Alhambra

The development of the Alhambra began during the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula by Muslims who settled in southern Spain in the 8th century. During the reign of the Nasrid dynasty (1230-1492), Granada received the status of the capital of the Emir of Granada - Moorish possessions in Spain.

The Mauritanian emirs wished to create a piece of paradise in places far from home - this is how the Alhambra arose among the gardens of Granada, which became the residence of the conquering emirs. At that time, the complex, surrounded by high walls with towers, included residential buildings, mosques, gardens, baths, warehouses and a cemetery. Only palaces built in the 14th century have survived to this day.

The interior decoration of the Alhambra complex harmoniously combines picturesque gardens and courtyards, decorated with fountains, ponds and canals with many exquisite arches, columns and carved windows. All this is decorated with traditional Arabic ligatures, colorful ceramic mosaics, floral ornaments and carved patterns on stone and wood.

The most important role in the composition of the Alhambra is given to water and light. Surrounded by fragrant vegetation, water overflows in many fountains and murmurs merrily in canals and cascades.

The water flowing into the fountains and canals from the mountain peaks of the Sierra Nevada was very much appreciated by the Moors. And in general, streams, fountains and waterfalls are no less a characteristic feature for the Arabs than for the Greeks columns.

The Alhambra consists of a complex of courtyards, rooms, towers and passages, each of which had its own purpose. The names speak for themselves:

"Myrtle Yard" is decorated with evergreen myrtle trellises.
The "Hall of the Two Sisters" is named after two large slabs of white marble built into the floor.
The Courtyard of the Lions got its name from the fountain placed on the backs of 12 lions.

The Chamber of Ambassadors was created for official ceremonies and celebrations. The dome of the room is decorated with a shimmering star pattern.

Separately, it is worth noting the numerous towers of the Alhambra with beautifully decorated halls, pools and stunning views from their peaks.

Against the backdrop of all the buildings, the latest building stands out sharply - the palace of Carlos V. It was built in the 16th century and is a square building with a circular courtyard with Tuscan columns on the lower floor and an Ionic colonnade on the upper one. Currently, various concerts are held in the palace. Also, in the interior are the Museum of Fine Arts of Granada and the archaeological museum of the Alhambra.

Where is the Alhambra

The Alhambra Palace is located at Calle Real de la Alhambra, s/n, 18009 Granada, Spain

Phone:+34 958 02 79 71

The Alhambra in Spain is a magnificent palace complex, the best example of Moorish architecture. It consists of several palaces, magnificent gardens and fountains. From the Alhambra you can observe the mountains and the distant Albaran Sea.

"Alhambra" is translated from Spanish as "Red Castle". It is located in the Spanish Granada, stands on a hill and is built of red stone. All this magnificent architectural masterpiece can be seen for several kilometers.

The red castle is surrounded by powerful stone walls. The main entrance to it is called the Gates of Justice, they were built in the middle of the XIV century. The next are the Wine Gates, and only after them is the entrance directly to the palace.

Alhambra Castle on the map of Granada

History of the Alhambra

The city of Granada appeared during the time of the Roman Empire, and after the fall of Rome, this territory repeatedly passed from hand to hand of different Moorish emirs, until it was conquered by Mahammad ibn Nasr I in the 13th century and formed the Emirate of Granada.

Mahammad made Granada the capital of the emirate and ordered the construction of the future residence of the Alhambra in it. A large construction began in the 30s of the XIII century. Thus began the golden age of Granada, which lasted almost 250 years.

During the construction of the Alhambra, the architects adhered to the principles of Moorish, Muslim architecture. Even then, this palace complex was called by contemporaries an earthly paradise, one of the wonders of the world.

The construction of this unique, one-of-a-kind palace complex, surrounded by fortress walls, was carried out according to a complex project, the flow of rivers from the mountain was changed, and they began to feed the palace gardens and fountains.

In the center of the Alhambra palace, the Lion and Myrtle palaces were built, gardens were planted around them, artificial reservoirs were dug and decorated, several open halls were built, internal patios were organized, etc.

The myrtle courtyard still has an extremely luxurious appearance today. This is a real example of architecture and landscape art of medieval Arabs. In its center is a large pond surrounded by myrtle trees.

To the north of the Myrtle Court is the Comares Palace, where the throne room is located. It has a second name - the Chamber of Ambassadors. The walls of the palace inside are covered with the finest oriental carved patterns, and the dome, thanks to the lighting, twinkles with patterns of stars.

Skillful woodcarving is one of the well-known signs of oriental cultures. Especially beautiful in the palace is the carved cedar ceiling, from which stalactites descend. The stalactites in the Alhambra are often used as decoration.

Meshuar is one of the oldest palaces in the Myrtle Yard. After the fall of the Emirate of Granada, it was partially destroyed, and then converted into a Catholic church. The original Moorish beauty of Mechouar has not completely survived to this day.

In Meshuara, courts were held under the emir, and in the palace of Comares, the emir performed solemn receptions. During Christian times, some parts of the palaces were rebuilt, but the main hall, the walls of which are decorated with sunnahs from the Koran, has been preserved.

In the time of the emirs, there were living quarters here, where the emir himself, his harem, children and servants lived. In the middle of the Lion's Court there is a most beautiful fountain, an obligatory attribute of all eastern palaces.

The water of the fountain pours into a large marble bowl, which stands on the backs of 12 stone lions. Creating this masterpiece, Moorish sculptors compared the fountain with the throne of the biblical King Solomon.

On the sides of the Lion's Court there are three beautiful palace halls. Their walls are covered with unique majolica, decorated with oriental mosaics, multi-colored marble, gypsum, ceramics and other decor.

As is customary in Islam, floral and geometric ornaments predominate here, elegantly intertwined with Arabic script, sophisticated multi-colored patterns, which always cause special delight among the public. Muslims cannot portray people.

Later buildings in the Alhambra

Until the end of the 15th century, the Emirate of Granada was considered one of the richest states on the territory of modern Spain, but the decline of Moorish rule in the Iberian Peninsula came, and the Alhambra remained the last stronghold of the Moors.

The Alhambra in Granada is an ancient fortress-palace from the time of Spanish Mauritania. In 1984, the architectural and park ensemble was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The centuries-old history of the Alhambra

The first mention of the fortress is in the historical archives of the 9th century. In 889, during the civil war of the caliphate in Cordoba, the ruler Savvar ben Hamdun was hiding on the top of a rocky plateau. On the hill where the Alhambra Palace now stands, there was an ancient dilapidated fortress - the Alcazaba. During the war, its walls were strengthened for defense purposes, and the real “golden age” for the fortress came only after three centuries.

In 1238, in the then Muslim state, the rebel Muhammad bin Al-Ahmar declared himself emir and established a residence in the Alhambra castle. So the Emirate of Granada was founded, which existed until 1492. During the reign of the Nasrid dynasty, the Alhambra changed its appearance. First of all, for defensive purposes, the Observation Tower (Torre de la Vella) and the Ommage Tower were built, then warehouses and baths were built.

For the first time, the Alhambra fortress turned into a luxurious residence only during the reign of Yusuf I and Mohammed V (from 1333 to 1391). A radical restructuring was carried out - new baths, gates, walls with golden carvings, which gave the emir's palace a rich look. It was during this period that the Square of Lions, the Hall of Blessing and the Gate of Justice appeared, which are now popular with tourists.

In 1492, the Emirate of Granada became the last Arab state in Europe, which was defeated under the onslaught of Christians. From this period, the next changes in the Alhambra complex begin. The architectural elements of the palace, which were reminiscent of Muslim culture, were deliberately destroyed - the gilding was smeared with whitewash, furniture and paintings were destroyed.

For several centuries, each subsequent ruler changed the Alhambra for himself, destroying and introducing something new. Under Charles V, the palace was decorated in the spirit of the Renaissance, under Philip V it acquires an Italian style.

The 19th century also marked a turning point for the Spanish Alhambra. By order of Napoleon Bonaparte, the complex was supposed to be blown up, but one of the commanders did not allow this, deactivating the explosives. Ironically, after some time, part of the castle was still destroyed, but under the influence of an earthquake. In 1828, restoration work began on the Moorish palace. The reconstruction of the entire complex lasted more than 60 years.

Inspection plan of the objects of the Alhambra complex

The thousand-year history of the pearl of Moorish architecture of the Alhambra covers many events and participants. Despite all the modifications over the centuries, the Alhambra Palace in Granada is the most striking example of Moorish culture. Studying the territory of the complex, you can trace the path of development of history.

Alcazaba

The oldest part of the castle and the main citadel of the Alhambra with all military fortifications, gates and towers.

Nasrid Palace

The rulers of the last dynasty of emirs lived here. It is divided into three main structures:

Meshuar - a hall where guests were received, a council of ministers met and a court was held.
The Palace of Comares with Myrtle Courtyard is the official residence of the ruler.
The Lviv Palace is the emir's private quarters. This is a building of the 14th century, which includes, in addition to chambers, several halls, the Lion's Courtyard and the Fountain of Lions. It is notable for its harmony and luxury, which has been preserved to this day.

Palace of Charles V

Square building with a round renaissance interior patio. On its territory there is the Alhambra Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts. Musical and dance performances are held in the courtyard.

Partal

Former palace from the early 14th century, but very few buildings remain of it. The most notable of the remaining ones is the Ladies' Tower (Torre de las Damas), which includes a vaulted hall, a small mosque and a swimming pool.

Medina

This is a residential quarter, or as it is also called the Upper Alhambra. Here the attendants were located in simple houses. Baths, a mosque, workshops, bazaars and several mansions were located along the central street (the modern name is Royal Street). Here is now the church of Santa Maria de la Alhambra.

Generalife

The suburban summer residence of the emirs, which is located on the slopes of the Sunny Hill a little far from the castles of the Alhambra. The Generalife Gardens are a favorite place for kings to take a break from everyday life. True, the residence lost its original appearance back in the Christian era, as it was derelict for a long time.

So, these are the main locations that tourists can get around during the day. In addition to them, many towers are concentrated on the territory of the Alhambra complex, each of which has its own historical name, as well as numerous gardens.

Opening hours and tickets to the Alhambra

The Alhambra complex in Granada is open all year round, except for holidays - December 25 and January 1.

day ticket
Visiting the gardens: from Monday to Sunday - 8:30 - 20:00 (ticket office from 8:00).
: from Tuesday to Saturday - 22:00 - 23:30 (the box office is open from 21:00 to 22:45).

day ticket
Visiting the gardens: from Monday to Sunday - 8:30 - 18:00 (the box office is open from 8:00).
Evening visit to the Nasrid Palaces: Friday and Saturday - 20:00 - 21:30 (ticket office from 19:00 to 20:45).

There are also tickets for an evening visit to the Generalife Gardens, the schedule is as follows:

from April 1 to May 31 - from Tuesday to Saturday: 22:00 - 23:30 (the box office is open from 21:00 to 22:45);
from September 1 to October 14 - from Tuesday to Saturday: 22:00 - 23:30 (the box office is open from 21:00 to 22:45);
from October 15 to November 14 - Friday and Saturday: 20:00 - 21:30 (the box office is open from 19:00 to 20:45).

Ticket prices

day visit*: 14 €; children from 12 to 15 years old - 8 €.

Evening visit to the Nasrid Palaces**: 8 €.

Evening ticket in the Generalife: 5 €.

Visiting the gardens: 7 €.

* The day ticket includes a visit to the Alcazaba, the Charles V Palace, the Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife, the Mosque Baths, and the main gardens of the complex.

** On the ticket to the Nasrid Palaces, the visit time is indicated. Every half an hour a group of up to 300 tourists is organized. If you arrive at the wrong time, the ticket becomes invalid, and if at the specified time, then you can stay on the territory of the palaces for more than half an hour.

Attention! The number of visitors per day is limited. You can buy a ticket in advance on the website: https://tickets.alhambra-patronato.es/.

There are discounts for schoolchildren, holders of the Euro youth card< 26 и Euro < 30, лиц старше 65 лет, пенсионеров ЕС и инвалидов.
For children under 12 years old, admission to the Alhambra is free.

You can book on our website, so you will have the opportunity to be close to one of the main attractions of Spain. You can also go to the neighboring city of Malaga, where there are several interesting places, for example, on the mountain of the same name.

Conceived as a castle-fortress towering on top of a mountain, the Alhambra Palace changed hands more than once, saw many bloody battles, and its walls acquired a reddish tint over time. Some argue that this happened because of the color of the building bricks, others because of the local ferruginous soils that cast a reflection on the walls of the fortress.

And one of the legends of the Alhambra says: the palace became red because it was erected at night, by the light of torches - and the reflections of the fire played an important role. Therefore, the Moors called their castle the Alhambra, which means “Red Fortress” in translation.

The Alhambra Palace in Spain is an architectural and park complex located on the top of Alsabica, one of the mountains of the Sierra Nevada ridge, at an altitude of 700 m above sea level. m., in the east of the city of Granada, 450 km from Madrid, the capital of Spain, on the left bank of the Darro River. On a geographical map, the exact location of the palace can be calculated using the following coordinates: 37° 10′ 37″ s. sh., 3° 35′ 24″ in. d.

The construction of the Alhambra Castle began in the middle of the thirteenth century on the initiative of the Moorish ruler Mohammed I of the Nasrid dynasty. The palace is one of the most striking monuments of Moorish architecture in Europe, the appearance of which was absolutely not influenced by Byzantine culture.

The unique architectural complex was created over several centuries, and therefore, over time, it formed the most real city: there were gardens near its fortress walls, and watchtowers, palaces, a mosque, pavilions, and even a city (Medina) were erected on the territory, in which about 2 thousand people lived. Basically, they were employees of the castle - doctors, cooks, blacksmiths, security guards.

Fortunately, there was plenty of space for the construction of a huge number of buildings on the territory of the fortress: the area of the architectural complex was about 140 thousand square meters. m., length - almost 750 m, maximum width - about 200 m, and the total length of the fortress outer wall - about 2 km. Christian slaves were involved in the work, and brick, concrete, marble, wood, ceramics and plaster were used as building materials.

To build the Alhambra castle, considerable financial and human resources were involved. Despite all its beauty and an unusual design for a European palace, the castle more than once found itself on the verge of complete destruction: its condition directly depended on who was in power in Spain at that time:

King Mohammed I erected a fortress and began the construction of the Alhambra Palace, making it a royal residence.
Mohammed II and Mohammed III significantly strengthened the fortress by adding watchtowers and additional ramparts. Also during this period, the summer palace of the Generalife was erected.
In the XIV century. Yusuf I decided to completely rebuild the fortress. The reconstruction lasted about a hundred years, and therefore the work was already completed by Muhammad V. As a result, the Alcazaba fortress received a purely military purpose, and next to it, the Alhambra palace complex was erected on the mountainside.
In 1492, the Spanish troops of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella of Castile captured Granada - and not the best times began for the castle: decorative drawings were smeared with whitewash, paintings and gilding were removed, furniture was broken.
In the XVI century. Charles V decided to build a castle in the Renaissance style on the territory of the Alhambra, almost completely destroying the Winter Palace for this (however, he did not fully realize the idea). The mosque was destroyed, and the church of Santo Maria and the monastery were built instead.
In the 18th century King Philip V further spoiled the architecture of the Alhambra in Granada by building a palace in the center of one of the Moorish buildings.
Napoleon Bonaparte, losing the war, ordered the Alhambra Castle to be blown up in 1812, but one of the performers defused the explosives, as a result of which the French managed to destroy only one tower, while the palace complex itself survived.
Nine years later, the Alhambra in Spain was badly damaged during a massive earthquake. Perhaps this was the impetus for the start of restoration work on the unique complex, which was started in 1828 by the architect José Contreras, and after his death were continued by his son and completed by his grandson.

What is the Red Fort

The Spaniards say: whoever visited Spain and did not see the Alhambra, did not see Spain. Many prominent Arabists claim that the Alhambra is the most beautiful of all the surviving castles of the Moorish culture. The uniqueness of this complex lies in the fact that while other monuments of Arab architecture of architecture delight with their monumentality, the originality of the Red Fortress lies in the details, the extremely precise and painstaking work that was done by Moorish craftsmen when creating arches, vaults, columns, patterned windows.

The chaotic, but in fact skillful arrangement of courtyards, passages, fountains, reservoirs, and gardens cannot but surprise. This alternation of open and closed structures, as well as the constant repetition of architectural forms, combined with light penetrating through windows or between columns, creates a rhythm, and a huge amount of various ornaments on the walls of the building is literally amazing.

When the palace was being built, the ancient masters paid a lot of attention to water, creating on the territory of the complex a huge number of fountains, ponds, reservoirs, along which gardens were located.

This is due to the fact that the real homeland of the Moors was a sultry and arid desert, and therefore water was especially valuable. In this regard, the Moorish architects, when developing the project, tried to make it look like a paradise on earth, which was described in the Koran as a lush garden abounding with rivers, lakes, streams.

The main buildings of the castle

Despite its inner beauty, from the outside the palace resembles a medieval castle-fortress, towering over one of the cities of Spain. Inside, the building is noticeably transformed and it becomes clear why the Moorish, describing the palace, characterized it as a “pearl in emeralds”, focusing on the bright colors of the buildings against the background of the forest located at the foot of the castle and the gardens laid out in the castle.

The castle can be reached by the road that is located between the mountain and the wall. One could also get here from the Alhambra Forest through the Gates of Justice, located in the tower of the same name, or through the eastern gate leading to the summer residence of the emirs Generalife. All palace buildings were located in the west of the complex.

Nasrid Palace

The Nasrid Palace was located in the northwest of the Alhambra. Like all other buildings, outwardly it looked extremely simple, but inside the richness and splendor of this castle was amazing. The palace included buildings for audiences and courts (Meshuara), the official residence of the ruler (Comares Palace) and private apartments (Lions Palace), where the Emir lived, his wives, children and concubines, and when the castle was captured by the Spaniards, the chambers of the kings were located here .

Post-Mauritanian period

Many buildings in the southwestern part of the complex were erected after the Moors left Granada, among them the unfinished palace of Charles V, because of which he destroyed the Winter Palace. This castle has a square shape, two tiers instead of three, and instead of a covered room with a dome at the top, there is an open round courtyard. Near it is the church of St. Mary and the monastery.

Altkasaba

To the west is the fortress of the Alhambra - Altkasaba, separated from the rest of the palace complex by a wide moat, as well as a double fortress wall, between which there is a narrow courtyard. Later, when the Spaniards came to power, a third wall was added on the northern and southern slopes of the mountain. The structure of the Citadel included nine watchtowers, from which the surroundings and the weapons area were clearly visible.