Sojourn in ANDALUCIA    
Southern Spain - Land of Many Cultures

ITINERARY     Smithsonian Odyssey Tour     HOME    March 7 - 15, 2002     PHOTOS
CARMONA      CÓRDOBA      CHURCHES      GRANADA     RONDA      SEVILLA

Coat of Arms for the City of 
Granada
 Click for more info
COA Granada
 VIVA Granada  
(complete with Spanish guitar!)


The Alhambra ("Red Palace") with the Sierra Nevada Mountains in background
Alhambra
Interactive MAP of ALHAMBRA     Interactive MAP of GRANADA


The Alhambra - the only surviving medieval Arab palace in the world - 
is Spain's most visited monument with 6 million visitors per year.  
It (along with the city of Granada) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Map of Alhambra
FORTRESS (ALCAZABA)              PALACE                              GENERALIFE (retreat)
9th Century                         14th Century                                      13th Century

Bell Tower of Fortress  Lion Courtyard   Gardens of Generalife

Bell Tower of Alcazaba     Patio de los Leones (Lion Courtyard)     Gardens of Generalife     

The ALCAZABA, or fortress, is the oldest part of the Alhambra. It dates to the 9th Century and was rebuilt in the mid-13th century by the Sultan Alhamar, the founder of the Nasrid dynasty.

The 14th century PALACE is the finest example of the hybrid style known as mudéjar, combining the intricate filigree and encrustations of Islamic art with the three dimensional, nature-inspired style of Gothic architecture

The GENERALIFE ("Garden of Paradise") was built in the latter part of the 13th century and was the summer palace of the Sultans.

Gardens in Generalife Gardens in Generalife
Additional views of GENERALIFE, hunting and summer retreat in the ALHAMBRA

Panoramic view of Granada from the Alhambra
Panoramic View of Granada

Read Tales of the Alhambra (1829) Washington Irving's classic masterpiece.
The background on this page is taken from a decorative alabaster design in the Alhambra.



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