South Pavilion of the Generalife

Opening time: From 8.30am to 8.00pm. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
Admission: With the general admission ticket to the Monumental Complex of the Alhambra
Capacity: 30 people
Period: End of 13th-15th centuries
The South pavilion flanks one of the short sides of the Court of the Canal (Patio de la Acequia), also known as Patio de la Ría. It consists of a long narrow space whose main axis is traversed by the Royal Canal (Acequia Real), the main water canal of the Complex. Its original construction had a transept structure, similar to the Court of the Lions (Patio de los Leones) of the Alhambra, creating an intimate atmosphere that was lost in subsequent structural alterations. The pavilion has a peculiar portico divided into three spaces by transverse arches, not commonly used in the Nasrid architecture. The arches are supported by columns whose bases are buried under the present pavement, with old Nasrid capitals. The central part of the pavilion has another three-centred arch located above the triple arch which housed the bell used as a ring-bell during the Christian period. The ground floor is today unrecognizable because it was altered horizontally by the addition of walls and vertically by an additional floor that still remains at the end sides of the pavilion. The construction of the upper floor is attributed to Yusuf III. By the end of the 19th century there were no remains of the stairs leading to the upper floor and a new floor was built in one room located at one end of the pavilion.