Granada
 

Glimpse of Granada | Catholic wonders | Night has fallen | The Nazrid Palaces | Alhambra | Alcazaba | Generalife | Mirador de San Nicola | Albaicin views | Central Granada | Flamenco nights

Alhambra

Patio de los Leones

 
Patio de los Leones
Detail of the exquisite walls
   
Patio de Lindaraja
Peacefulness of an inner court

 
The beautiful vertical lines of Albaicin
El Partal
 

As the visit continues, people gradually catch up in the Patio de los Leones, even if I still consider myself rewarded of my early start by being able to have moments without many tourists. I observe the mythical figures of the lions between a few of the hundred columns aligned in this court, water and architectural lines guiding the vision to the centrepiece fountain. Once again, the decoration above the arches, on the walls, and on both floors and ceilings is elaborate yet anonymous, all in the glory of Allah and for the enjoyment of the royalty.

The Sala de los Abencerrajes, Sala de los Reyes and Sala de las dos Hermanas all lead onto the patio, and each have their distinctive features, whether it be the star-shaped ceiling of the first, the fresco and simple walls of the second, or the fine windows of the latter. The Mirador de Lindaraja opens onto a patio below, and lets in the smell of oranges from the gardens. They are as much of an architectural feat, and echo the geometric shapes of the building, as do the external courts leading to them.

Moving through the palace gardens, I am still in awe at the constructions, and equally caught by the view across the hill towards Albaicin, with its intricate roads and rectangular buildings. The stunning composition of El Partal draws me back to the Alhambra, the arches mirrored in a still pool next to the tall line and curled leaves of a palm tree, as a drop sends ripples through the image. Not far lies the Generalife, a summer retreat, the name of which means "the architect's garden". I wander in its direction before preferring to finish my tour of the palace gardens and pools. Spring is gradually blowing life and colour into the veins laid out hundreds of years ago, and more recently also by the renovators, further to the rediscovery of the Alhambra in the early twentieth century.

After the Hispano-Moorish orchard garden, I reach the rauda, a word meaning both cemetery and garden in Arabic, and which was the place of burial of the Nazrid kings until the last of them moved their remains before the "reconquest" by the Spanish. The sun is fully out by now, and I seek its warmth, anything to help me get past my flu. I even use a hand dryer for my hands, drink tea, and bask in the sun, all dressed in black to soak up heat!


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Glimpse of Granada | Catholic wonders | Night has fallen | The Nazrid Palaces | Alhambra | Alcazaba | Generalife | Mirador de San Nicola | Albaicin views | Central Granada | Flamenco nights

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