The Alhambra Granada Spain

The Alhambra is a wonderful mystical place its name comes from the Arabic root which means red or crimson castle.  Moorish poets described it as "a pearl set in emeralds,” The palace was abandoned for many years and underwent very poor restoration in the past.  Despite all of this it still displays its Moorish Muslim art.  It has been owned by various Muslim owners and the influences of their beliefs can be seen around the buildings.

The number of visitors to the Alhambra is restricted and so it is advisable to book the tickets before you plan your trip to avoid disappointment.

After being allowed to fall into disrepair for centuries, the Alhambra was "discovered" in the 19th century by European scholars and travellers, with restorations commencing. It is now one of Spain's major tourist attractions, exhibiting the country's most significant and well known Islamic architecture, together with 16th-century and later Christian building and garden interventions. The Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the inspiration for many songs and stories.

The majority of the palace buildings are quadrangular in plan, with all the rooms opening on to a central court; and the whole reached its present size simply by the gradual addition of new quadrangles, designed on the same principle, though varying in dimensions, and connected with each other by smaller rooms and passages. The Alhambra was extended by the different Muslim rulers who lived in the complex. However, each new section that was added followed the consistent theme of "paradise on earth".