Granada Photo Gallery - The Alhambra Part 1

The Alhambra is an amazing monument to Moorish Spain and includes the Nasrid Palaces, Generalife gardens, and Alcazaba. I chose a very early entry time for my pre-booked ticket at 9:30 anticipating a lot of crowds as the day progresses. Most of the Alhambra dates from the 13th and 14th centuries when the Muslim rulers transformed the site into a palace. When the Christians reconquered Spain, they demolished part of this palace for a Renaissance building and subsequent stewards had even tried to blow it up.

Gaining an entry was an adventure in itself. They run a strict quota system to limit the number of visitors to certain parts of the massive complex. Having heard stories of much time wasted in long lines, I opted to pay a little extra to get a pre-booked online ticket, guaranteeing my entry into the restricted sections. Luckily, as I visited on a weekday, the crowds were thin upon my arrival just before opening time. There was no line for the automatic ticketing machines where I retrieved my ticket with my credit card in seconds.

My first stop was Generalife, a small palace but covered with very lush and leafy gardens, just like what the Koran describes as paradise.

The rest of the Alhambra sat on the other side.

The Palacio de Abencerrajes is now an archaeological area.

The Nasrid Palaces have strict entry requirements to limit the number of visitors inside. The Muslim influence is quite evident. It seemed I had ventured into the Middle East with detailed ornaments, interesting use of light, and vast spaces.

After examining the intricately-decorated interiors, the palace opens up to a courtyard, the Patio de los Arrayanes, which features a reflective pool.

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