 The Mexuar building and the Comares Tower by dlytle | THE ALHAMBRA: NASRID PALACES tips and photos posted by real travelers and Granada locals.
Calle Real s/n
• 327 Photos
• 177 Reviews
See all Granada Things To Do |
 | Granada THE ALHAMBRA: NASRID PALACES Reviews | 1 - 10 of 177 |  |
 Ceiling of the Sala de
los Abencerrajes by easyoar
The Abencerrajes were a politically powerful family towards the end of the period that the Moors lived in Spain. You might think they would be pleased to have their family name given to a Hall in the sultans palace, but I suspect that under the circumstances they would not.
The second to last Sultan of Granada (Abu'l Hassan) had a favourite wife, Zoraya. One day he caught her in the garden in the arms of the chief of the Abencerraje clan. In revenge, he murdered 16 princes of this clan in this very room, hence the name. I've no idea what he did to Zoraya though.
There is yet another small fountain in this room, which has rust stains around it. Apparently popular belief is that these rust stains are actually still traces of the blood from the murders that took place in this room.
Anyhow, I still haven't got to the most interesting part of the present day room. If you forget to look up, you will miss out. The ceiling is one of the most impressive you will see anywhere. Apparently the geometry of it was inspired by Pythagoras' Theorem. Leave a Comment
|
 | |  |
Visiting Granada?
Read reviews about Granada Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
 Patio de los Leones by easyoar
To my eye at any rate, I cannot see a single Lion. Instead I see a collection of small dogs reminiscent of Tintin's dog Snowy.
I suspect I'm not the only person to be disappointed by the distinct lack of Lion type attributes of the animals in the centre of the patio. Apparently the inscription on the bowl the Lions are holding up states that "How much fiercer they would look if they weren't so restrained by their respect for the sultan".
Perhaps the embarrassed architect added this afterwards when he saw how his Lions had come out, hoping this obvious kowtowing to the Sultan would cover for his distinct lack of animal realism... Leave a Comment
|
| | |
 Panoramic View of Granada from
the Alhambra by easyoarLeave a Comment
|
 Moorish Tiles in the Alhambra by easyoar
These tiles are so popular, that it is very common to see modern reproductions inside peoples houses in the South of Spain (Andalusia). Although Spain is a very Christian country these days (although not as strict as in Franco's times!), the people of Andalusia are very proud of their Moorish heritage, and this is reflected in many things. The food in particular is still very Moorish in parts. Leave a Comment
|
 Intricate stonework at
the Patio de los Leones by easyoar
The patio itself was designed to ne an interior garden of the palace and was planted with bushes and herbs that would have added wafts of scent into the air. Three of the most important rooms in the Palace open out onto this patio. Namely the "Sala de los Abencerrajes", the "Sala de los Reyes", and the "Sala de las Dos Hermanas". These translate into "The Hall of the Abencerrajes" - (see separate tip for explanation), "The Hall of the Kings", and the "Hall of the Two Sisters". Leave a Comment
|
Visiting Granada?
Read reviews about Granada Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
 The Patio de Arrayanes -
Alhambra by easyoar
The patio itself goes around the outside of the pool, and is bordered by myrtle hedges. The water helped to reflect light into the surrounding halls (the rooms in the Alhambra tend to be quite dark as they don't have too many windows). Leave a Comment
|
 Lions are missing in Patio de
Los Leones by Bwana_Brown, 3 more photos
These rooms were built in the 1360s surrounding the 120-ft (35-m) long 'Courtyard of the Lions' and its water fountain. The first two photos show a few of the 124 beautifully carved slender columns that support the arches surrounding the patio. Unlike the previous patio, this one only has a few small trees to provide a touch of greenery.
The bowl of the fountain that still remained for our visit normally is supported on the backs of the twelve lion statues, however we just had to imagine them. Originally, the fountain served as a clock by means of a mechanism that made water flow out of each of the lions in sequence. However, after Granada fell to the Christians in 1492 someone had the bright idea to take it apart but could not figure out how to put it together again! Leave a Comment
|
| | |
 Arches and pillars in the
Courtyard of the Lions by Ekaterinburg
Off the patio are several rooms which are opened to the public and it is here more than anywhere else that you get some impression of the actual lives lived at the Alhambra.Two of these, the Sala de Los Abencerrajes and the Sala de las dos Hermanas, I will describe in the next tip.
|
| | |
 Looking down the pool of Patio
de Arrayanes by Bwana_Brown, 3 more photos
After walking the length of the pool we turned for a view in the opposite direction where the Throne Room is located and from which we had entered the area. However, our early morning visit combined with brilliant sunshine resulted in too much contrast for a decent shot (3rd photo). We managed to recover from that disappointment by looking skyward from the patio (4th photo)!! Leave a Comment
|
| | |
From the Mexuar patio you arrive at the Comares Palace, which was built during the reign of Yusuf 1 and continued by his son, Mohammed V in the 14th century. The ornamentation here is similar to the Mexuar but on a much more elaborate scale. The palace is built around possibly the best-known landmark in the Alhambra, the Myrtle Patio. This patio immediately reminds one of the Taj Mahal, albeit on a far smaller scale, and is indeed very graceful and harmonious. The squat tower of the Comares overshadows it and the northern entrance is shaded by a wonderful gallery with elegant pillars and arches supporting a riot of latticelike, decorative plasterwork. In this patio, the scrum of people was at it's most intense as everybody jostled for space to take a photo of the reflected palace in the courtyard pool. I wasn't as impressed with this patio as I thought I would be. It's much smaller than photographs suggest and the shrubbery is boxy and uninspiring. I preferred the quieter courtyards I glimpsed through windows with orange trees, cypresses and clumps of aromatic greenery, neatly arranged around burbling water.
The photo shows the northern entrance to the Myrtle Patio with the reflection of the Comares tower and pillars . I tried hard to get a picture without other people in it but short of throwing some of my fellow snappers in the water, this was quite impossible. I've included another photo also, one of a courtyard glimpsed from the Palace of the Lions. I think this illustrates the point of contrast I've drawn between the Myrtle Patio and the smaller enclosed gardens in the palace.
|
| | |
|
| Best Granada Travel Deals |
Charming Granada Hotel
Find real granadian historic hotel unique, boutique, small hotel Grenada Resort
Contemporary Luxury in Grenada Amazing Winter Specials. Book Now! Granada Hotels
See maps & pics, read reviews, book online. Enjoy your stay in Granada! Tours of Andalucia
Tailor-made tours of Andalucia for the more discerning traveller Fly From NY to Malaga
Get great deals to Malaga. Save with Air France®. Sponsored Links
More Granada Travel Deals Grenada Accommodation
Hotel Photos, Info & Virtual Tours Save up to 50% on hotels at Expedia Cheap Granada Hotels
Up To 70% Off Hotels in Granada Instant Reservations, Book Now! Hotels in Granada
Hotels from 39$ per Room/Night with Info, Map, Photos & Reviews Sponsored Links
- Hotel Villa Oniria
calle San Anton 28, Granada - Ibis Granada
Carretera de Armilla s/n Parque San Isidro, Granada - NH Inglaterra Hotel Granada
Cettie Meriem 6, Granada - Universal Hotel
Recogidas 16, Granada - Albero
Avda Santa Maria de la Alhambra 6 - 1C, Granada - Mulhacen
Av. Buenos Aires, 43, Granada - Las Nieves
Alhondiga 8, Granada - Abades Nevada Palace
C/ de la Sultana 3, Granada - Sacromonte
Plaza del Lino 1, Granada - Zaguan del Darro
Carrera del Darro 23, Granada - Los Tilos
Plaza Bib Rambla 4, Granada - Huerta Del Laurel
calle Madre Trinidad Carreras, 2, Granada - Macia Monasterio de los Basilios
Paseo de los Basilios 2, Granada - Princesa Ana Hotel
Avenida de la Constitucion 37, Granada - AC Palacio de Santa Paula
Gran Via de Colon 31, Granada
|
