20160507AAlhambraGranada | Spain May 2016

May 7, 2016, Saturday — Alhambra, Granada

A panoramic view of Granada from the Alhambra

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 12th 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.

gypsy caves and shacks

another gypsy cave - painted white to help keep out insects

Ima, our local guide at the Alhambra

looking down at the moat

flowers

Cathedral of Granada - south portal

Royal Chapel of Granada

Historic map of Granada by Piri Reis

Courtyard of the Palace of Charles V

Courtyard of the Palace of Charles V

ceramic tiling

carved wooden ceiling

combination of ceramic and plaster wall decoration

Arabesques around a window

door

fountain

Arabesques around a window

some of the stonework has netting to keep the birds out

an example of both ceramic and plaster decoration around a doorway

more fine plaster work

plaster detail

Islamic calligraphy: "God is the only victor"

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

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

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

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

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".

Court of the Lions

another elaborate muqarna on the harem ceiling

Court of the Lions

elaborately decorated ceiling

original stained glass in ceiling

samples of ceramic tile decoration and of plaster decoration

one of many gardens and fountains

panorama of the Old City from the Alhambra

part of the Old City as seen from the Alhambra

door

in the Old City below the buildings are more gypsy dwellings

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

orange tree

gardens created from Old City ruins after Napoleon razed them

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

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

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