La Alhambra Granada
By Anna Lynn Sibal
At the peak of its power in the fifteenth century, Spain was the shining beacon of Christianity in Europe. The Spanish Empire conquered newfound land in the name of God, country and the Roman Catholic Church. But Spain has not always been entirely the champion of the Pope in Rome. In a corner of Spanish history, a part of Spain was the territory of the Moors, and the center of their power lies in the city of Granada. That power sits in none other than La Alhambra, the red fortress of the Moors.
La Alhambra takes its name from the red clay surrounding it, from which the building materials used in erecting it were made of. La Alhambra is an expansive complex that is comprised of strong military fortifications contrasting with the delicately and ornately designed royal palaces that these fortifications protect. Add to these the small town where the servants and officials of the Moorish princes lived and the gardens of their leisure.
The fortress and palaces of La Alhambra were praised in Moorish poems as “the pearl among emeralds.” Legend has it that Boabdil, the last Moorish king of Granada, burst into tears as he and his royal party left La Alhambra for the last time. In response to his outburst, his mother said, “You do well to weep like a woman for what you could not defend like a man.” This legend of Boabdil’s last sigh has been the subject of many works of literature and music, such as Salman Rushdie’s The Moor’s Last Sigh.
Admission tickets to La Alhambra are limited and must be booked early. Is it worth it to go through the trouble of securing limited tickets? The answer to this question is yes. La Alhambra is not only a remnant of Spain’s Moorish past, but it is also a prime specimen of early Arabic art and architecture. Its crimson glory against the setting sun is a sight of wonder in Granada.
What can you expect to see when touring the Alhambra? Tours of the Alhambra cover six sections of the palace complex, namely:
The Nasrid Palaces. The palaces nestled within the fortress of La Alhambra are delicately wrought and ethereally ornate, with their honeycomb vaults and their fragile arabesques, their refreshing fountains and elegant statuaries. The Nasrid Palaces are the homes of the Moorish kings and their families. This is where the famous Court of the Lions is located.
The Rauda. The Rauda is the royal cemetery, where the remains of the members of the Nasrid royal dynasty lie in their eternal repose. The gardens of the Rauda can only be accessed through the Nasrid Palaces.
The Palace of Charles V. Years after the surrender of the Alhambra, King Charles V of Spain thought to establish his own palace within the fortress. The palace, a cold and imposing Renaissance structure that stands in contrast with the delicate Nasrid palaces nearby, began construction in 1533. The project, however, was abandoned and it was only in the 20th century that the palace was completed.
The Medina. The Medina is the small town that is home to the officials and servants to the Moorish kings and their families. This section of La Alhambra is made up of houses, public baths, silos, cisterns, workshops and other establishments needed to sustain the fortress. The structures inside the Medina were recently restored after being destroyed during the War of Independence.
The Generalife. The Generalife is the summer retreat and pleasure villa of the kings of La Alhambra. Here are found orchards, gardens and fountains. It was recently fitted with an amphitheater for use during Granada’s music and dance festivals.
The Alcazaba. The Alcazaba is the oldest part of La Alhambra; it is the complex that is home to the soldiers that protected the fortress. Remnants of the soldiers’ houses and the dungeons can still be found here, and you can still walk upon the ramparts and parapets. The most notable feature of the Alcazaba is the Torre de la Vela, where the flag of the Catholic Monarchs was raised for the first time in Alhambra in 1492.
If you are planning to go to Granada, do not fail to make a stop and pay your respects to La Alhambra, the crimson fortress of the Moors.
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