The Alhambra

One of the greatest structures built in the history of architecture is the Alhambra. It is an Arab palace and fortress. It was at first a Roman fortress that was left untouched for time. It wasn’t until the Moorish emir Mohammed ben Al-Amir found and renovated the site during the mid-13th century that it became what it is today. After the Christian Reconquista in 1492, it became the royal court of Ferdinand and Isabella, which is also where they endorsed Christopher Columbus for his expeditions. The Alhambra is also incredibly large in size, housing multiple different structures that are also quite large themselves.

            The Alhambra was called “a pearl set in emeralds” because of the way the building looked in comparison with the surrounding forests. Different additions to the site were made throughout time by different Moorish rulers, but what was kept the same was the idea of “paradise on Earth” when taking into consideration the design of the buildings. The outside,however, was left plain for the most part.

            There are multiple main structures forming the Alhambra as a whole. These are the Royal Complex, the Court of Myrtles, the Hall of Ambassadors, the Court of Lions, the Hall of the Abencerrajes, and the Generalife.

There are three main parts to the Royal Complex: the Mexuar, the Serallo, and the Harem. The Mexuar is where all of the business and administrational areas are located. The ceilings and floors are made of dark wood as opposed to the white plaster walls. The Serallo was built later on during the reign of Yusuf I. This area contains the Court of Myrtles. This area is highly decorated. The final area is the Harem, which is also highly decorated. The Court of Myrtles housed a pool which helped to cool the palace as well as being a symbol of power. The court is 42m by 22m and has the pool in the centre. The pool is lined with myrtles and has goldfish in it. There are also galleries on the north and south sides of the court. The Hall of Ambassadors is the largest room in the Alhambra. In this room the throne of the sultan is placed opposite the entrance. The Court of Lions is another courtyard and houses the Fountain of Lions as well. The court is surrounded by a low gallery that is supported by 124 white marble columns.

The Alhambra is an example of what the Arabs left behind with their conquest of Europe. The things they built with their knowledge and skill are mirrored by the prosperity they brought to countries like Spain that were also conquered by the moors.

Works Cited

@alhambradegrana. "Historical Introduction - Historical Introduction." Alhambra De Granada. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.

Irwin, Robert. The Alhambra. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2004. Print.