The Alhambra and the Generalife

¿Por qué es delito hacer pintadas, tocar los alicatados?

La legislación española, con la ley 16/85 trata de asegurar la protección del Patrimonio Histórico Español como principal testigo de la contribución histórica de los españoles a la civilización, considerando un délito cualquier ataque que ponga en peligro la preservación de bienes únicos e irremplazables, de un interés excepcional, que exige que se conserven como elementos del patrimonio mundial.

Are spaces normally closed to the public ever on view?

Yes. The From the Alhambra and surroundings to Granada and the Expert guided tours, as well as the Space of the month program regularly reveal spaces normally closed off to the public for conservation reasons.

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What is the Museum piece of the month?

The Museum piece of the month is a free programme offered by the Museum of the Alhambra each Saturday at 12.00. Each month a chosen piece is described and analysed by a specialist.

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What is the Area of the month?

Each month an area of the site usually closed for conservation reasons is opened to the public. These are areas which, due to either to their size or to their characteristics, cannot admit large numbers of persons.

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Temporary exhibitions organised in the Monument, are there free?

All the temporary exhibitions that the Patronato of the Alhambra and Generalife organise are free. Most of them are the result of a thorough internal investigation complemented with interesting external contributions, which are offered free to all citizens.

How was water transported to the hill where the Alhambra is located?

Water was channelled from the Darro river and subsequently carried along the Royal Canal, the principal water line, and a network of smaller channels, to waterwheels and water tanks, thus facilitating the transformation of the fertile land to a lush and habitable garden.

When was the Alhambra built?

The Arabs respected the Roman cities and roads, making them bigger by adding new constructions. In the 9th century evidence from Arab texts points to new constructions inside the Alhambra, although it is thought that some kind of construction was built during the Roman period and even earlier.

After the Caliphate of Cordova civil war, the capital of the Granada province was moved from Elvira to Granada in the 11th century, promoted by the Zirid Dinasty. At the slope foot was an important Jewish settlement, around which the city of Granada started growing.

Vizier Samuel ibn Nahgralla renovated and rebuilt the abandoned ruins located on the Sabikah Hill and built his palace there. The successive invasions of Almorávides and Almohades in Granada ended with fierce and bloody battles that took place in the Alcazaba del Albayzin and in the buildings of the Alhambra, which became the refuge for the local Andalusians and at times for the North African invaders.

Al-Ahmar, the founder of the Nasrid Dynasty, took up residence at the Old Alcazaba of the Albayzin in 1238, though he felt attracted by the ruins on top of the Alhambra hill. Thus he embarked on the reconstruction of the building for the residence of his Court as we know it now.

Is the Alhambra a city or a fortress?

The Alhambra was a palace, a fortress and a citadel; the residence of the Nasrid Sultans and top government officials, court servants and the royal guard (13th to 14th centuries).

It is currently an artistic-historical monumental complex with four clearly distinguishable zones: the Palaces, the military zone or Alcazaba, the city or Medina, and the villa of the Generalife, all of them surrounded by woods, trees, gardens, parks and vegetable gardens.

Why are there so many towers in the Monumental complex of the Alhambra?

More than thirty towers were distributed along the ramparts; some of them housed the main halls and rooms of houses and palaces; others offered a panoramic view that extended into the horizon; and still others were used as strategic points of the complex defensive system of the city.

All were different from others in shape and size, thus conferring a singular fortified aspect to each one, which is so characteristic of this Complex of Historical-Artistic Monuments.