May 7, 2016, Saturday — Alhambra, Granada

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A panoramic view of Granada from the Alhambra

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map of the Alhambra

We toured the Alhambra, one of Granada’s greatest sights. When the Moors crossed the Strait of Gibraltar in AD 711, they claimed a hillside city that had been founded by the Romans and later settled by Visigoths, yet whose history dates to pre-historic times — Granada, which is believed to mean great castle. The Moors chose Granada as the site to build their own mighty citadel, one of the great architectural wonders of all times, the Alhambra.

Even from a distance the Alhambra is a breathtaking sight, sprawling over a hilltop overlooking the city. Construction of the Alhambra began during the 12
th century and continued over centuries, resulting in a mix of surfaces and styles. On the way up the hill to the Alhambra we passed several caves where gypsies live, their doorways painted white to discourage insects.
We went on an included tour of this complex of palaces and courtyards, a deliberate effort to create a paradise on Earth. We could hear the calming music of water all over the Alhambra. There were several reflecting pools and a place called "Seventh Heaven" with a star in the middle.

It was a surprise to find out that Washington Irving, lived in the Alhambra for a time in 1829. The locals told old tales that he wrote down. We visited his room.

The ruler had a family compound for his wives and concubines. One sultan had 200 wives. A harem was an important sign of social status.
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gypsy caves and shacks

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another gypsy cave - painted white to help keep out insects

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Ima, our local guide at the Alhambra

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looking down at the moat

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flowers

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Cathedral of Granada - south portal

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Royal Chapel of Granada

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Historic map of Granada by Piri Reis

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Courtyard of the Palace of Charles V

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Courtyard of the Palace of Charles V

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ceramic tiling

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carved wooden ceiling

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combination of ceramic and plaster wall decoration

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Arabesques around a window

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door

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fountain

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Arabesques around a window

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some of the stonework has netting to keep the birds out

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an example of both ceramic and plaster decoration around a doorway

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more fine plaster work

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plaster detail

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Islamic calligraphy: "God is the only victor"

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Tessellations like this inspired M.C. Escher's work

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JuanJo Perez, Karen LeRoy, Joest Buehner, Ron Buehner, Isabel Sandez, and Myrtha Saleme at the harem doors and Courtyard of the Lions

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Sue Novick, Pat Nagy, Ingrid Yule, and Ron Santina admire the harem doors

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"Honeycomb", "stalactite","muqarna", or "mocárabe" vaulting in the Hall of the Abencerrajes

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Muqarnas are a form of architectural ornamented vaulting, the "geometric subdivision of a squinch, or cupola, or corbel, into a large number of miniature squinches, producing a sort of cellular structure", sometimes also called "honeycomb" vaults from their resemblance to these. They are used for domes, and especially half-domes in entrances and apses, mostly in traditional Islamic and Persian architecture. When some elements project downwards, the style may be called mocárabe these are reminiscent of stalactites, and may be called "stalactite vaults".
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Court of the Lions

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another elaborate muqarna on the harem ceiling

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Court of the Lions

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elaborately decorated ceiling

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original stained glass in ceiling

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samples of ceramic tile decoration and of plaster decoration

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one of many gardens and fountains

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panorama of the Old City from the Alhambra

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part of the Old City as seen from the Alhambra

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door

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in the Old City below the buildings are more gypsy dwellings

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Ima _, Terry Adams, Sonboon Higgs, Mickie Santina, and Ron Santina wait for the rest of the group

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orange tree

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gardens created from Old City ruins after Napoleon razed them

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Portico and pool of the early 14th-century Partal, in the Alta Alhambra of the complex

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Portico and pool of the early 14th-century Portal, in the Alta Alhambra of the complex

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Generalife was the summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid Emirs (Kings) of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus, now beside the city of Granada

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Generalife, showing the quick private route the Emir could use to go from the Alhambra to Generalife

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George Yule, Sue Novick, and Isabel Sandez exit the Alhambra walls

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Alhambra wall and moat

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Portico and pool of the early 14th-century Portal, in the Alta Alhambra of the complex

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Generalife fountain

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Generalife fountain

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panorama of the Alhambra and the city from the gardens

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flowers

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Generalife fountain

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ruins of a home from the Napoleonic wars

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George Yule walks down a row of ancient cedars

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gypsy cave dwelling painted white to defend against insects

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gypsy encampments and cave homes

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