VISITING THE 700 YEAR OLD PALACES AND GARDENS OF THE ALHAMBRA
Buenas Dias.
As we continue on our Iberian Odyssey Cruise, we have at last reached the land of my ancestors: WONDERFUL, ENCHANTING, MAGNIFICENT SPAIN! Our ship dropped anchor in the small southern coastal town of Motril, gateway to Granada, Spain. Since Granada is home to one of my favorite places in the world, the Alhambra, I knew exactly how I was going to spend my time there. So, as soon as we arrived in port, we headed down to the dock, and for a mere 80 euros, hired ourselves a driver for the day. Then we headed straight for one of the most beautiful and historical places on earth: the Alhambra.
How fitting that we should leave Casablanca, Morocco, only to arrive next at another city that was heavily influenced by the Moors. One of the finest examples of medieval Moorish architecture in the world, the Alhambra is an architectural masterpiece that sits majestically like a sentinel above the city of Granada. In my opinion, visiting the 700 year old palaces and gardens of the Alhambra is an absolute must-do for every visitor to Spain.
The Alhambra is a vast complex of forts, palaces and lush gardens that are a treasure trove of Islamic architecture. This courtly city was conceived and built to serve as the residence of the Nasrid Sultans and their families, and it was also a fortress or citadel. Top government officials, court servants and the royal guard also lived there.
Totally surrounded by a wall that protected the city…
it had four main gates that served as points of entry.
The first stop on our tour of the Alhambra were the Palacios Nazaries (Nasrid Palaces) . This area is composed of a group of several palaces, each with their own functions.
We first entered what is likely the most famous place within the palaces of the Alhambra, the Patio de los Leones (Lion Courtyard), with its marble fountain that channels water through the mouths of 12 marble lions. This patio was built within the Palacio de los Leones (Palace of the Lions), a palace built to symbolize an Islamic paradise where water played an essential role and is very evident in the complex water system seen here. This palace housed the private chambers of the royal family.
Considered to be the most beautiful Islamic building in Europe, this is the Alhambra’s true gem.
The palace rooms surround a covered gallery that outlines the patio and is supported by 124 beautifully ornamented, slender marble columns.
Stepping inside, I marveled at the finely carved wooden ceilings and doors, as well as the elaborate stuccowork carvings.
Within the palaces there are many beautiful vantage points where you can gaze over the city of Albaicin below, with its winding maze of hilly residential streets.
Our next stop was the Palacio de Comares (Comares Palace), considered the most important palace on the grounds because it was the Sultan’s official residence.
The palace opens into the Patio de los Arrayanes (Court of the Myrtles), named for the myrtle bushes that surround the central pond…
and the bright green color of both the pond and the myrtle bushes.
With its intricately moulded stucco walls and beautifully decorated wooden eaves, it is truly an artistic masterpiece.
Everywhere you looked there was exquisite, geometric and highly colorful tiling, the iconic symbols of the Alhambra.
The ornamentation in the Comares Palace seemed to have an almost mesmerizing effect on the rooms. Look closely and you will see within the intricate designs Arabic inscriptions, said to be paying homage to God.
Part of the Comares Palace is the Torre de Comares, (Comares Tower) the highest tower in the Alhambra.
It holds a great deal of significance, not only because it housed the Sultan’s bedchambers, but also because of two important events that were said to have taken place there.
Legend has it that 500 years ago, the council meeting that decided to surrender the city of Granada to the Catholic Monarchs took place inside this very tower. Boabdil, the Sultan at the time, is said to have wept as he turned his back on his beautiful palaces. Seeing the beauty of these palaces today, it is easy to understand his grief. Furthermore, legend also says that it was inside this tower that Christopher Columbus convinced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella to grant him their approval for his expeditions to the West Indies, which led to the discovery of America.
This beautiful Nasrid Kingdom became the last Islamic Sultanate on the Iberian Peninsula. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, I am so happy that the Alhambra has been preserved and continues to be restored, so that we can enjoy it today and for centuries to come. If you’d like to visit the Alhambra, and I highly recommend it, visit this website, where you can obtain information about purchasing tickets. It is highly advised to do this in advance of your trip, due to the large number of visitors all year round, and the limited number of tickets sold each day.
I have so much more of the Alhambra to share with you. Please stop back in tomorrow, when I will take you on a stroll through its magnificent gardens.
And we will visit the wonderful and romantic Palacio del Generalife, with its beautiful fountains and lush gardens.
So there you have it: VISITING THE 700 YEAR OLD PALACES AND GARDENS OF THE ALHAMBRA
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