The Alhambra

September 18th 2014

Everywhere we go we are told that we have to be so careful where we park…especially in the cities, which is why we decided to pay for a campsite last night. However, it has been suggested that, as we are visiting the Alhambra today, we drive the few miles into the city and park in the designated car parks….there are lanky of spaces, security cameras and lots of activity all the time so we should be fairly safe.

Once we were parked, and had collected our tickets for later, we took a stroll through the  streets of Granada…stopping for coffee and toast on the way.

[caption id="attachment_2539" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Love this strange little attachment to the roof of this house...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2540" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Lovely narrow 'hallway' streets...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2541" align="aligncenter" width="427"] This house obviously used to look incredibly grand once…but has now been left to rot and decay and has been taken over by squatters...[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_2543" align="aligncenter" width="427"] We saw several of these workshops where traditional Spanish guitars were still being handmade….just fantastic![/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2544" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Love the colours in this wall….[/caption]

 

The Alhambra is set up on a hill overlooking the city of Granada…it is quite an impressive place and a definite must visit if you come to the city. It is incredibly busy…6000 tickets are sold everyday, mostly on the internet, and if you cannot get one on the web, you have to get there by 6am to queue for one of the few remaining tickets. Entry is timed…you either have a morning or afternoon slot and within that you then have an allotted time to visit the main castle buildings. We were very lucky to be able to get the last two remaining tickets for entry to the grounds and castle at 2pm …we arranged this through the campsite last night!

If you are interested in the history of the Alhambra take a look at this site… http://www.alhambradegranada.org/en/info/historicalintroduction.asp

For now..we are going to take you on a photographic tour…to whet your appetite….

[caption id="attachment_2545" align="aligncenter" width="427"] The carving in the stone was just amazing…..[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2576" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The General life area…. Generalife It occupied the slopes of the Hill of the Sun (Cerro del Sol), from which there is a complete view over the city and the valleys of the rivers Genil and Darro. There are different interpretations of the meaning of its name: the Governor's Garden, the Architect's (alarife) Garden, the Vegetable Garden of the Gypsy Festivity Organiser, etc. The Generalife became a leisure place for the kings of Granada when they wanted to get away from the official affairs of the palace.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2575" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Views from the General life towards the castle[/caption]





[caption id="attachment_2572" align="aligncenter" width="427"] General life gardens[/caption]









[caption id="attachment_2567" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Looking towards Generalife[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_2565" align="aligncenter" width="427"] The bell on the watchtower[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2564" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Looking out across the city...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2563" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The cathedral...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2562" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Granada sprawling out below...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2561" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The watchtower[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2560" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The watchtower[/caption]





[caption id="attachment_2557" align="aligncenter" width="427"] There were many beautiful open courtyards within the palace[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2556" align="aligncenter" width="427"] Flooring...[/caption]





















 



Go see it…..you won't be disappointed…...