Granada - Part II

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Fortunately we weren’t time-constrained during our visit to the Alhambra (literally “Red Fortress”), as the complex is massive and requires 2-3 hours minimum to see all the sights.

The following were the highlights:

- The Alcazaba (Citadel): the heavily fortified end, which offers great views of Granada, Albayzin and the surrounding area. The original citadel dates back to the 9th century, though I’m not sure if any of that is part of the remaining structure. 

  

 - Nasrid Palace: the Moorish royal complex built during the 14^th century. One of the palace’s rooms – the Salón de los Embajadores – is where Isabel and Ferdinand gave Christopher Columbus their support to sail west in search of the Indies. I really liked the building architecture / design (particularly the muqarnas – stalactite-like ceiling decorations) and mix of indoor and outdoor areas.

 - Charles V Palace: A 16^th century palace built for Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, after the Spanish conquest. The building has a rectangular exterior and circular inner patio with a colonnade, which I definitely didn't expect before entering.

The general palace grounds were also very nice, with a number of gardens, fountains and smaller buildings.

Next to the Alhambra is the Palacio de Generalife, which was the summer palace of the Moorish kings during the 14^th century. The complex consists of various patios and gardens and offers nice views of the Alhambra itself. According to the all-knowing Wikipedia, the Generalife offers one of the oldest surviving Moorish gardens.

 

To cap off the day we headed back to the Plaza de San Nicholas to get some tapas and take in the view of the Alhambra at sunset. It was a bit overcast by this point, thus obscurring the setting sun, but was still very nice.