Alhambra

The Alhambra occupies the Sabika hill above the city of Granada in Andalusia, southern Spain, facing the Albaicin quarter across the Darro valley and backed by the Sierra Nevada. It is managed by the Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.

The Nasrid dynasty, the last Muslim rulers in the Iberian Peninsula, began the complex after Muhammad I founded the Emirate of Granada in the thirteenth century. Most of the palaces date from the fourteenth century under Yusuf I and Muhammad V. In 1492 Granada surrendered to Ferdinand and Isabella, and the Christian monarchs used the Alhambra as a royal court. Charles V later added a Renaissance palace.

The Nasrid Palaces are the highlight, with the Mexuar, the Comares Palace with the Court of the Myrtles and the Hall of the Ambassadors, and the Palace of the Lions with its fountain of twelve marble lions. Walls and ceilings are covered in carved plaster, tile work and muqarnas vaulting, with Arabic inscriptions throughout.

The Alcazaba is the oldest part, a fortress with towers giving views over Granada. The Palace of Charles V holds the Alhambra Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts. The Generalife, the summer palace and gardens of the Nasrid rulers, lies on the neighbouring hill with terraces, water channels and the Court of the Water Channel.

Visitor numbers are limited, and tickets for the Nasrid Palaces carry a fixed entry time that must be kept. Tickets often sell out weeks ahead and should be bought from the official website. Bring the passport or ID used for booking.