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Eating Out in Granada Romantic restaurants, tapas bars and pubs, tea rooms and cafes and tipical cuisine from Granada, Spain. 4-star hotel offering very good prices to stay right next to the Alhambra. The Alhambra palace complex features a mind boggling array of artistic techniques in plaster, stone and wood reflected in pools of still water and overlooking vast gardens of frothy greenery. LoveGranada, Granada, Spain. © 2020 Lonely Planet. It also tells the unique history of Granada, Andalusia and even Spain. A soothing ensemble of pathways, patios, pools, fountains, trees and, in season, flowers of every imaginable hue, it takes its name from the Arabic jinan al-‘arif, meaning 'the overseer’s gardens'. Today, it is possible to climb to the top of the tower and enjoy some great views of Granada and the surrounding nature. Beyond this courtyard, the Escalera del Agua is a delightful work of landscape engineering with water channels running down a shaded staircase. | Privacy Policy. The Alhambra is Granada’s – and Europe’s – love letter to Moorish culture. From the Mexuar, you pass into the Patio del Cuarto Dorado, a courtyard where the emirs gave audiences, with the Cuarto Dorado (Golden Room) on the left, looking out on the Albayzín. The central alcove is thought to depict 10 Nasrid emirs. He and his wife, Isabella of Portugal, visited Granada during their honeymoon in 1526 and fell in love with the city so much that they decided to have a great palace built for them. Their showpiece palaces, the 14th-century Palacios Nazaríes, are among the finest Islamic buildings in Europe and, together with the Generalife gardens, form the Alhambra's great headline act. Inside the palace are two museums: the Museo de la Alhambra, which showcases an absorbing collection of Moorish artefacts, including the wood-carved door from the Sala de Dos Hermanas, and the excavated remains of the Acequia Real (Royal Water Channel); and the Museo de Bellas Artes, with 15th- to 20th-century artworks. The largest tower of the Alcazaba is the Torre de la Vela. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Here a reflecting pool stands in front of the Palacio del Partal, a small porticoed building with its own tower (the Torre de las Damas) dating to the early 14th century. After a decade of restoration, the Lion Fountain has returned to its beautiful patio in the Nasrid Palaces. Several rooms have great Alhambra views. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. It's just that the night visit was so special and such an intimate connection to one of the world's wonders, it made it hard to beat. Another highlight of the Nasrid Palaces is the “Patio de los Leones,” (Patio of the Lions) built during the peak of Granada’s emirate. Its name is given by the great bell that hangs above it. The Generalife, the sultans' gorgeous summer estate, dates to the 14th century. In truth, you just have to see it for yourself. Entrance is through the Mexuar, a 14th-century hall where the council of ministers would sit and the emir would adjudicate citizens' appeals. This stunning palace complex and gardens could take a lifetime to explore fully. Isabella was so scared that she never returned to Granada. When I went back to see the rest of the grounds the next day, during sunlight hours, I was somehow less impressed. Construction on this gem began in the 11th century on the hill known as the Assabika, that overlooks the town below. The Palace of Charles V is one of the first Renaissance buildings to be constructed outside of Italy (16th century). Described by its guests as “nice, modest and comfortable,” it features traditional décor and is surrounded by beautiful nature. The room's domed marquetry ceiling contains more than 8000 cedar pieces in an intricate star pattern representing the seven heavens of Islam. This elegant patio, named after the myrtle hedges around its rectangular pool, is the central space of the palace built in the mid-14th century as Emir Yusuf I’s official residence. Although the plants and flowers are not only located there. The project was also short of money and construction lasted 110 years – Charles V died 80 years before it was finished! When Napoleon’s troops invaded Granada (1808-1812), they seized the Alhambra and used it as a barracks, causing a lot of damage to the buildings. I mean memory card with pictures. Visiting this Moorish royal palace complex will give you the opportunity to see how the rulers of the Nasrid dynasty lived and discover some fine examples of Mudejar style architecture (hybrid between Islamic art and Gothic architecture). The most majestic room of the palaces is the “Salón de Embajadores” (Ambassadors’ Hall). It features stylish rooms with Moorish-inspired décor and spectacular views of the city. The Alhambra's stunning centrepiece, the palace complex known as the Palacios Nazaríes, was originally divided into three sections: the Mexuar, a chamber for administrative and public business; the Palacio de Comares, the emir's official and private residence; and the Palacio de los Leones, a private area for the royal family and harem. A string of elegant rectangular plots with tinkling water features, the Jardines Nuevos, leads up to the whitewashed Palacio del Generalife, the emirs’ summer palace. Charles V was the grandson of Isabella and Ferdinand. It became Unesco World Heritage Site in 1984. Tickets sell out, so book ahead; you’ll have to choose a time to enter the Palacios Nazaríes. The Alhambra Palace is one of Spain’s most important tourist attractions and rightfully so. The courtyards here are particularly graceful: the first, the Patio de la Acequia, has gorgeous gardens and distant views of the Palacios Nazaríes, while in the second one, the Patio de la Sultana, the trunk of a 700-year-old cypress tree suggests the delicate shade that would once have graced the area. The Alhambra is EASILY the most beautiful building I have ever seen. CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE OF THE BEST HOTELS IN GRANADA! Opposite the Cuarto Dorado is the entrance to the Palacio de Comares through a beautiful facade of glazed tiles, stucco and carved wood. Arab rulers in the 14th century had it going on. Mostly built in the 14th century, the Nasrid Palaces are the jewel of the Alhambra. The massive complex is a testimony to the refined and elegant Moorish civilization of Al-Andalus that flourished here between the 9 th and 15 th centuries. In less than 10 minutes, guests can walk to both the Alhambra and Granada’s city center. This is where the throne was located and where official receptions took place. Start your day with a tour of the Generalife Gardens. The Patio de los Arrayanes leads into the Palacio de los Leones (Palace of the Lions), built in the second half of the 14th century under Muhammad V. The palace rooms branch off the Patio de los Leones (Lion Courtyard), centred on an 11th-century fountain channelling water through the mouths of 12 marble lions. "Moorish poets described it as a 'pearl set in emeralds,' in allusion to the colour of its buildings and the woods around them." The hulking palace, begun in 1527 by the Toledo architect Pedro Machuca, features a monumental facade and a two-tiered circular courtyard ringed by 32 columns. 5-star hotel located just outside the Alhambra’s ancient walls. Two centuries later, it was converted into a chapel, with a prayer room at the far end. This trip I had more time to let my eyes wander in reverence over the delicate artistry above. Take it slow to fully enjoy the blooming flowers and stunning water features at every turn. The word “Alhambra” comes from Arabic and means “red castle.” The original fortress has existed since the 9th century but it wasn’t until the 13th and 14th centuries when it was heavily expanded upon, becoming the crown jewel of the Emirate of Granada (Nasrid dynasty). Finally, arriving in Granada late in the afternoon.....there it was, perched on its strategic hillside glowing in the setting sun. No visit to Andalusia is complete without a trip to the Alhambra and Generalife. Since then, the Alhambra has been and continues to be restored and preserved. Following the 1492 Reconquista (Christian reconquest), its mosque was replaced by a church and the Habsburg emperor Charles V had a wing of palaces demolished to make space for the huge Renaissance building that still bears his name. It was a hunting lodge and country retreat where the rulers and their families could escape. The terrace of the restaurant offers incredible views of the Generalife. The star of this patio is the impressive fountain formed by 12 lions sculpted from marble. Here is the palace and fortress complex that is Alhambra, one of Spain’s great national treasures and an homage to what the hands of man can do. The Parador combines original elements (stone archways, beamed ceilings, antique furnishings, etc.) The courtyard layout, using the proportions of the golden ratio, demonstrates the complexity of Moorish geometric design – the 124 slender columns that support the ornamented pavilions are placed in such a way that they are symmetrical on numerous axes. Three architects worked their whole careers until each of them died of old age. The night tour of the palace is phenomenal. Its style is however, very different from the rest of the Alhambra and it feels very out of place. When Granada was conquered by the Catholic Monarchs (Isabella and Ferdinand) in 1492, the Alhambra became a Christian court and was expanded upon once again – new additions were completed including a church and monastery. Besides featuring an impressive circular courtyard, the palace of Charles V currently houses two museums: © 2020 Eusko Guide Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Discover Granada, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Throughout the Alhambra Palace grounds there are trees, shrubs, flowering plants and greenery. For over forty years I have wanted to see the Alhambra in Granada. The Alcazaba is the oldest part of the Alhambra. There is seemingly no end to the details that cover every wall, ceiling, door and window of this celebrated place. I want emails from Lonely Planet with travel and product information, promotions, advertisements, third-party offers, and surveys.

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