The Alhambra Palace, Granada.

If you are staying on the Costa del Sol then take a trip to visitThe Alhambra Palace, it is quite awe inspiring.

The Alhambra Place sits majestically on a hill known as Sabika overlooking, and dominating of the City of Granada.

It is undoubtedly the best preserved example of Moorish architecture in Spain and we can thank the terms of agreement under which Granada was recaptured by the Christian Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabel on January 2nd. 1492 for that.

Under these conditions, known as "Las Capitulaciones," the Moslems were guaranteed the right to practise their religion and preserve their language, justice system and traditions and at the same time it was agreed that the normal practise by conquerors of the pillage and sacking of fine buildings, which has been the norm throughout the world, no more so than in Spain, was desisted. Thus the Alhambra survived in all its glory and can still be admired and wondered at so many centuries later.

It was Samuel B. Nagrella, the then prime minister to the sultan who realized the marvellous vantage point of Sabika Hill and decided to build his own palace there during the 11th. century. Two centuries later,Sultan Al Ahmar, the founder of the Nasrid Dynasty, decided to move his palace from Albayzin, a hill to the west and facing the current Alhambra site, to its present position because he too realized the potential of this far superior location.

The Alhambra is basically a walled, fortified, palatine city designed and built solely to serve the needs of the officials and workforce who catered to the needs of the sultan and his household.

The highest point, at the western end, houses the Alcazaba fortress which was built for the elite guard and their supporting infrastructure. It was in itself a self-contained walled town with its own grain and food stores and water cisterns. Its walls connected with the city walls of Granada.

The northern section of the Alhambra consists of the Nasrid palaces which were reserved for the sultan, his closest family and administrators. The whole is made up of several palaces each more sumptuous and grander than the previous.

Then at the southern and eastern ends you find the largest single area which consists of a complete town called the Medina which was constructed to serve the needs of the court and the elite guard. The whole is surrounded by unbreachable walls studded with more than 30 towers. There were four main gates into the palace grounds.The Arms Gate and del Arrabal in the north wall and the Justice gate and the Gate of the Seven Floors in the south wall.

The craftsmanship of the buildings are an absolute wonder with intricate wood, plaster and ceiling decorations.The gardens too are magnificent with much emphasis on water features, this being rather and obsession with a race who originated from dry and arid lands. It is something to ponder how the plumbers of the day managed to get water to flow up hill!

If you plan to visit the Alhambra Palace then don't turn up without previously booking as you may well be disappointed or at least have to queue for hours. Even so you may only visit the Nasrid Palaces for half an hour as only so many people are admitted at one time.

The Alhambra is open from March to October from 8.30 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. and then again from 10.00 p.m. to 11.30 p.m.

You may book in advance on 902 22 44 60 or go online to purchase your tickets to visit the Alhambra.

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