Granada: The Alhambra

April 04, 2019

Granada: The Alhambra

Hola amigos!

There were far too many pictures to choose from for this weekend, so I decided to split the posts into a few parts. This one will cover Ray and I's first night and morning in Granada, where we visited the Alhambra!

On Thursday night when we arrived, we met up with my friend Sammy and her friend Sydney for tapas at Taberna Gastronómica Chantarella. After hanging out for a while and catching up, we went for a short walk around the city to get oriented and find some great spots. Sammy pointed out some places she liked and showed us the Alhambra gates so we knew where to go the next day! We also learned the story of the sealed balcony along the river. (Note: this link talks about many of the important things you pass on your way up. See: "A Love Story")

We spent our Friday morning touring the Alhambra, the large palace (and city) that put Granada on the map. (Having a tour is important, as the self-guided tickets book months in advance!) We walked (hiked) about 30 minutes from the hostel up to the main entrance of the Alhambra. The gates are majestic and the walk was worth it. We arrived a few minutes early for our 9 AM tour and enjoyed the scenery along the way.

Our guide was named Maria Lourdes and she was from Spain. By the end of the tour, she knew me and Ray as "Colorado" and "California" (respectively) and was impressed with our Spanish abilities. Our tour started with the Alcazaba (Fortress). This used to be the military area of the palace, where soldiers used to watch over the city, live, and spend time in the gardens within. We walked up and down the towers and learned about its former uses.

Next, we walked through the Nasrid Palaces, where we got our first glimpses of the architecture present throughout the Alhambra complex. I was particularly impressed with the details on the walls/ceilings, the views over Granada, and the architecture styles throughout. We passed through the Mexuar, Comares Palace (featuring the Ambassadors' Hall), the Palacio de los Leones (my favorite), and El Partal. Every piece of it was detailed and beautiful! I loved the Patio de los Leones (and its cute fountain with 12 lions) and the most common picture of the Alhambra with the reflecting pool. Washington Irving also has a few statues and monuments present throughout honoring his famous piece, Tales of the Alhambra, in which he tells stories of his experiences. This article talks a little bit more about the different areas of the Alhambra and why water is so important within the palaces.

There was another garden area that we passed through right before taking our break between the palaces and the Generalife.

After the indoor part, we went to the Generalife - the gardens of the complex and former "summer residence" area of the Alhambra. We walked through the upper and lower gardens, from which you can get great views of the palaces below over the city of Granada. I loved seeing the fountains in action and passing through the luscious green areas filled with flowers. It was peaceful and a great way to finish the guided tour!

After our tour finished, we decided to spend a few extra minutes in the Palacio de Carlos V. The building is rectangular on the outside but has a circular (Plaza de Toros) shape on the inside. Our tickets were also valid for the mini-museums inside, so we walked through the Fine Arts one to see the interior. (It’s free for students!)