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PAINTINGS IN THE SALA DE LOS REYES. THE ALHAMBRA. Dated from the second half of the 14th Century.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM. CASA DE CASTRIL. Conserves and displays to the public important Iberian, Roman and Moorish artefacts.
Landscape from the San Nicolás Viewpoint.
MARIANA PINEDA SQUARE. Behind Bibataubín´s palace stands Mariana Pineda square, or as people in Granada call it “the Mariana´s”. In the centre of the square, a monument is dedicated by the city for such a significant historical character.
HOSPITAL REAL. Large Renaissance building (16th century), ornamented with Plateresque elements and a Baroque façade. Presently, it is the Rector´s main headquarters of Granada University.
LINDARAJA VIEWPOINT. THE ALHAMBRA. The Sala de los Ajimeces houses the viewpoint of Lindaraja, a name that derives from the Arab term al-ain dar Aixa, meaning “The eyes of the Queen´s house”.
SALÓN DE ABENCERRAJES.THE ALHAMBRA. A honeycombed dome, with a geometrical ceiling pattern retaining a maximum aesthetic example in the Alhambra. Dated from the second half of the 14th Century.
DOME OF THE CÚPULA DE LA SALA DOS HERMANAS. THE ALHAMBRA. A honeycombed dome, with a geometrical ceiling pattern of juxtaposed prisms, achieving the maximum aesthetic value in the Alhambra. Built in the second half of the 14th century.
PATIO DE LOS LEONES. THE ALHAMBRA. This patio, one of the most famous in the history of Art, receives this name because of the lions in the central fountain, decorated with a poem by Ibn Zamrak. It was part of the Palace of the Lions, an area devoted to the private life of the Nasrid royal family.
NICHE IN THE PATIO DE LOS LEONES. THE ALHAMBRA. The Palacio de los Leones was part of the private area reserved for the residence of the Nasrid royal harem. It was constructed in the 14th century.
PATIO DE LOS ARRAYANES. TORRE DE COMARES IN THE ALHAMBRA. The construction was founded by Ismail I, continued by Yusuf I and completed by his son, Muhammad V. Called Patio de Comares in the 16th century and from the 17th century was given different names such as:Patio de los Arrayanes, de los Mirtos, del Estanque or de la Alberca, meaning “Patio of the Myrtle” and “Patio of the Pool”.
RECESS IN THE PATIO DE COMARES. THE ALHAMBRA. The Palace of Comares was dedicated to public life and governing in the Nasrid royal residence (the harem). Built in the 14th century and decorated with embossed plaster (alabaster powder), which was a quicker and more practical technique for Arab labour.
INTERIOR OF THE PALACE OF CHARLES V. Built by Pedro Machuca in the 16th century with a Renaissance courtyard of great architectural sobriety.
MEXUAR. ALHAMBRA. The Mexuar was the area used by the reigning sultan to hold meetings with his ministers. Built in the 15th century, it undertook several changes from the 16th century, e.g. when it was converted into a chapel.
FAÇADE OF THE PALACE OF CHARLES V. Built by Pedro Machuca in the 16th century. The relief work on the façade depicts the victories of Charles V
PUERTA DEL VINO. ALHAMBRA. This well-known gate of the Alhambra, with a carved key on its lintel, leads from the city to the palatial area.
VIEW OF THE ALCAZABA AND THE ALHAMBRA. To the East of the Alhambra complex, lies the old Alcazaba and the palatine city, with the outstanding Palace of the Leones and Comares. The complex is complemented with the gardens and pavilions of the Generalife. Added in the 16th century, was the construction of the Palace of Charles V.
TORRE DE LA VELA. ALHAMBRA. Sitting on a privileged enclave to the southwest of the Alhambra complex, stands the Torre de la Vela, a solid tower of four floors symbolising the military power of the Nasrid kingdom. Later the Christian monarchs that defeated it, added the bell as a visible, sounding and unmistakable element of the new direction the City would take from there on.
VASE OF THE GAZELLES. MUSEUM OF THE ALHAMBRA. The Palace of Charles V houses two interesting museums: the Museum of the Alhambra displaying an important example of Nasrid ceramics (14th-15th centuries), and the Museum of Fine Arts, one of the best in Spain for Baroque art.
GENERAL VIEW OF THE ALHAMBRA. Alhamar, founder of the Nasrid dynasty, set the headquarters of his kingdom on top of the hill Sabika, between the river Darro and the Genil. In 1242 began the works of this great palace-city that would be expanded later by caliphs Ismail I, Yusuf I and Muhammad V, until it became the most splendorous capital of all European monarchies in the Late Middle Ages. Constructed by following the curves of the land on a platform spreading east to west, the Alhambra is a fortified building of over 2,000m altitude, surrounded by battlemented parapets and reinforced by numerous towers, amongst them the palace-tower of Comares stands out. The Alhambra can be accessed through various gates, amongst them the Puerta de la Justicia and the Puerta del Vino.
SCIENCE PARK. Covering the five great areas of: Universe, Biosphere, Eureka, Perception and Exploration, it invites one to a tour starting with the Universe in the Planetarium and Astronomical Observatory and ending with the Earth. Planned as an interactive museum with the participation of visitors handling machines and giving instructions to a computer, are some of the main characteristics that define and make this park appealing.
THE GENERALIFE. The palace, located opposite the Alhambra, can be accessed through the Puerta de los Carros. From the north, lies the Sala Regia; the decoration of the plastered walls is exceptional, as are the wooden shading roofs.
TOMBS OF THE CATHOLIC MONARCHS IN THE ROYAL CHAPEL. Burial mound where the Catholic Monarchs, Isabel and Fernando, are kept. The figures of Carrara marble brought from Genoa were sculptured by Doménico Fancelli in 1572 and they are located in the crypt of the Royal Chapel.
CATHEDRAL. It was built by the architect Diego de Siloé in the 16th century, who abandons the traditional gothic style and implements the new stylist guidelines of the powerful Renaissance classicism.
HIGH ALTAR OF THE ROYAL CHAPEL A piece of work from the early Spanish Renaissance style (1520-1522) by Felipe Bigarny, Alonso Berruguete, Jacopo Florentino et al. The relief of the lower part of the altarpiece depicts historical events of the history of Granada, e.g. the surrendering of the keys of the city to the Catholic Monarchs and the Christening of converted Muslims.
CASA DE CASTRIL. Descending from Sacromonte along the Carrera del Darro, one of the most beautiful streets in Andalusia, sits to the right of Casa del Castril, a magnificent palace with a Plateresque 16th century façade. Today, it houses the Archaeological Museum of Granada, which preserves and displays to the public important Iberian, Roman and Moorish pieces of art.
CARRERA DEL DARRO, with SAN PEDRO AND SAN PABLO CHURCH in the background. Descending from Sacromonte through Carrera del Darro, one of the most beautiful streets in Andalusia, one can see opposite the Casa de Castril and on the left, San Pedro and San Pablo Church, in Renaissance style, built in the 16th century where there was a mosque before the Christian conquest.
THE CHURCH OF SANTA ANA. The façade of this building has faced Plaza Nueva since the 19th century. Sitting on the banks of the river Darro, this old Muslim mosque is a significant piece of architecture in the harmonic environment of one of the most popular squares in Granada, possessing a privileged view of one of the towers in the Alhambra, the Torre de la Vela in the background. Built in the first half of the 16th century, according to Diego de Siloé´s design work, it resides valuable works of art.
PLAZA NUEVA, and the Santa Ana Church in the background.
ROYAL CHANCERY. The Royal Chancery, being the High Court of the city when conquered by the Catholic Monarchs, was built by Phillip II. The construction started in 1532 and finished in 1587. A symbol of the power of royal justice is located in one of the most popular squares in Granada. This meeting place, where important festivals are held, was used in the past to execute convicts as a public warning.

History

It is an impossible task to summarise the history of such an important enclave in the history of Spain. The basic landmarks are only described briefly:

Paleolithic and Neolithic settlements proved by the numerous sites found in the outskirts of the city.

Iliberis was the Iberian name given to the settlement located nearby the present city, and the Castilian version for it Elvira, comprised a notorious emporium in Pre-Islamic Visigoth times (the Council of Elvira took place in 306 AD).

It was of special importance in the Arab period. The present location of the city housed the ancient Garnatha Alyejud, of Jewish origin. The period of greater splendour started under the Nasrid dynasty, founded by Yusuf ibn Nasr in 1238, and spread until the kingdom of Granada was taken by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492.

Since then, Granada became a model of the new monarchy and unity of Spain, turned into a Christian kingdom, royal residence and tomb.

In 1568 the War of Granada against the Moors began, a highly significant event for Spanish and Mediterranean modern history.

The War of Independence against France had a great impact in Granada and the prospective liberal period brought up heroes and heroines such as Mariana Pineda.

Important characters
Ibn Zamraq.
Fray Luis de Granada.
Diego Hurtado de Mendoza.
Pedro Soto de Rojas.
Alonso Cano.
Pedro de Mena.
Fray Juan Sánchez Cotán.
Luis de Narváez, musician.
Francisco Martínez de la Rosa.
Ángel Ganivet.
Manuel Barrios.
Antonio Gallego Burín, writer.
Francisco Ayala.
Luis Rosales.
Manuel Ángeles Ortiz, painter.
Ladrón de Guevara, poet.
E. Martín Vivaldi, poet.
Rafael Guillén, poet.
García Montero, poet.
Manuel Cano, guitarist.
Carlos Cano, singer / songwriter.
Rafael Orozco y Miguel Ángel Gómez, musicians.

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