Architectural park ensemble Alhambra. The Alhambra in Granada is a unique architectural masterpiece of Spain. Structural features of the Alhambra Palace

The Alhambra in Granada is an ancient fortress-palace from the times of Spanish Mauritania. In 1984, the architectural and park ensemble was included in the list World Heritage UNESCO.

The centuries-old history of the Alhambra

The first mention of the fortress is in historical archives of the 9th century. In 889, during civil war Caliphate in Cordoba, the ruler Savwar ben Hamdun was hiding on the top of a rocky plateau. On the hill where the Alhambra Palace now stands, there was an ancient dilapidated fortress - Alcazaba. During the war, its walls were strengthened for defense purposes, and the real “golden age” for the fortress came only three centuries later.

In 1238, in what was then a Muslim state, rebel Muhammad bin Al-Ahmar declared himself emir and established a residence in the Alhambra Castle. Thus the Emirate of Granada was founded, which existed until 1492. During the reign of the Nasrid dynasty, the Alhambra changed its appearance. It was built primarily for defensive purposes. observation tower(Torre de la Vella) and the Tower of Hommage, then warehouses and baths were built.

For the first time, the Alhambra fortress turned into a luxurious residence only during the reign of Yusuf I and Mohamed V (from 1333 to 1391). A radical reconstruction was carried out - new baths, gates, walls with golden carvings, which gave the emir's palace a rich look. It was during this period that the Square of Lions, the Hall of Blessing and the Gate of Justice appeared, which are popular among tourists today.

In 1492, the Emirate of Granada became the last Arab state in Europe, which was defeated under the onslaught of Christians. From this period, the next changes to the Alhambra complex begin. Were deliberately destroyed architectural elements palace, which were reminiscent of Muslim culture - the gilding was covered with whitewash, the furniture and paintings were destroyed.

For several centuries, each subsequent ruler changed the Alhambra to suit himself, destroying and introducing something new. Under Charles V, the palace was decorated in the spirit of the Renaissance; under Philip V, it acquired an Italian style.

The 19th century was also a turning point for the Spanish Alhambra. By order of Napoleon Bonaparte, the complex was supposed to be blown up, but one of the commanders did not allow this, disarming the explosives. Ironically, after some time, part of the castle was still destroyed, but under the influence of an earthquake. In 1828, restoration work on the Moorish palace began. The reconstruction of the entire complex lasted more than 60 years.

Inspection plan for the Alhambra complex

The thousand-year history of the pearl of Moorish architecture, the Alhambra, covers many events and participants. Despite all the modifications over the centuries, the Alhambra Palace in Granada is the most striking example of Moorish culture. By studying the territory of the complex, you can trace the development of history.

Alcazaba

The oldest part of the castle and the main citadel of the Alhambra with all the military fortifications, gates and towers.

Nasrid Palace

The rulers of the last dynasty of emirs lived here. Divided into three main buildings:

Meshuar is the hall where guests were received, the council of ministers met and the trial was held.
The Comares Palace with the Myrtle Courtyard is the official residence of the ruler.
Palace of Lions - personal apartments of the emir. This is a 14th century building, which includes, in addition to chambers, several halls, the Lion's Courtyard and the Lions Fountain. It is notable for its harmony and luxury, which has survived to this day.

Palace of Charles V

A square building with a circular patio in Renaissance style. On its territory there is the Alhambra Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts. Music and dance performances are held in the courtyard.

Partal

The former palace dates back to the early 14th century, but very few buildings remain. The most notable of the remaining ones is the Ladies' Tower (Torre de las Damas), which includes a vaulted hall, a small mosque and a swimming pool.

Medina

This is a residential area, or as it is also called the Upper Alhambra. Here the service personnel were located in simple houses. Along the main street ( modern name- Royal Street) there were baths, a mosque, workshops, bazaars and several mansions. The church of Santa Maria de la Alhambra is now located here.

Generalife

Zagorodnaya summer residence Emirs, which is located on the slopes of Sunny Hill a little far from the castles of the Alhambra. Generalife Gardens - favorite place kings, where one could take a break from everyday life. True, the residence lost its original appearance back in the Christian era, as it was abandoned for a long time.

So, these are the main locations that tourists can explore during the day. In addition to them, the Alhambra complex contains many towers, each of which has its own historical name, as well as numerous gardens.

Opening hours and tickets to the Alhambra

The Alhambra complex in Granada is open all year round, except holidays- December 25 and January 1.

Day ticket
Visit to the gardens: from Monday to Sunday - 8:30 - 20:00 (ticket office opening from 8:00).
: from Tuesday to Saturday - 22:00 - 23:30 (box office hours are from 21:00 to 22:45).

Day ticket
Visit to the gardens: from Monday to Sunday - 8:30 - 18:00 (ticket office opening from 8:00).
Evening visit to the Nasrid Palaces: Friday and Saturday - 20:00 - 21:30 (box office hours are from 19:00 to 20:45).

There are also tickets for an evening visit to the Generalife Gardens, the schedule is as follows:

from April 1 to May 31 - from Tuesday to Saturday: 22:00 - 23:30 (box office opening from 21:00 to 22:45);
from September 1 to October 14 - from Tuesday to Saturday: 22:00 - 23:30 (box office hours are from 21:00 to 22:45);
from October 15 to November 14 - Friday and Saturday: 20:00 - 21:30 (box office hours are from 19:00 to 20:45).

Ticket prices

Day visit*: 14 €; children from 12 to 15 years old - 8 €.

Evening visit to the Nasrid Palaces**: 8 €.

Evening ticket to Generalife: 5 €.

Visit to the gardens: 7 €.

* A day ticket includes admission to the Alcazaba, Charles V Palace, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife, Mosque Baths, and the main gardens of the complex.

** The ticket to the Nasrid Palaces indicates the visiting time. Every half hour a group of up to 300 tourists is organized. If you arrive at the wrong time, the ticket becomes invalid, and if at the specified time, then you can stay on the territory of the palaces for more than half an hour.

Attention! The number of visitors per day is limited. You can buy a ticket in advance on the website: https://tickets.alhambra-patronato.es/.

Discounts apply for schoolchildren and Euro youth card holders< 26 и Euro < 30, лиц старше 65 лет, пенсионеров ЕС и инвалидов.
For children under 12 years of age, entry to the Alhambra is free.

You can book on our website, so you will have the opportunity to be close to one of the main attractions of Spain. You can also go to the neighboring city of Malaga, where several interesting places, for example, on the mountain of the same name.

Conceived as a castle-fortress, rising on the top of a mountain, the Alhambra Palace changed hands more than once, saw many bloody battles, and its walls acquired a reddish tint over time. Some claim that this happened because of the color of the building bricks, others - because of the local ferruginous soils that cast a reflection on the walls of the fortress.

And one of the legends of the Alhambra says: the palace became red because it was erected at night, by the light of torches - and the reflections of the fire played an important role. That’s why the Moors named their castle Alhambra, which means “Red Fortress”.

The Alhambra Palace in Spain is an architectural and park complex located on the top of Alsabique, one of the mountains of the Sierra Nevada range, at an altitude of 700 m above sea level. m., in the east of the city of Granada, 450 km from Madrid, the capital of Spain, on the left bank of the Darro River. On geographical map the exact location of the palace can be calculated using the following coordinates: 37° 10′ 37″ N. la., 3° 35′ 24″ e. d.

Construction of the Alhambra Castle began in the mid-thirteenth century on the initiative of the Moorish ruler Muhammad I of the Nasrid dynasty. The palace is one of the most striking monuments of Moorish architecture in Europe, the appearance of which was absolutely not influenced by Byzantine culture.

The unique architectural complex was created over several centuries, and therefore over time it formed the most real city: there were gardens near its fortress walls, and on the territory there were built watchtowers, palaces, mosques, pavilions, and even a city (Medina), in which about 2 thousand people lived. These were mainly castle employees - doctors, cooks, blacksmiths, security guards.

Fortunately, there was plenty of space for the construction of a huge number of buildings on the territory of the fortress: the area architectural complex was about 140 thousand square meters. m., length - almost 750 m, maximum width - about 200 m, and the total length of the outer fortress wall is about 2 km. Christian slaves were involved in the work, and brick, concrete, marble, wood, ceramics and plaster were used as building materials.

To build the Alhambra Castle, considerable financial and human resources were used. Despite all its beauty and unusual for European palace design, the castle more than once found itself on the brink of complete destruction: its condition directly depended on who was in power in Spain at that time:

King Mohammed I built a fortress and began construction of the Alhambra Palace, making it a royal residence.
Muhammad II and Muhammad III significantly strengthened the fortress, adding watchtowers and additional ramparts. Also during this period it was erected summer palace Generalife.
In the XIV century. Yusuf I decided to completely rebuild the fortress. The reconstruction lasted about a hundred years, and therefore the work was completed by Muhammad V. As a result, the Alcazaba fortress received a purely military purpose, and next to it, the Alhambra palace complex was erected on the mountainside.
In 1492, the Spanish troops of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella of Castile captured Granada - and things got off to a bad start for the castle. better times: decorative drawings were covered with whitewash, paintings and gilding were removed, furniture was broken.
In the 16th century Charles V decided to build a castle in the Renaissance style on the territory of the Alhambra, almost completely destroying it Winter Palace(although he did not fully implement the idea). The mosque was destroyed, and the Church of Santa Maria and a monastery were erected in its place.
In the XVIII century. King Philip V further defaced the architecture of the Alhambra in Granada by building a palace in the center of one of the Moorish buildings.
Napoleon Bonaparte, losing the war, ordered the Alhambra castle to be blown up in 1812, but one of the perpetrators neutralized the explosives, as a result of which the French managed to destroy only one tower, while the palace complex itself survived.
Nine years later, the Alhambra in Spain was severely destroyed during a major earthquake. Perhaps this was the impetus for the start of restoration work on the unique complex, which was started by the architect José Contreras in 1828, and after his death was continued by his son and completed by his grandson.

What is the Red Fortress?

The Spaniards say: whoever has been to Spain and not seen the Alhambra has not seen Spain. Many prominent Arabists claim that the Alhambra is the most beautiful of all surviving castles of the Moorish culture. The uniqueness of this complex lies in the fact that while other monuments of Arab architecture delight with their monumentality, the originality of the Red Fortress lies in the details, the extremely precise and painstaking work that was done by Moorish craftsmen when creating arches, vaults, columns, and patterned windows.

One cannot help but be surprised by the chaotic, but actually skillful arrangement of courtyards, passages, fountains, ponds, and gardens. This alternation of open and closed structures, as well as the constant repetition of architectural forms, combined with light penetrating through windows or between columns, creates a rhythm, and the huge number of varied patterns on the walls of the building is literally amazing.

When the palace was being built, the ancient masters paid a lot of attention to water, creating on the territory of the complex a huge number of fountains, ponds, reservoirs, along which gardens were located.

This is due to the fact that the real homeland of the Moors was the sultry and arid desert, and therefore water was especially valuable. In this regard, when developing the project, Moorish architects tried to create a semblance of heaven on earth, which was described in the Koran as a lush garden replete with rivers, lakes, and streams.

Main buildings of the castle

Despite its internal beauty, from the outside the palace resembles a medieval castle-fortress, towering over one of the cities of Spain. Inside, the building is noticeably transformed and it becomes clear why the Mauritanians, when describing the palace, characterized it as “a pearl in emeralds,” focusing on the bright colors of the buildings against the background of the forest located at the foot of the castle and the gardens laid out in the castle.

The castle can be reached along the road that is located between the mountain and the wall. It was also possible to get here from the Alhambra Forest through the Gate of Justice, located in the tower of the same name, or through the eastern gate leading to the summer residence of the emirs Generalife. All palace buildings were located in the west of the complex.

Nasrid Palace

The Nasrid Palace was located in the northwest of the Alhambra. Like all other buildings, on the outside it looked extremely simple, but inside the wealth and splendor of this castle was amazing. The palace included buildings for audiences and courts (Meshuara), the official residence of the ruler (Palace of Comares) and private apartments (Palace of Lions), where the Emir, his wives, children and concubines lived, and when the castle was captured by the Spaniards, the chambers of the kings were located here .

Post-Moorish period

Many buildings in the southwestern part of the complex were erected after the Moors left Granada, among them the unfinished palace of Charles V, because of which he destroyed the Winter Palace. This castle has a square shape, two tiers instead of three, and instead of a covered room with a dome on top, there is an open round courtyard. Near it is located the Church of St. Mary and the monastery.

Altkasaba

In the west is the Alhambra fortress - Altcazaba, separated from the rest palace complex a wide moat, as well as a double fortress wall, between which there is a narrow courtyard. Later, when the Spaniards came to power, a third wall was added on the northern and southern slopes of the mountain. The Citadel included nine watchtowers, from which the surrounding area and the weapons area were clearly visible.

“Red Castle” is the translation of the name of the luxurious palace complex, which I want to tell you about today. Today no one can say where exactly the name came from. Either the abundance of red torches on the fortress walls gave rise to this. Perhaps the color of sun-dried clay was the impetus for this name. Be that as it may, I interpret it in my own way. And in my opinion, “red” means “beautiful”! And you will be convinced of this by visiting here in person. To do this you need to come to the castle (Spain).

So, either a city, or a garden, or a fortress, or perhaps a huge Moorish complex of palaces and gardens.

History of creation

They built the Alhambra, built it, and finally built it. They began to build the palace complex in the 13th century, although in fact they began to “mess around” here several centuries earlier.

Back in the 9th century, in official documentary records there were references to a certain dilapidated fortress, which was located in this very place even before the palace. In those distant times, one of the warring rulers of the Emirate of Cordoba was hiding from his opponents in these ruins. For another hundred or two hundred years, the fortress was strengthened and rebuilt, until in the 11th century it was territorially connected to the city. The fortress turned into a more or less independent quarter (medina). Such neighborhoods could be self-sufficient if the city was under siege by conquerors.

Fateful events took place here in the first half of the 13th century. Then a certain Muhammad ibn Nasr “grabbed” some power for himself in the state of Muslims. He became the founder of the Granada Emirate with its capital in Granada. Of course, it was decided to make the residence in the Alhambra.

The castle began to be intensively strengthened. After all, the residence of the ruler... It was fortified so diligently and responsibly that Muhammad’s heirs even had to change the course of the local river - all for the sake of the “common military cause.”

As you understand, at that time the building played the role of a defensive structure, which did not look like luxurious palace. It was only in the 14th century that one of the ruler’s heirs began to give Alhambra the appearance of a real palace complex.

At the same time, the Palace of Lions, several new gates and baths were built, and carvings appeared on the walls. Subsequently, few people cared about the decoration and decoration of the palace. The palace is as it was in the 14th century.

The 15th century became a new important moment in the life of the Alhambra. Then Granada was liberated from the Mauritanians. The Spanish crown took possession of the palace. In the 16th century, the complex was supplemented with a special palace for Charles the Fifth. At the same time, some of the old buildings were destroyed, as well as decorative elements on the palace walls. In the 18th century, the palace “fell into a coma”; it was almost forgotten, leading to destruction and decline...

They remembered it again in the 19th century. It was not the rulers who laid their eyes on her, but creative people - painters and writers. For almost 60 years in a row they tried to restore the complex, “sucking out of thin air” some of its details. They approached the work not scientifically, but creatively... What can I say, artists are impressionable and imaginative people... And only after a while, with the advent of the 20th century, they began to restore the palace, relying on historical documents.

Now it is a whole palace and park complex, consisting of a fortress and palaces with museums, gardens and sculptural compositions. The Alhambra is experiencing its rebirth, attracting millions of tourists every year.

Palace elements

Since our landmark is a whole architectural ensemble, it would be wrong to talk about it as one palace.

For convenience, as a rule, the Alhambra is divided into zones or sectors. It’s easier to describe this way, and tourists won’t get lost.

Alcazaba

This word used to be used by the Arabs in Spain to call the fortified residence of their ruler. In our case, Alcazaba is the oldest part of the complex, located at the top of the hill. This is where the first “builders” and owners of the fortress lived.

Among the oldest elements of the buildings we see ancient walls, a Watchtower, the ruins of several old buildings, the remains of a water collection tank, a prison and part of the residential buildings for servants. Nowadays, gardens are also included in this sector. But they appeared later and have nothing to do with the old buildings.

The last dynasty of emirs, its representatives lived here in this building with adjacent courtyards, halls and towers. This is where those in power most often lived. Here was their, so to speak, permanent residence. The palace had three sectors: Mechoir, Palace of the Lions and Comares. Tourists can still see them today. Meshuar is a room for the work of the court and the reception of subjects. Comares is the official residence for receiving high-ranking guests and foreign envoys. And in the Palace of Lions lived the “lions” themselves, the rulers. There were their private chambers. In the emir's palace today they have tried to restore as much as possible the interior that it had during the reign of its owners. Come in and rule.

Charles V of Habsburg, Holy Roman Emperor, officially stayed here (in the Alhambra) in summer time. But apparently he was a capricious ruler; he was not satisfied with the ancient buildings and desired a new palace for himself. And in the 16th century, they began to build a new palace opposite the old one. It was later called the Palace of Charles V. The style chosen was the Italian Renaissance. The building is in the shape of a square. The patio is round. It was completed only in the 20th century, when the customer was no longer in sight.

As I said above, over time it became a full-fledged residential area (district, quarter). It included both government palaces and the residential sector of commoners. Medina was called the Upper Alhambra. Here, in fact, lived both ordinary people, gentlemen, and artisans. All of them were busy maintaining the palace complex. The quarter itself was quite noticeably separated from the “royal part” - they dug a ditch, which was surrounded by a strong wall with fortress towers. When the era of Christians arrived, this part of the complex was abandoned. The buildings have collapsed over time. The Catholics set up their monastery in one palace. The rest of the medina was made into a park (garden).

This palace is often written about separately as a famous landmark of Granada. This is kind of a separate point in tourist routes guidebooks. This palace is located 350 meters from the main Alhambra complex. It’s funny, but the rulers “came” here to relax, just like we go to the dacha today. Although the distance is only like “the cat cried.” From the previous appearance There is not even a brick left of the Generalife. The Christian era and regular restructuring completely erased everything that was here originally. Add to this a period of complete devastation that lasted for decades. And, despite this, this palace is amazingly beautiful. If you don’t “bother” with the lack of “primordial” nature, then there is something to look at.

Local gardens are spoken of as a separate independent tourist attraction. To say “gardens” is an understatement. This word hides the garden plantings themselves, and wonderful cozy courtyards, and fountains on terraces, cascades of water streams, canals, reservoirs, elaborate arches, weightless vaults, slender colonnades, carved windows with airy light patterns... Everywhere there is decoration in Arabic script with glorification of Allah, plant-themed ornaments, bright multi-colored mosaics, ceramic tiles, openwork carvings on wood and even stone.

Wonderfully smelling oranges, alleys of slender cypress trees, blooming flower beds, the murmur of water in cascades and splashing fountains. It seems that when laying out the gardens of the Alhambra in Granada, their creators paid special attention and importance to water and light. Everything here is subordinated to the general idea of creating comfort, coziness, bright joy...

Water came into the canals and fountains from the mountain slopes. The value of water in the era of the Moors was high. It's like columns for the Greeks. Water had to be an essential element of important architectural ensembles of that time.

How to get there?

How to get to the Alhambra Palace in Granada? As I have said many times, the palace ensemble is located on a hill called La Sabica near the historical center Granada. Therefore, there should be no problems finding this attraction.

Three popular ways: on your own, by car (personal or taxi), by bus.

From the city center to the hill it is no more than a kilometer walk. Therefore, it won’t be difficult to get there on foot. Starting point – Cathedral Granada. If you are short on time, then use public transport, or rent a car. The route you need is C3. For the convenience of tourists with cars, there are guarded parking lots near the palace complex. If you don't eat at excursion bus, but you took a car, then your route will be slightly different from the “bus” route. You will have to enter not from the city center, but from the southern section of the ring road.

Ticket price and opening hours

Here, as usual, I advise you to take a look at the official website of the Alhambra so as not to get into trouble.

The entrance ticket to the Nasrid Palace is valid only for 30 minutes from the time indicated on the ticket. This is due to limiting the number of visitors in the palace premises. If you are late and your 30 minutes are up, no one will let you in and you will have to buy a ticket again.

There is no single ticket to visit the entire complex of palaces at once. Or rather, it exists, but such a ticket gives the right to very, very general overview territories. If you want to consider everything in detail and scrupulously, then tickets to each palace and even gardens are purchased separately. In addition, there are tickets for daytime and evening visits. They also differ in price.

So, the most general sightseeing ticket to the Alhambra Palace in Spain costs 14 euros. Children under 12 years old enter free of charge. From 12 to 15 years old - pay 8 euros. Pensioners over 65 years old pay 9 euros for entry. Tickets for disabled people are sold for 8 euros.

Find out more detailed information on visiting each area of the Alhambra on the website.

Important: on average, the excursion takes at least three hours. Tickets are selling out like crazy. Therefore, purchase them in advance. It is more convenient to do this online on the official website of the Palace complex. Taking photos and selfies is allowed, but without flashes or tripods. No smoking!!! You can eat and drink only in certain specially designated places.

The first visitors are allowed in here at 8.30 am. In winter, the facility closes at 21.30, and in summer at 23.30.

As usual, the visit is possible with a guide or on your own. This also affects the cost of tickets.

Bottom line

Whatever you call it - an architectural masterpiece of Islamic masters or an outstanding monument of Moorish architecture - in any case, it is a landmark of amazing beauty. Her fame has long gone beyond the borders of Granada and Spain. Could the last rulers of the Muslim dynasty in Granada have imagined that their home (roughly speaking) would be admired by millions of foreigners today? A seemingly ordinary fortress and palace complex for that time, centuries later, having experienced prosperity and ruin, it became an unsurpassed property not only of the Spaniards, but of all mankind. Not for the sake of a nice word, I’m saying all this now. This beauty is difficult to describe, it needs to be seen. This is what I encourage you to do with all my story about the Alhambra.

The Alhambra is an architectural treasure of Spain and one of the world's finest examples of Islamic architecture. This majestic palace complex, overlooking the city of Granada on the La Sabica hill, was last refuge Muslim rulers of Spain - the Nasrid dynasty (1230-1492).

View of the Alhambra from the Albaicin hill

From the outside, the huge fortress-palace looks very impressive and gives the impression of a formidable military bastion. However, this impression is deceptive. Inside the complex there are exquisite palaces and gardens of Arab rulers, entering which visitors find themselves in a world of harmony and dreams. The Alhambra is a typical example of the so-called Muslim “hidden architecture”, which forms a habitat inaccessible to a stranger. It is impossible to evaluate a building built according to these principles from the outside: the most beautiful things are hidden inside and visible only to residents and guests. In the Alhambra, what from the outside seems like a cluster of towers, in reality is a miracle of thoughtful planning, the embodiment of ingenious engineering and fantastic beauty of decoration and decoration.

Construction of the fortress began in the middle of the 13th century and continued for 150 years. The first stone in the foundation of the Alhambra was laid by order of Muhammad I ibn Nasr, who bore the nickname “Al-Ahmar” (Red). Having captured Granada in 1238 as a result of internal civil war, he began building a citadel on the site of an old Arab fortress. The structure was named Alhambra (from the Arabic الحمراء), that is, “red” - this was the color of the material, consisting of a mixture of stones, sand and clay and mined right under the feet of the builders, on the La Sabica hill.

The first one was built (Torre de la Vela) or the Lookout Tower (also known as the Watchtower). Its height is 27 meters. The tower is protected on three sides by steep slopes, which gave it enormous defensive advantages. In the past, this structure was also the center of the intelligence network created by Muhammad and the end point of a chain of signal towers. Torre de la Vela itself offers magnificent views of Granada.

Tower of Torre de la Vela

View of Granada from Torre de la Vela

Tower of Torre de la Vela

Behind the tower is a fortress, where the barracks of the military who defended the Alhambra were located, and the medina (city), in which the people who served the fortress lived. In addition to their houses, the medina had a bakery, a tannery and warehouses that provided the livelihoods of the inhabitants of the medina. During the heyday of the Alhambra, Alcasba was inhabited by about 5 thousand inhabitants.

The heart of the Alhambra is (Los Palacios Nazaries), which belonged to the rulers of the Nasrid clan in the Granada Caliphate. The palaces, each unique, were built one after another by different emirs. Each emir wanted to surpass his predecessor, thereby leaving a mark on history. This is how a complex of interconnected buildings was formed, which is considered one of the most exquisite, beautiful and sophisticated palace ensembles in the world. The Nasrid palaces are conventionally divided into three parts: Meshwara, Komares Palace and the Palace of the Lions.

Nasrid Palaces, view from the Generalife

Upon entering the Nasrid Palaces, the visitor will first enter the oldest part of the complex called Meshwar, in another transcription - Mechoir or Mexuar(Mexuar). The name comes from the word maswar - the place where the council of ministers meets - “shura”. Meshwar consists of several rooms and miniature courtyards. Rectangular walk-through Meshwar Hall (Sala de Mexuar)- the first hall of the palace, where, according to some sources, the royal court was supposedly located, and according to others, a place for receptions and meetings. The upper part of the room is decorated with carved stucco (plaster panels), and marble columns with Arabic-style capitals support a beautiful carved cedar ceiling. On the wall there is a made in the technique "zellige" colored mosaic in the form of arabesques. Under the Christian kings, the hall was rebuilt and served as a chapel, but then it was restored, partially returning to its original appearance.

Adjacent to the Meshwar Hall is a small room with windows overlooking the Albaicin area. It is assumed that there was a prayer room in this room. Its walls are covered with quotations from the Koran. In the eastern part of the room there is a mihrab - a niche indicating the direction of Mecca, towards which every praying Muslim turns.

Next follow one of the most interesting chambers of the Alhambra - the courtyard (Cuarto Dorado) or the courtyard of the Gilded Room. This is a charming courtyard with a fountain in the center. On the southern façade the courtyard has double windows, which are covered with wooden bars ( "mashrabiya"), created with pinpoint precision. The “Verses of the Throne” from the Koran are inscribed on the façade, leading some scholars to believe that Cuarto Dorado was the central entrance to the palace.

The next part of the palace was official residence ruler It was built under Yusuf I and was named Palace Comares (Palacio de Comares). It starts with Myrtle courtyard (Patio de los Arrayanes)- one of the most famous places Alhambra. It captivates visitors with its sophistication and simplicity of lines. Inside the rectangular courtyard with an area of 36.6 by 23.5 meters there is a pond (34.7 by 7.2 meters). It is framed by marble slabs, and water flows into it from round fountains on both sides. Through the efforts of the architects, the water is supplied in such a way as not to disturb the even surface of the pond, and its barely audible murmur, pleasing the ear, makes a pleasant impression. The pond itself was intended for breeding goldfish.

Behind the myrtle courtyard, on the north side, rises Comares Tower (Torre de Comares)- the tallest among the Alhambra towers. Its height reaches 45 meters. It houses the most majestic and occupying central place in the palace complex Hall of Ambassadors (Salon de Embajadores). The size and interior of this room must have left visitors in awe. During the reign of Yusuf I, the power of the Spanish Catholic kings became stronger, and with the construction of the Hall of Ambassadors, the emir set himself the task of stunning and impressing his foreign guests, leaving in their memory the power and inaccessibility of the Alhambra's defenses. The interior of the tower is a miniature model of the universe, in the center of which sat the ruler of the Granada Caliphate. The fantastic cedar ceiling of the hall, consisting of 8 thousand elements, symbolizes the seven heavens of the Muslim paradise. The walls are decorated with Arabic script praising Allah.

To the east of the Myrtle Courtyard are located Bani Comares (Baños de Comares). The hammam premises (as baths are called in Arabic) have hemispherical roofs with star-shaped openings. The baths were heated by hot air, which came through pipes laid inside the walls and under the floor. Behind the wall there was a boiler in which the water flowing into the baths was heated. The floor and walls are decorated with elegant mosaics.

Palace of Lions (Palacio de los Leones)- These are the private chambers of the ruler and his harem. It was erected under Emir Muhammad V. It is one of the most beautiful monuments of Arab-Islamic art. His heart is (Patio de los Leones), striking the viewer with its harmony, beauty and sophistication. Along its perimeter there is a colonnade of thin single and double columns, and on the eastern and western sides there are two graceful pavilions. An amazing feeling of proportionality and harmony is created thanks to the most precise mathematical calculations, during which Arab masters relied on the experience of antiquity.

In the center of the courtyard there is a fountain with sculptures of 12 lions, on the backs of which rests a bowl, decorated with verses by the Arab poet Ibn Zamrak, praising the emir: “Blessed be God, who gave Imam Muhammad an abode of beauty superior to others. Here is a garden containing miracles of art, the like of which God forbade to be recognized anywhere else. Look at the continuous mass of pearls, illuminating everything around and permeating the air with a hail of tiny crystals...” Under the caliphs, a garden was laid out on the site of the courtyard. This was the place for the ruler's harem to walk.

The chambers of the palace, into which the visitor enters from the Lion's Courtyard, are decorated with an amazing invention of Arab architects - a stalactite vault, the nature of which is very difficult to understand, just as it is difficult to assess its real proportions. During the day, as the lighting changes, the appearance of the ceiling also changes, creating the illusion of movement. The complex design is based on precise mathematical calculations and philosophical ideas of Arab scientists.

On the south side of the Lion's Courtyard there is Hall of the Abencerrachs (Sala de los Abencerrajes), named after the tragic event - the murder by slander of 37 people from the Abencerrach family. This structure has an unusual dome in the shape of an octagonal star, decorated with stalactites. Soft light pours through the windows in the dome.

Hall of Kings(Sala de los Reyes) located on the eastern side of the Lion's Courtyard. The ceilings of the room are decorated with paintings depicting scenes of a lively conversation between ten people in Arabic robes and ladies watching a knightly tournament. It is assumed that these paintings were made under the Catholic kings.

To the north of the Lion's Courtyard there is Hall of Two Sisters(Sala de las Dos Hermanas), so named because of the two identical slabs on the marble floor. The ceiling of the hall is decorated with a beautiful stalactite vault, and on the walls, in round fragments of stucco (plaster) decor, verses by the poet Ibn Zamrak are carved, glorifying the palace of Emir Muhammad V.

Poems by the poet Ibn Zamrak on the wall in the Hall of the Two Sisters

Passing from the hall in a northern direction, the visitor finds himself in a small hall with a double window (Mirador de Daraxa), which overlooks the Darahi Garden. It is believed that the women of the harem rested in this small, elegant room.

At the exit from the Nasrid Palaces there is (Torre de las Damas)- a small building with a tower located opposite the pond. This building is what remains of the destroyed Partal Palace. The ceiling of this structure was taken to Berlin by a German banker who owned this site in the 19th century. The ceiling is now on display in the Museum of Islamic Art, part of the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.

(Palacio de Carlos V), located next to the Nasrid Palace, was started in the 14th century and completed only in the 20th century. Inside it has a circular courtyard with a diameter of 30 meters. On the ground floor of this room there is Alhambra Museum (Museo de la Alhambra), where presented archaeological finds, found during excavations of the Alhambra. On the second floor there is Museum of Fine Arts of Granada (Museo de Bellas Artes de Granada).

Above the Alhambra is the former summer residence of the emirs of Granada - the Generalife Palace and Gardens, which are described in a separate section.

From the outside best view The Alhambra is accessible from the Albaicin area. On the hill there is a special observation deck. In winter and spring, the view is especially beautiful due to the fact that the Sierra Nevada mountains located behind the Alhambra are covered with snow.

Tickets to the Alhambra.

The Alhambra is one of the most visited places in Spain. If you are going to tourist season, then it is best to buy tickets in advance so as not to stand in huge queues and get into the Nasrid Palaces, which can only be entered in strictly certain time, which you indicate when purchasing a ticket.

Tickets for the Alhambra can be purchased on the website www.alhambra-tickets.es (official partner listed on the official website www.alhambra-patronato.es). For pre-sale tickets, an additional 1.3% fee will be charged. When purchasing at the box office or through the terminal on the day of visiting the Alhambra, the ticket price increases by 10%.

Alhambra ticket types:

General admission ticket: 13 euros. This ticket gives you access to the entire complex. You must keep it until the end of your visit to the Alhambra. There are additional turnstiles at the entrance to the Nasrid Palaces and the Generalife Residence. When purchasing this ticket you choose the time of your visit to the Nasrid Palaces. If you do not arrive at the Nasrid Palaces at the time stated on the ticket, the ticket will be cancelled. Please note that it takes about 30 minutes to walk from the entrance to the Alhambra to the Nasrid Palaces.

Ticket to visit the Gardens of the Alhambra, Alcazaba fortress and Generalife): 7 euros. This ticket does not give you the right to see the most beautiful part of the Alhambra - the Nasrid Palaces.

Evening visit to the Nasrid Palaces ticket: 8 euros. In the evening the palaces are beautifully illuminated. We recommend that if you have several days in the Alhambra, you visit the Nasrid Palaces both during the day and in the evening.

Evening visit to the Generalife ticket: 5 euros.

Blue circular pass:15 euros. Entitles you to an evening visit to the Nasrid Palaces, and the next day to a visit to the Alhambra, Alcasbah and Generalife Gardens,

Red circular pass: 100 euros. Entitles you to 15 visits to the Alhambra throughout the year. It includes 10 day and 5 night visits.

Be sure to take this one with you on your trip bank card, which you paid when purchasing tickets online!

After purchasing tickets online, before visiting the Alhambra, you must obtain these tickets from special terminals located in the pavilion next to the ticket office at the main entrance. Each terminal (see the signatures on them) issues a certain type of ticket. If you bought tickets to visit the entire Alhambra complex, including the Nasrid Palaces, then look for the terminal with the inscription: Visita general (General visit). In the terminal you must select the option “print already purchased tickets”. Next, the machine will ask you to insert the bank card you used to pay for tickets online. After this, the machine will give you your tickets, which you must keep until the end of your visit to the Alhambra.

General visit ticket terminal

Upon entering the palace complex, you can pick up a free Alhambra guide map.

It is best to visit the Alhambra during the tourist season in the early morning or evening to avoid proximity to large tourist groups. The entrance to the Nasrid Palaces is located near the Palace of Charles V.

Luggage storage is available at the main entrance to the Alhambra (Consigna/Lockers), open from 7.30 to 18.30 from November to February, and from 7.30 to 20.30 from March to October.

The climb up the mountain on which the Alhambra stands is quite difficult. We recommend that you take a bus to the entrance to the palace complex. A white and red minibus number 30 is walking along the main street. Gran Via and across the square Plaza Nueva.

Bus number 30 going to the Alhambra

The Alhambra in Spain is a magnificent palace complex, the best example of Moorish architecture. It includes several palaces, magnificent gardens and fountains. From the Alhambra you can see the mountains and the distant Albaran Sea.

"Alhambra" is translated from Spanish as "Red Castle". It is located in Granada, Spain, stands on a hill and is built of red stone. This entire magnificent architectural masterpiece can be seen from several kilometers away.

The Red Castle is surrounded by thick stone walls. Main entrance it is called the Gate of Justice; it was built in the middle of the 14th century. Next are the Wine Gates, and only after them is the entrance directly to the palace.

Alhambra Castle on the map of Granada

History of the Alhambra

The city of Granada appeared during the Roman Empire, and after the fall of Rome, this territory repeatedly passed from hand to hand of various Moorish emirs, until in the 13th century it was conquered by Muhammad ibn Nasr I and the Emirate of Granada was formed.

Muhammad made Granada the capital of the emirate and ordered the construction of the future residence of the Alhambra in it. Large construction began in the 30s of the 13th century. Thus began the golden age of Granada, which lasted almost 250 years.

During the construction of the Alhambra, the architects adhered to the principles of Moorish and Muslim architecture. Even then, this palace complex was called by contemporaries an earthly paradise, one of the wonders of the world.

The construction of this unique, one-of-a-kind palace complex, surrounded by fortress walls, was carried out according to a complex project; the flow of rivers from the mountain was changed, and they began to feed the palace gardens and fountains.

In the center of the Alhambra palace, the Lion and Myrtle palaces were built, gardens were planted around them, artificial reservoirs were dug and decorated, and several open halls, internal patios, etc. are organized.

The Myrtle Courtyard still has an extremely luxurious appearance today. This is a true example of the architecture and landscape art of medieval Arabs. In its center there is a large pond surrounded by myrtle trees.

To the north of the Myrtle Court is the Comares Palace, where the throne room is located. It has a second name - the Chamber of Ambassadors. The walls of the palace inside are covered with the finest oriental carved patterns, and the dome, thanks to the lighting, flickers with patterns of stars.

Skillful wood carving is one of the well-known characteristics of eastern cultures. Particularly beautiful in the palace is the carved cedar ceiling from which stalactites descend. The stalactites in the Alhambra are often used as decoration.

Meshuar is one of the oldest palaces in the Myrtle Court. After the fall of the Emirate of Granada, it was partially destroyed and then converted into a Catholic church. The original Moorish beauty of Mechoir has not completely survived to this day.

In Mechouar, trials were held under the emir, and in the Comares palace the emir held ceremonial receptions. During Christian times, some parts of the palaces were rebuilt, but the main hall, the walls of which are decorated with sunnahs from the Koran, was preserved.

During the time of the emirs, residential quarters were located here, where the emir himself, his harem, children and servants lived. In the middle of the Lion Court there is a beautiful fountain, a mandatory attribute of all eastern palaces.

The fountain's water flows into a large marble bowl, which stands on the backs of 12 stone lions. When creating this masterpiece, Moorish sculptors compared the fountain to the throne of the biblical King Solomon.

On the sides of the Lion Court there are three beautiful palace halls. Their walls are covered with unique majolica, decorated with oriental mosaics, multi-colored marble, plaster, ceramics and other decor.

As is customary in Islam, floral and geometric patterns predominate here, gracefully intertwined with Arabic script, sophisticated multi-colored patterns that always cause special delight among the public. People cannot be portrayed as Muslims.

Later buildings in the Alhambra

The Emirate of Granada until the end of the 15th century was considered one of richest states on the territory of modern Spain, however, the decline of Moorish rule on the Iberian Peninsula began, and the Alhambra remained the last stronghold of the Moors.