Alhambra

The Alhambra is Granada’s — and also Europe’s — love-letter to Moorish civilization. Before going onto become the extravagant seat of the Nasrid emirs of Granada set against a background of brooding Sierra Nevada peaks, this reinforced palace elaborate started life. Their showpiece palaces, and the Palacios Nazaríes, are among the finest structures in Europe and, as well as the Generalife gardens that are gorgeous, sort the great headline behave of the Alhambra.

Capilla Real

Even the Royal Chapel will be the final resting place of Spain’s Reyes Católicos (Catholic Monarchs), Isabel I de Castilla (1451–1504) and Fernando II de Aragón (1452–1516), who commissioned the elaborate Isabelline-Gothic-style mausoleum which was to house them. It wasn’t done until 1517, thus their internment in the Alhambra’s Convento de San Francisco until 1521.

Basílica San Juan de Dios

Head for this basilica, built between 1737 and 1759, to get a blinding display of decor. Scarcely an inch of its inner lacks embellishment, most of it in glistening gold and silver. Frescos by the Neapolitan painter Corrado Giaquinto and Diego Sánchez Sarabia adorn the ceilings and side chapels, while upward above, the dome of the basilica adheres to a height of 50m. The highlight, however, is the gold altarpiece from the Capilla Mayor (main chapel).

Mirador San Nicolás

This could be the location for those sunset shots of this Alhambra sprawled along a panoramic hilltop with the dark Sierra Nevada mountains looming in the backdrop. It’s a spot, therefore, expect crowds of buskers, students, and tourists. In addition, it is a haunt of pickpockets and bag-snatchers, so keep your wits about you as you enjoy the views.

Palacios Nazaríes

This is the magnificent centerpiece of this Alhambra, the many brilliant Islamic constructions in Europe, with perfectly manicured bedrooms and courtyards, intricately molded stucco walls, beautiful tiling, handsome carved wooden ceilings, and elaborate stalactite-like muqarnas vaulting, all worked at mesmerizing, symbolic, geometrical patterns. Arabic inscriptions proliferate at the stucco work.

Sala de Dos Hermanas

The richly decorated Sala de Dos Hermanas (Hall of Two Sisters), at the Palacios Nazaríes segment of this Alhambra, sits on the northern side of their Patio de los Leones. Probably called after the slabs of white marble flanking its fountains, it has a dizzying muqarnas (honeycomb vaulted) terrace having a central star and 5000 tiny cells, reminiscent of the constellations. This may have been the space of the emir paramour.

Patio de los Leones

The celebrated Patio de los Leones (Lion Courtyard) sits at the Heart of the Palacio de los Leones, the palace constructed at the Alhambra at the second half of the 14th century by Mohammed V. Its weakest feature is an 11th Century fountain set atop 1-2 carved marble lions

Sala de los Abencerrajes

This is one of the celebrity rooms at the Alhambra. Having a mesmerizing stalactite ceiling, it is the site of the murders of their Abencerraj family, whose leader dared to dally Sultan Abu concubine, with Zoraya. The spots in the fountain are thought to be the sufferers’ blood.

Salón de los Embajadores

The Chamber of the Ambassadors is the point where the emirs could have conducted discussions with Christian emissaries on the Alhambra. Located inside the Torre de Comares, it has a marvelous domed marquetry ceiling containing more than 8000 cedar bits in a star layout representing the seven heavens of Islam.

Patio de los Arrayanes

In the Alhambra, this elegant patio is the principal courtyard of the Palacio de Comares, the palace built from the mid-14th century as Emir Yusuf I’s official residence. It will take its name from the myrtle hedges that surround fountains and the pool. Finely carved arches atop marble columns form porticoes at both ends of this terrace.

Palacio de Carlos V

This huge Renaissance palace clashes spectacularly with the kind of its surroundings on the Alhambra. Its chief (western) facade comprises three porticoes divided by pairs of fluted columns, and using bas-relief battle carvings at their feet. The building is square but contains a two-tiered circular courtyard. This circle in a square is a Renaissance ground plan symbolizing the unity of the earth and heaven’s sole instance.

Monasterio de la Cartuja

Built between the 18th and 16th centuries by the monks, this monastery includes some exceptionally luxurious baroque decoration and a sandstone exterior. A highlight is that the sagrario (sanctuary) supporting the main altar in the church, even a dizzying outfit of painted marble, palaces and columns restricted by a beautiful frescoed cupola.

Catedral de Granada

From street level, it’s hard to understand the immensity of all Granada cathedral. It’s nonetheless a job of structure, although it boxed from different buildings to stand outside. Built beneath the city’s former mosque, it had been originally intended to become Gothic to look at, however within the two centuries of its construction (1523–1704) it underwent major alterations. Most importantly, its layout was shifted by architect Diego de Siloé to some Renaissance style, also a magnificent baroque facade was added by Alonso Cano.

Mexuar

The council of ministers could have met here and the Sultan would have discovered appeals from private citizens. The general public would generally have been allowed. The chamber has been altered — it was converted into a chapel from the 16th century and comprises both Muslim and Christian motifs most significantly. At its far end is just a small, lavishly decorated Oratorio (Prayer Room) overlooking the Río Darro.

Torre de Comares

Rising over the Patio de los Arrayanes (Fireplace of the Myrtles) about the Alhambra, this tower houses two nice rooms: the Sala de la Barca (Hall of this Blessing), with a gorgeous wooden ceiling, and also the Salón p los Embajadores (Chamber of this Ambassadors) whose marvelous domed marquetry ceiling comprises greater than 8000 cedar pieces at a star design representing the seven heavens of Islam.

Alcazaba

Occupying the western tip of the Alhambra would be the defensive ramparts and towers of the Alcazaba, your website’s original 13th-century citadel. The Torre de la Vela (Watchtower) is known as the tower where the banner and banner of the Reconquista were raised in January 1492. A staircase leads to the surface where you can enjoy views over Granada’s rooftops.

Monasterio de San Jerónimo

This 16th-century monastery, complete with an interior and cloisters, is just one of Granada properties that are Catholic. A variety of Gothic and Renaissance styling, the church, boasts a profusion of vivid colors, most spectacularly and sculptures on the apse’s immense gilt retable that is eight-level.

Jardines del Partal

A location of beautiful terraced gardens presented from the Alhambra in the 20thcentury. Its most famous landmark is the Palacio del Partal, also a 14th-century porticoed palace fronted by a still, representing pool. From the gardens, a route leads for the Generalife.

Palacio del Generalife

This whitewashed country house served as the sultan’s summer palace in the Alhambra. In the Generalife gardens, it has a series of courtyards — at the one, the trunk of a cypress tree suggests what delicate color would once have graced the area.

Patio de la Lindaraja

At the Palacios Nazaríes on the Alhambrathis is actually just a beautiful porticoed terrace with a small formal garden set around a central reservoir. From the corner would be the bathhouse — you can not input, but you can peer in at the chambers lit by star-shaped skylights.

Jardines Nuevos

Also known as the Jardines Bajos (Lower Gardens), those gardens were set at the Alhambra in the early 20th century is a way to the Palacio del Generalife.

Patio del Cuarto Dorado

This Alhambra courtyard, in the Palacios Nazaríes, is where the emirs would have given crowds into their areas. It Includes a little fountain and the Cuarto Dorado (Golden Room) on the left side. The area took its name from its beautiful wooden ceiling, which was gilded and redecorated in the right time of this Reyes Católicos (Catholic Monarchs).

On the opposite side of this patio may be the entry to the Palacio de Comares through a gorgeous facade of tiled floors, stucco, and stained wood.

Museo de la Alhambra

Inside the Palacio de Carlos V at the Alhambra, the Museo de la Alhambra has an absorbing collection of artifacts, including the doorway from the Sala de Dos Hermanas, also finds from Córdoba and Granada province, with texts in English and Spanish.