The Alhambra, Granada’s Fortress on the Hill

I knew nothing of the Alhambra before arriving in Granada. Our Airbnb host was very emphatic that we must visit the main attraction of the city. Later I learn that the Alhambra is the most visited attraction in Spain. By the time I looked into getting tickets directly from the Alhambra website, there were none left. Luckily per our Airbnb host’s instructions, I was able to get tickets through the Granada Card. The reason it’s so difficult to get tickets is because the Alhambra limits the number of visitors allowed to 6600 per day.

20160514030030 — Alhambra perched on top of the hill overlooking Granada

There are three main sections of the Alhambra: the Nasrid Palaces, the Alcazaba and the Generalife. The Nasrid Palaces only allows 300 people to enter every 30 minutes and one must reserve ahead of time. By the time I booked, only the last time slot was available at 7:00pm.

20160513033902 — Grey clouds over the Alhambra

The day started overcast and by the time we got to the gardens at the Generalife section, it started to rain. And it was cold. But none of that detracted from the beauty of the gardens.

20160512060441 — Orange blossoms in bloom, smells heavenly

20160512061809 — Trying to reach an orange

PicsArt_06-08-11.38.55 — So many beautiful flowers

DSCF00931 — The landscaping is so well done

20160512063151 — Fountain leading to mini palace in the Generalife

PicsArt_06-08-11.32.17 — Looking through an archway

20160512065746 — Lots of fountains throughout the gardens

DSCF03861 — Buildings reflected in water

20160512070031 — Walking through the rain

It stopped raining as we make our way towards the Alcazaba, a fortress, which is the oldest section of the Alhambra. It worked out great for us as the skies cleared enough for us to see the city of Granada from the top of the fortress walls.

20160512074310 — Charles V Palace courtyard on the way to Alcazaba

20160512081339 — Looking at neighbourhood of Albaicin, the oldest and the Moorish area of Granada

DSCF02111 — Dressed to keep warm, definitely not the summer weather I was expecting

20160512083839 — Sun trying to break through the clouds

20160512082440 — Fortress towers of Alcazaba

20160512082607 — Snowcapped Sierra Navada mountains in the background

20160512073535 — Large chinese tour group with colourful umbrellas

The sun sets quite late in Spain which worked out for us as we made our way to the Nasrid Palaces. It was still bright enough for us to enjoy the buildings and gardens. The Palaces were built for the last Moorish rulers of the Nasrid Dynasty (last Arab Muslim dynasty in Spain). The interior of the Palaces was so amazingly beautiful, it left us speechless. As we progressed through each section of the Palaces, the decorations of the walls and columns become more elaborate and complicated.

20160512093347 — We stayed behind to get a photo of us without the crowds

20160512094152 — Arabesques in the wall details

20160512094806 — Lattice like decorations

20160512094819 — The word beautiful to describe this seems inadequate

20160512095455 — Court of the Lions and fountain

20160512100133 — Muqarnas ceiling decoration

Nasrid Palaces blew our minds. It gave me new appreciation for Muslim architecture. We wished we had more time to take in all the details of this amazing place. We lingered as long as we can until we were not-so-gently reminded to leave.