Can you find yourself in two places at the same time? At one moment feel like a guest of the West with its civilized rest, and at the same time be a guest of the East, which always welcomes friends so cordially? The Alhambra is the place where these two worlds wonderfully complement each other, a place where you never cease to be amazed at the perfection of human thought.
Where is
In one of the most popular tourist countries in Europe, there is a place where two cultures coexist perfectly. This is the Alhambra Palace. It is located near the old city of Granada, at the top of a rocky plateau in southern Spain. It is not without reason that it is called “the emerald pearl”: the perfection of the lines of the palace-fortress is emphasized by the bright blue sky, the grace of the buildings looks good against the background of green forests and the Sierra Nevada mountains, whose peaks are covered with snow-white snow.
Spain is a unique country that hides a lot of interesting things - read on our website
Having visited the Alhambra, you will feel how in your soul, even against your will, there is a feeling of admiration for the East. No wonder, this palace is firmly considered the eighth wonder of the world.
A bit of history
Despite the fact that the first mentions of the Alhambra date back to the 9th century, disputes still arise between historians and scientists regarding its name. From Arabic it means "red castle". Some researchers believe that this is due to the clay and bricks that make up this structure (clay, dried in the sun, turns red for construction). Others claim that the name reminds of the times when the harsh walls of the castle were illuminated by dozens of torches with red flames, from which it acquired a mystical color.
One way or another, the Alhambra remains one of the most visited places in Spain to this day. The palace was created for the Moorish rulers. At the end of their power, they decided to create on the land of Granada, conquered by them, a reminder of their former power, a real particle of the East, which the entire West will admire - the castle-fortress of the Alhambra.
Architectural excellence
As the best among the Moorish palaces, the Alhambra has a structure similar to them. If you look at this stone structure from afar, then it will not seem like something unusual to you: like a real representative of the East, all the beauty of the castle is hidden inside its walls, while the facade of the buildings is nothing special.
However, as soon as you step into the territory of the fortress, the whole world will open before you. There are lovely, cozy courtyards with lovely gardens. Here there are fountains, amazing in their grace, swimming pools, the reflection in which emphasizes the perfection of all lines of the architectural ensemble.
The Alhambra is indeed a brilliant embodiment of architectural thought. Every detail has been selected to complement and complement the rest. One of the most important planning details is water. For the Moors, it has always been considered the greatest luxury; it is not without reason that even paradise is described in the Qur'an as a garden of delightful beauty, which abounds in all kinds of water streams. The architects of the Alhambra managed to create such a paradise on earth. It is not for nothing that in any part of the palace-fortress you can not only admire the fountain spray sparkling in the sun, but also delight your ear with the murmur of water in rectangular reservoirs.
Surprisingly, from such a short-lived material as clay, the Moorish craftsmen managed to create a place that has been conquering the hearts of tourists from all over the world for over a century.
Meshoir
The oldest and one of the most magnificent buildings in this complex is Meshoir. It underwent the greatest change after the Christians came. However, due to the care of many architects, Meshouar's decoration has been restored as accurately as possible today.
Meshuar is translated from Arabic as the place where the council of ministers (shura) meets. This complex includes the courtyard of the Golden Room, the Meshuar Hall, and a chapel. The decoration of each of these rooms is made so perfectly that, looking at the intricate patterns, colored mosaics and Arabic script, one cannot even believe that all this is the work of a man. Openwork windows, through which you can see the bright blue Spanish sky, exquisite tiles that adorn the walls and ceilings of the complex - all this seems to take you into fairy tales from the collection "A Thousand and One Nights", the time spent here seems so far from reality.
Komares Palace and Myrtle Courtyard
The Comares Palace, which at one time served as a residence for the emir, deserves special attention in the entire architectural ensemble of the Alhambra. It consists of several large rooms that are located in the inner part of the Komares Tower - the highest of all the towers of this fortified palace (45 meters). All rooms overlook the Myrtle courtyard. Numerous arches and vaults, entire walls decorated with ceramics and plaster figures. During the construction of his chambers, Yusuf I wanted them to make an unforgettable impression on the guests. I must say that his wish came true. The magnificent decoration of the residence remains for a long time in the memories of everyone who ever entered its territory.
The Myrtle Courtyard is another of the favorite spots in the Alhambra. The calm surface of the water of the rectangular reservoir not only reflects the bright blue sky of this place, but also emphasizes the symmetry and perfection of all lines. Myrtle hedges stretch along the reservoir, thanks to which this place got its name. In ancient times, women's chambers used to come here. Even now, through the centuries, one can imagine how beautiful girls from the harem of the most powerful ruler in these lands sat near this pond, finding their sorrows and joys in the peaceful murmur of water.
Palace of lions
One of the most beautiful complexes in the Alhambra is the Lviv Palace. He owes his creation to the son of Yusuf I - Muhammad V. After the death of his father, he inherited not only his throne, but also his taste, as well as an extraordinary love for this place. The embodiment of this love is the Lviv Palace - buildings, sensuality and harmony that will be the envy of the most perfect works of architectural art.
In the smoothness of the lines and in the more naturalistic layout of the buildings, the influence of Christianity is felt. It was not for nothing that Mohammed V was friends and respected Pedro I, a powerful Christian monarch at that time. In the Palace of Lions, the East, with its extraordinary ornaments, openwork, and the West, with its clear distribution of space and harmony, are best reflected in itself. Another of the attractions of the Palace of Lions is the fountain, the main sculptures of which are noble lions, which are perfectly combined with the luxury of this place.
The Alhambra hides in its palace complex many more places that will surprise and amaze any tourist. Being in this miracle of architectural art, you can truly forget. Here you will not have the restless running around, typical for large metropolises, here you will forget that you are in one of the most popular countries in Europe. Instead, you will see a mysterious and at the same time, such an open East, which cannot but captivate you with its charm.
We invite you to get acquainted with another attraction of Spain: Alarcón Castle - read on our website.
