The Alhambra

The city of Granada apparently takes its name from the Spanish for pomegranate, an abundant fruit in this region. The pomegranate is an appropriate symbol, luxurious and jewel-like. This city has long been associated with the rich and royal.

Lying above the city in true fairytale style lies the Alhambra. A palace of kings built when the Moors ruled southern Spain, Alhambra comes from the Arabic Al-hamra, meaning 'the red one' - in this case a fortress. The fortress is thought to have existed from the 9th century but it was the Nasrites who turned the Alhambra into a series of palaces in the 13th century. Eventually the Alhambra was to become a fort (alcazaba), palace (alcazar), and city (medina) all rolled into one. The Moors used their impressive skills as architects and horticultural engineers to create a paradise -literally, a walled garden of heavenly delight.

The palaces and gardens appear vast in their never-ending walkways, paths, and steps. In spring the Judas trees splash cerise against the dark biscuit-coloured walls. The Generalife is an enormous secret garden where you can discover passageways swathed in lilac wisteria and long pools of water lined with fountains. The palaces consist of the Mexuar with its amazing golden room, the palace of Mohamed V famous for its Lions Court, the Hall of the Mozárabes, the Hall of Abencerrajes, the Kings Hall, the Sala de las dos Hermanas with intricate ceiling, the Hall of the Ajimences, the Mirador de Deraxa, and the Palace of Comares. Inside the cool rooms of the palaces, tiny arched windows offer keyhole views of crenellated towers. You can run your fingers over expanses of inscribed walls with quotations from the Koran, while star-filled ceilings can cause dizziness. Thin channels of water pervade each palace converging and separating across the floors. The constant sound of trickling water is provided by the many scattered fountains that cool the air and calms the senses. The Alhambra is a magical place and is a monument to the rich history of southern Spain, and the many influences that have played upon it. This was the last Muslim city to fall to the Christians. In the 15th century the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabel of Castille came to power and conquered Granada, seizing the truly great treasure of the Alhambra.