The Alhambra and the Generalife

Conservation Programme

The restoration and preservation operations developed for the Alhambra bring together, as in many other monument sites, the plastic arts, artisan craftwork, and  rigorous scientific knowledge. Hence, any interventional plan can now only be devised as a combination of actions undertaken by various interdisciplinary teams.      

Any interventional operation conducted on the Historical-Artistic Monuments Complex must start with initial research involving strict analyses of a structure, its state of conservation and the causes of the damage or deterioration, as well as the testing and the final selection of the proper materials to be used.

Preserving a monument today is no longer an isolated process. A preservation plan must take into consideration the surrounding environment and the history of the area. This involves the specialized assessment and analyses of aspects such as structure type, building techniques and materials used.

The study of the Monument as a heritage resource requires the development of preventive strategies for effective preservation.

Additionally, the application of intervention criteria based on the principle of respect for authenticity, the development of sophisticated analysis techniques and the use of efficient and reversible treatment processes, have led to very specialized restoration actions, as well as to changes in the traditional conservation strategies used for damage  prevention, preservation, and systematic analysis.