A day at the Alhambra – Granada, Spain

A day at Alhambra

The Alhambra is the most visited monument in Spain, and averages over 8,500 visitors per day.  Luckily, I had b een advised to purchase tickets in advance, so I purchased my ticket for the 9 am slot (meaning entry between 9:00 and 9:29 am), one of the only 2 available on Tuesday, with the rest of the week entirely booked.

While the Alhambra is an opportunity to learn a significant and important piece of Spanish history, it can be visited and enjoyed just for its physical beauty – the interior and exterior of the buildings, the landscaping and the location are all stunning.

But from the moment of entering the grounds, anyone interested in history and culture appreciates the significance of this site – it was first a Roman fortification, then a fortress in 889, followed by a Moor palace beginninhey gave Christopher Columbus royal endorsement for his expedition.

My day started with the most impressive part of the Alhambra, Nasrid’s Palace, renovated and rebuilt from the fortress ruins. Every aspect of it fulfills its theme of “paradise on earth”.  But being a bit of a water fiend, I particularly enjoyed the water elements, from the Fountain of Lions to the reflective pools, and beyond the palace, the stairs of water in Generalife.

The water elements just added to the harmony created by the intricate and detailed patterns of the tiles and inscriptions which covered all walls.  It made me how wonder, if all the little lines of all the details, were stacked end to end, how many times around the world would it go?  I do realize that it is more than decorative, but the artistry alone accomplishes what the inscriptions are meant to, meaning that even without knowing more about the Alhambra, the religion and the history, one can’t help but have a sense of awe and peace.

I also couldn’t help imagining what it would have been like to have been an important member of the household (who ever imagines being an unimportant member?), and walking the corridors

between courtyards, enjoying tea and meals made from the plants growing on the grounds, or eating the fresh pomegranates or persimmons from the trees in the surrounding gardens and grounds.

And this was just a small part of what it was during the Nasrid times, as it used to be a palace city, most of which is now lost, as are other parts of its history.  Now the Alhambra really is just a peek at the way it once was, at any stage of its 2,000 year history.