🇪🇸 Alhambra Palace (Alhambra) | Granada

Alhambra | Granada, Spain The "Red Palace" in Andalusia in southern Spain is the pinnacle of Islamic architectural art and the only well-preserved medieval Islamic palace complex in Europe. The entire complex is like a poem, a painting, and a dream - full of the sound of water, light, shadow, and geometric beauty. ⸻ Historical background • Built between the 13th and 14th centuries by the Nasrid dynasty, it was the royal palace of the last Muslim dynasty on the Iberian Peninsula. • After the Catholic Monarchs reconquered Granada in 1492, the Alhambra was taken over by the Christian royal family and Renaissance buildings were added. • “Alhambra” comes from the Arabic word “al-ḥamrāʼ”, meaning “red”, referring to the reddish-brown stone of the palace’s exterior walls that interweave with the setting sun. ⸻ Building highlights 1. Nasrid Palaces • The soul of the palace, a dreamlike interweaving of exquisitely carved Arabic calligraphy, mosaic tiles and translucent plaster window panes. • **The Hall of the Messengers and the Hall of the Two Sisters** are both built with honeycomb domes (Muqarnas), which make people stare in trance. • "Patio de los Leones": 12 lions surround the fountain, which is a rare animal sculpture in the Muslim world and represents royal power and wisdom. 2. Summer Palace and Gardens (Generalife) • Located on a hill, the summer palace of King Nasr is a real "paradise" with numerous canals and gardens. • Pools, arches, and flowers and trees are intertwined, creating places for meditation and tranquility everywhere. 3. Alcazaba • The oldest military defense area, climbing the tower offers a magnificent view of the entire city of Granada and the snow-capped mountains in the background. 4. Palace of Charles V • 16th century Renaissance architecture, in sharp contrast to Islamic styles. Surrounded by a circular atrium and colonnades, it is now a museum of fine arts and archaeology. ⸻ Cultural significance and literary legend • Washington Irving published Tales of the Alhambra in 1832, which made this place famous and became one of the spiritual symbols of European romanticism. • Santiago Calatrava, George Clooney, Hayao Miyazaki and others have mentioned the Alhambra as a source of inspiration. ⸻ Visiting suggestions • Tickets must be booked online in advance, and the number of visitors per day is limited. During the Nasr Palace period, you must enter on time. • It is recommended to set aside at least 4 hours (or half a day) to visit the entire area. • **Best time:** Early morning or dusk when the light is best and there are fewer tourists. • Bringing headphones for your tour or booking a live tour can improve your understanding. ⸻ Useful Information 📍Address: Calle Real de la Alhambra, s/n, 18009 Granada, Spain 🗓️Itinerary: 2-3 hours, you can take a bus or walk up the mountain (about 20 minutes) 💰 Average cost per person: About €19 (including Nasser Palace), Generalife and Garden area can also be visited separately (low price) 💞Recommendation reason: It is hot in summer, please prepare water and sunscreen; there are also special lighting viewing hours at night