The Infants’ Tower

Opening time: from 8.30am to 8.00pm. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Access: with the General Admission ticket to the Monumental Complex of the Alhambra.
Capacity: 30 people.
Name: The Infants’ Tower (Torre de las Infantas) or new Qalahurra by Muhammad VII. The tower was the setting for the famous tale of the three princesses, Zaida, Zorayda and Zorahaida, narrated in the Washington Irving’s Tales of the Alhambra.
Time and sultanate: The last important building that was built in the Alhambra by 1393-94 during the reign of sultan Muhammad VII (1392-1408). It is worth mentioning its architectural design and organisation. The Infants’ Tower (Torre de las Infantas) is a clear example of the tower-palace or galahurra, like the Captive’s Tower (Torre de la Cautiva). It consists of small tower-like palaces that are built in the wall of the ramparts. This tower is less protruding than the others, probably for security reasons.
Game of contrasts: plain outside richly decorated inside
The Infants’ Tower (Torre de las Infantas) is a clear example of the contrast between the plain decoration found outside and the rich architecture and decoration of the inside. On its outside the tower consists of a simple external volume, with a plain wall only interrupted by the vanes of the windows; however the inside of the tower shows a complex volume created through the distribution of the spaces and the rich decoration of the tiles, plasterwork and vaults. The small inner space is richly decorated and presents an incredible architectural complexity. It is a clear example of the skilfulness of the Nasrid architects to get the most of its inner space.