Red Palace Alhambra (Alhambra) in Spain: photo, description, location, attractions

Can you be in two places at the same time? At one moment feel like a guest of the West with its civilized rest, and at the same time visit the East, which always welcomes friends so cordially? The Alhambra is a place where these two worlds wonderfully complement each other, a place where one never ceases to be amazed at the perfection of human thought.

Where is

In one of the most beloved countries in Europe by tourists, there is a place where two cultures coexist perfectly. This is the Alhambra Palace. It is located near the old city of Granada, on top of a rocky plateau in southern Spain. No wonder it is called the “emerald pearl”: the perfection of the lines of the palace-fortress is emphasized by the bright blue sky, the elegance of the buildings looks good against the backdrop of the green forests and mountains of the Sierra Nevada, whose peaks are covered with snow-white snow.

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Having visited the Alhambra, you will feel how in your soul, even against your will, a feeling of admiration for the East appears. Not without reason, this palace is firmly considered the eighth wonder of the world.

A bit of history

Despite the fact that the first mention of the Alhambra dates back to the 9th century, there are still disputes between historians and scientists regarding its name. It means “red castle” in Arabic. Some researchers believe that this is due to the clay and bricks that make up this structure (clay dried in the sun for the construction turns red). Others claim that the name is reminiscent of the times when dozens of torches lit up the harsh walls of the castle with red flames, from which it acquired a mystical color.

One way or another, the Alhambra remains one of the most visited places in Spain to this day. The palace was created for the Moorish rulers. At the decline of their power, they decided to create on the land of Granada conquered by them a reminder of their former power, a real particle of the East, which the whole West will admire – the castle-fortress of the Alhambra.

architectural perfection

As the best among the Moorish palaces, the Alhambra has a structure similar to them. If you look at this stone structure from afar, it will not seem unusual to you: like a real representative of the East, all the beauty of the castle is hidden inside its walls, while the facade of the buildings is nothing special.

However, as soon as you set foot on the territory of the fortress, a whole world will open before you. There are lovely cozy courtyards with beautiful gardens. Here are fountains, amazing in their grace, pools, the reflection in which emphasizes the perfection of all lines of the architectural ensemble.

The Alhambra is indeed a brilliant embodiment of architectural thought. Every detail here is chosen so as to decorate and complement the rest. One of the most important details in planning is water. For the Moors, it has always been considered the greatest luxury, not without reason that even paradise in the Koran is described as a delightful garden in its beauty, which is replete with all kinds of water streams. The architects of the Alhambra managed to create such a paradise on earth. Not without reason, in any part of the palace-fortress, you can not only admire the splashes of the fountain sparkling in the sun, but also delight your ears with the murmur of water in rectangular ponds.

Surprisingly, from such a short-lived material as clay, Moorish craftsmen managed to create a place that has been winning the hearts of tourists from all over the world for centuries.

Meshuar

The oldest and one of the most majestic buildings of this complex is Meshuar. It has undergone the greatest changes since the arrival of the Christians. However, due to the concerns of many architects, the decoration of Mechouar has been restored as accurately as possible to date.

Meshuar is translated from Arabic as the place where the council of ministers (shura) meets. This complex includes the courtyard of the Golden Room, the Meshuara Hall, and the chapel. The decoration of each of these rooms is so perfect that, looking at the intricate patterns, colorful mosaics and Arabic script, you can't even believe that all this is the work of man. Openwork windows through which you can see the bright blue Spanish sky, exquisite tiles that adorn the walls and ceilings of the complex – all this seems to take you to fairy tales from the Thousand and One Nights collection, the time spent here seems so far from reality.

Comares Palace and Myrtle Courtyard

Particular attention in the entire architectural ensemble of the Alhambra deserves the Palace of Comares, which at one time served as a residence for the emir. It consists of several large rooms that are located in the inner part of the Comares Tower – the highest of all the towers of this palace-fortress (45 meters). All rooms face the Myrtle courtyard. Numerous arches and vaults, entire walls decorated with ceramics and plaster figures. Yusuf I, when building his chambers, wanted them to make an unforgettable impression on the guests. Needless to say, his wish came true. The magnificent decoration of the residence remains in the memories of everyone who has ever entered its territory for a long time.

The myrtle courtyard is another of the most beloved places in the Alhambra. The calm surface of the water of a rectangular reservoir not only reflects the bright blue sky of this place, but also emphasizes the symmetry and perfection of all lines. Myrtle hedges stretch along the reservoir, thanks to which this place got its name. In ancient times, women's quarters came out here. Even now, through the centuries, one can imagine how beautiful girls from the harem of the most powerful ruler on these lands sat near this pond, finding their sorrows and joys in the peaceful murmur of water.

Palace of Lions

One of the most beautiful complexes in the Alhambra is deservedly considered the Palace of Lions. It owes its creation to the son of Yusuf I – Muhammad V. After the death of his father, he inherited not only his throne, but also his taste, as well as an extraordinary love for this place. The Palace of Lions became the embodiment of this love – buildings, sensuality and harmony that the most perfect works of architectural art will envy.

In the smoothness of the lines and in the more naturalistic layout of the buildings, the influence of Christianity is felt. No wonder Mohammed V was friends and respected Pedro I, a powerful Christian monarch at that time. In the Palace of Lions, the East, with its unusual ornaments, openwork, and the West, with its clear distribution of space and harmony, are best reflected. Another of the attractions of the Palace of Lions is the fountain, the main sculptures in which are noble lions, which are perfectly combined with the luxury of this place.

The Alhambra hides in its palace complex many more places that will surprise and amaze any tourist. Being in this miracle of architectural art, you can truly forget. Here with you there will be no restless running around, which is typical for large metropolitan areas, here you will forget that you are in one of the most popular countries in Europe. Instead, a mysterious and at the same time, such an open East will appear in front of you, which cannot but conquer you with its charm.

We invite you to get acquainted with another attraction of Spain: Alarcon Castle – we read on our website.