7 essential corners: what to see in The Alhambra (Granada)

The truth is that in my memory I had a confusing vision of my previous visit of the Alhambra, so back to Grenada It was one of the objectives for a long time, yes, with the fear that it could disappoint me when I was surrounded by a large influx of visitors.

And it hasn't disappointed me at all. What's more, now is when I have known the Alhambra, I have really been able to enjoy it, and in this way confirm that it is one of the most impressive monuments I have ever visited.

There is no doubt that the Alhambra of Granada It is one of the most beautiful and interesting monuments that can be seen. visit in Spain and the main reason to travel to this Andalusian city.

If you are a fan of photography, as is my case, I can tell you that you will not get tired of photograph the Alhambra almost from anywhere you are in Granada, and especially from the famous Saint Nicholas' lookout in the Albaicín.

When visiting the monument, I remembered that many years ago I felt really overwhelmed by the accumulation of tourists. And now it has not been like that.

The limitation of 8.000 visitors per day undoubtedly requires planning the day of the visit in advance, but it also allows the visit to be much more pleasant.

Furthermore, on this occasion it was not high season...although it seems that the tourist boom in Granada means that almost the entire year is already "high season".

Before going to break down the information about the Alhambra, we leave you here several articles that may be useful if you want to visit Granada.

• What to see in Granada
• What to see in the Albaicín of Granada
• Mirador de San Nicolás with the best views of the Alhambra

Where and how to buy tickets to visit the Alhambra

As I have told you, there is now a limitation on the number of people who can enter the Alhambra each day, which is why it is mandatory to buy tickets well in advance.

I warn you that today it is almost impossible to buy tickets at the box office.

To get to know this great monument better, I advise you to sign up for a guided tour of the Alhambra, just as I did on my trip, allowed me to discover curiosities of the most outstanding corners of the monument of the Nasrid dynasty.

In addition to being able to choose schedules, there are several visit options depending on what you want to see, because the complex is divided into several rooms that I will tell you about later in the article.

During the standard guided tour, you will tour the Nasrid Palaces, where the corners of the Mexico, Patio de los Arrayanes in the Palace of Comares and, above all, the lavish Palacio de los Leones with its famous and spectacular patio.

The visit also takes you through the grounds from the Alhambra to the Alcazaba, from whose walls you have the most spectacular views of the old Muslim quarter of Albaicín.

And finally, after about three hours of walking, the visit ends in the Generalife Gardens, summer palace from which you have some excellent panoramic views of the Alhambra with the background of Albaicín.

In short, a visit where you discover beautiful artistic corners, pleasant gardens and spectacular panoramic views.

We leave you here two links related to important information when visiting the Alhambra and the place where you can buy tickets,

• What is the visit to the Alhambra in Granada like, tickets and prices
• Where to book the Guided Tour of the Alhambra

What is the monument of the Alhambra in Granada like?

When we talk about the Alhambra We normally refer to the strength and palaces and gardens that are found inside.

The Generalife Gardens They are located next to said monument, but we all consider that they form a unit, and when talking about the Alhambra we include them.

But we must not forget that although the origin of this group dates back to the Nasrids, after the conquest of the Catholic kings different buildings were added within the enclosure, so one can also speak of a Christian Alhambra.

As visitors, all of this forms a very attractive unit, and through great architectural works we can take a tour of different eras and cultures.

The complex is not only unique and exceptional, but quite extensive, so you should plan to dedicate several hours to the visit to enjoy all its corners.

Even so, we are sure to leave some places to discover, which will be a good argument to return another time.

When planning a tour of the Alhambra Some details must be taken into account.

Places to see when visiting the Alhambra in Granada

The first is that the entrance allows access to different spaces: the Alcazaba, Generalife, Partial and Nasrid Palaces.

Unlike the first three, the Nasrid Palaces we can only enter the time set at the entrance, which will force us, depending on the time of arrival and access to the palaces, to organize the complete visit.

There are other places, like Palace of Carlos V and Mosque Bath, which are free to enter.

Taking these factors into account, and that there are also different access points to the complex, each one will plan the route they want.

En The Alhambra There is much more than meets the eye at first glance, and almost everything is worth a leisurely visit, so we recommend spending as much time as possible and going slowly.

We are going to propose an option that we believe allows us to get to know the most important places in the complex without having to retrace our steps and thus make better use of our time.

If we enter through the main entrance, we will immediately have the option to turn right to go to the Generalife or to the left to enter the strength.

We can choose this second option.

We enter through a large door that opens in the wall through a bridge, and below passes a path along which, skirting the wall, we can descend directly towards the Walk of the Sad.

Parador de Turismo de Granada, former convent of San Francisco

Once inside the walled enclosure, we follow the perfectly marked path. To the left we will begin to see some towers.

To get an idea of ​​the historical and architectural evolution of the complex, we can make a first stop at the building that is now occupied by the Parador de Turismo de Granada.

This is the ex-convent of San Francisco, the first built after the conquest of the Catholic kings, which was raised on a nasrid palace of which there are still many remains.

On the way to the best-known places, we will still have the opportunity to stop at other places.

On the left we will see the remains of the Abencerrajes palace and on the right hand side we will find the new Museum-Legacy of Ángel Barrios, which is located in the building attached to the Mosque Baths.

The mosque he refers to is the one that was located where the church of Santa María de la Encarnación.

It was built according to plans Juan de Herrera, the architect of El Escorial Monastery and many more important buildings from the second half of the 16th century.

Palace of Charles V in the Alhambra

We now arrive at the area where the best-known monuments are located.

The first one we see is the Palace of Carlos V, ordered to be built by the emperor to be his future residence.

Its large dimensions and its Mannerist-influenced style can be a surprise within a complex of palaces, gardens and fortresses. Nasrids, but we have already seen that there is also what we can call a Christian Alhambra.

There are those who say that it is a glop within the Nasrid group, but, in reality, it is one of the best examples of Renaissance architecture in Spain.

It must also be taken into account that the occupation that was made of the space of the Alhambra after the conquest of the Catholic kings It involved the destruction of some buildings, but also the appreciation and conservation of many others.

A very striking aspect of this palace is its circular inner courtyard, an exception in European architecture of that time.

The palace also houses the Museum of Fine Arts of Granada and Alhambra Museum.

One of the surprises of the visit to the latter is the descent to the crypt and the unexpected view from there of the Patio de los Arrayanes.

Alcazaba of the Alhambra

Then, crossing the Wine Gate, we can go to the Alcazaba, Which is the oldest part of the Alhambra.

It is an imposing fortress made up of three rings of walls and several towers, although before there were many more.

La candle tower is the most important, and since the Alcazaba There are excellent views of the city.

La Alcazaba of the Alhambra was more than a castle.

It was about a fortified military compound which in addition to the defensive function of the palaces, was a place of residence for the sultan's troops.

From the Albaicín neighborhood, and specifically, from the popular Saint Nicholas' lookout, Alcazaba You will distinguish it as the fortification that occupies the western end of The Alhambra.

If this were a boat, it is the part that occupies the bow.

When you access the interior of the Alcazaba, which you can do from the palace of Charles V crossing the outside wine gate, you will arrive at the central area of ​​the fortification.

It is the characteristic Parade where you will see the residential area of ​​what was the Military Neighborhood, with the structure of the various houses that inhabited the guardhouse.

At the bottom you have the candle tower, which would be the bow of that supposed ship.

Called in its time as Major TowerAnd also Sun Gate, since sunlight passes through it at dusk, it consists of four floors and a basement with a dungeon.

From the upper terrace you have that, without a doubt, are the best panoramic views of the city of Granada, with the Albaicín neighborhood spotlight.

If you don't have time during your long tour of The Alhambra, or you don't feel like climbing the stairs of the tower, from the north wall of the Alcazaba You also have spectacular views of said neighborhood, and you can also see the Generalife.

What to see in the Nasrid Palace of the Alhambra

The time has come to address the Nasrid Palaces, the only part of the visit that you have to enter at the time stated on the ticket.

It is a set made up of three palaces different: The Mexuar, Palace of Comares or Yusuf I and Palace of the Lions or Mohammed V.

Most of them date back to the 14th century.

For many it is the essence of Nasrid refinement, where ornamental elements occupy almost every last corner.

The fact that a good part of the elements dedicated to this ornamentation are relatively poor is a reminder of the temporality of human life.

La visit, which is done by a marked itinerary from which it is not possible to get out, it takes us through a kind of labyrinth.

In the end it will be difficult to describe step by step what we have seen but the emotion in the face of so much beauty is something unforgettable.

Hall of the Kings in Nasrid Palaces

Let us not forget that these are the best surviving examples of Muslim palatial architecture of the time.

However, there are some points that should not be missed, for example, the Hall of the Kings.

Here you have to look up and observe the paintings in the vaults representing ten characters, probably the first nasrid kings.

It is very surprising to find these figurative representations prior to the Christian conquest.

Courtyard of the Lions in the Nasrid Palaces

Another exception is found with animals, specifically in the Courtyard of the Lions, perhaps the best-known point in the entire Alhambra.

All lions have their tails facing the left side of their bodies and some show a triangular symbol on their foreheads.

Around this patio was the sultan's harem.

A gruesome tradition states that in the Hall of the Abencerrajes 36 members of this family were beheaded and that the spilled blood is the cause of some stains that are in the fountain and that have never been erased.

As it is such an important place, we have a specific article about the Patio of the Lions where we talk to you in more depth about this very special place in the Alhambra.

• What is the Courtyard of the Lions like?

Lindaraja Courtyard in Nasrid Palaces

We later arrived at Lindaraja Courtyard, which is the part that was modified to house the Emperor Charles V e Isabel from Portugal during her stay in Granada after her wedding.

This patio has something of a cloister and is very different from the previous patios, like the one in the Lions or the the myrtles, the latter with its pond that reflects the Comares Tower.

Partal Gardens in the Alhambra

It then goes out to the Gardens of the Partal, and we see a part of the wall with several towers, almost all associated with some legend.

If we continue through the gardens, we will reach the door through which we access the Alhambra and from which we reach the Generalife.

Generalife Palace and Gardens

The Generalife was the summer residence of the Nasrid kings.

It consisted of a large villa with orchards and gardens.

To get to the building you have to walk successively through the Cypress walks, the Oleanders and Polo yards, the apeadero and, above all, of the Acequia.

It is always said that this summer retreat has the appearance of a farmhouse, a rural villa, but after entering through the gardens we are really faced with a palace.