The history of the Alhambra is linked with the geographical place where it is located: Granada. On a rocky hill that is difficult to access, on the banks of the River Darro, protected by mountains and surrounded by woods, among the oldest quarters in the city, the Alhambra rises up like an imposing castle with reddish tones in its ramparts that prevent the outside world from seeing the delicate beauty they enclose.

COriginally designed as a military area, the Alhambra became the residence of royalty and of the court of Granada in the middle of the thirteenth century, after the establishment of the Nasrid kingdom and the construction of the first palace, by the founder king Mohammed ibn Yusuf ben Nasr, better known as Alhamar.

Throughout the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the fortress became a citadel with high ramparts and defensive towers, which house two main areas: the military area, or Alcazaba, the barracks of the royal guard, and the medina or court city, the location of the famous Nasrid Palaces and the remains of the houses of noblemen and plebeians who lived there. The Charles V Palace (which was built after the city was taken by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492) is also in the medina.

The complex of monuments also has an independent palace opposite the Alhambra, surrounded by orchards and gardens, which was where the Granadine kings relaxed: the Generalife.

Palacio Real I t is a group of small palaces with a series of structures that surround them, that were a consequence of a purely transitory and ornamental need. From the 16th century, these “nazarie” palaces have been named “Casa Real Vieja” (Old Royal House) in order to distinguish them from the Christian-built buildings. The Royal Palace Mexuar Oratory The Golden Room Courtyard Golden Room Palaces Comares The Arrayanes Courtyard The Room of the Ship The Comares Tower he Chamber of the Ambassadors The Lions Palace The Hall of the Muqamas The Albencerrajes Hall The Harem The Hall of the Kings The Hall of the Two Sisters The Ajimeces Gallery Daraxa Viepoint Carlos V’s Rooms The Queen’s Robing Room The Reja Courtyard The Lindaraja Courtyard Comares Baths Images The Royal Palace	El Generalife B uilt between the 12th and 14th centuries, the Generalife was used as a place of rest for the Muslim royalty. It was designed as a rural villa in the vicinity of the Alhambra, with decorative garden, fruit and vegetable patches, courts and other structures. The Generalife Almunia was ideal for gardening and rest. Most of the buildings were residential and much of land was used for grazing and cultivation. The orographic site was divided into terraces. There are four main vegetable gardens. Low Gardens Generalife Palace The Court of Main Canal The Sultana's Court The Water Stairway The Romantic Observation Point The High Gardens The Promenade of the Oleanders Water Ponds The Promenade of the Cypress Trees The Generalife Theatre Generalife Map Images Generalife	The Alcazaba T he Alcazaba, together with the "Torres Bermejas" is the oldest part of the Alhambra. It is thought that before its construction and the arrival of the Moslems to Granada, several buildings already existed at this same site. The earliest news we have of the existence of the Alcazaba of Granada dates from the 9th century. It was possibly constructed by "Sawwar ben Hamdun" during the fights between Arabs and muladíes (Christians converted to the Islam during the Moslem domination in Spain). The Alcazaba The Adarves Gardens Plaza de Armas The Armas Tower The Vela Tower The Tribute Tower     Images Alcazaba
Palacio Carlos V T he construction of the Carlos V Palace was a consequence of the need to have a place with all the comforts of that time for the Emperor and his family, since the “Alcazar”, which was his summer residence, did not cover his needs. Carlos V Images Carlos V	The Alhambra Gates T he Alhambra Gates. The Justice Gate The Arrabal Gate The Wine Gate The Armas Gate The Seven Floors Tower Images Gates	The Promenade of the Towers T his walk joins the “Partal” with the “Alhambra Alta” and the “Generalife”. The Itinerary The Rauda Tower Partal Gardens The Damas Tower The Mihrab Tower Torre de los Picos Torre de la Vela The Cadí Tower The Cautiva Tower he Infantas Tower The Career Corporal's The Agua Tower High Alhambra Images The Promenade

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