Alhambra

The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex constructed during the mid 14th century by the Moorish rulers of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus, occupying the top of the hill of the Assabica on the southeastern border of the city of Granada in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia. The Alhambra's Moorish palaces were built for the last Muslim Emirs in Spain and its court, of the Nasrid dynasty. After the Reconquest by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492 the Christian rulers used some portions of the palace complex. In addition, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, built a Renaissance style palace with the Nasrid fortification in 1527.

After being allowed to fall into disrepair for centuries, the Alhambra was "discovered" in the 19th century by European scholars and travelers, and restorations commenced shortly after. It is now one of Spain's major tourist attractions, exhibiting the country's most significant and well-known Islamic architecture, together with 16th-century and later Christian building and garden interventions. The Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the inspiration for artists and authors, the most famous of which is Washington Irving’s Tales of the Alhambra, which is now on my summer reading list, and also the artist and mathematician M. C. Escher whose famous tessellations were inspired by the Moorish use of symmetry in the tiles at the Alhambra (There is currently an exhibition of Escher’s work in the Palace of Charles V).

I have wanted to visit the Alhambra since I first learned about it a couple years ago, when I studied Asian and Medieval Architecture. Despite some minor difficulties with logistics planning, I am happy to say that the visit was one of my favorite experiences during my study abroad this semester. Once we arrived, my friends and I deciding to leisurely explore starting in the Generalife Gardens, followed by the Nasrid fortifications known as the Alcazaba, the Palace of Charles V, and finally the most famous Nasrid palace. I hope the photos I captured do justice to the beautiful gardens and arabesque architecture. Enjoy!