A Day in Granada- Visiting the Alhambra

Several hours from our home base, we arrived 2,300 feet up on top of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.  There we encountered one of the historic marvels of ancient civilization.  Spain had many residents over the centuries- Phoenicians, Greeks, Celts, Romans and Visigoths before the Moors conquered all of Spain in the 8th century.  It had been a Christian land since the 1st century A.D. but was suddenly forced to adopt a Muslim culture.  During this time, the Moors made enormous contributions to architecture, the arts, medicine, science and higher learning, but battled the Christians for the next centuries to hold the land.

In the midst of this Moorish influence, the Sultan built a wonderful fortress and palace in the 12th century to care for his family and the village of workers who supported the land.  Over 2,000 people were protected within its walls.  Gardening and hunting made the area self-sufficient especially with the aqueducts that brought fresh mountain water to the Palace and villagers for drinking and irrigation.

The Sultan built three structures- the Palace of Justice, the Palace of Politics and the Palace where his wives (up to four) and his concubines resided.   The walls were inlaid with stucco plaster wall designs, ceramic tile and cedar carved ceilings.  All were painted with beautiful bright colors of blue, green, ochre and gold leaf.
Fountains were everywhere with flowing water from the aqueducts.

  Beyond the Palace was the summer home- where the Sultan's family stayed during the days but returned to sleep in the Palace.  Gardens surrounded the summer structure and to this day, is well maintained by an army of gardeners.  The gardens are more formal that they were in the Moorish days, but still magnificent!
The Christians returned to power in the 15th century and changed much of the Palace into church structures.


In the Garden of the Alhambra

 The Sultan gave up the Alhambra without a struggle.  Much of the magnificence was lost through the changes. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand united all Spain under their authority and Roman Catholicism was the official religion. 

Our group ate lunch in a large hotel in Granada near the Palace.  Bowls of steamed mussels, calamari, roast meat, fresh salads delicious pasta, fresh cheese, rolls and fruit.  Wonderful food!   And we were serenaded by a group of wandering minstrels from the local Granada University!



Serenade during Lunch!



Taking a break on Thursday!  Hoping to rest the brain cells and soothe our feet under a cabana by the Mediterranean!  Good book, sun and no where to be except there!