Tour of Andalucia Southern Spain before leaving Morocco

The Alhambra Granada Spain

Alhambra Granada Spain:
Dawn of the Alhambra

Fierce civil wars ravaged in al-Andalusia during reign of Emir Abdullah ibn-Muhammad (888 to 912 AD).

In one certain battle, rebelling Muladies had crushed the Arabs, who had to seek refuge in humble red-coloured castle (either: Phoenician, Greek or from Roman Spain origins) situated on a hill. The castle's defences provided scant protection for the Arabs. The castle served its purpose but incurred severe damages and was almost forgotten about.

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Location of the Red Castle

The castle was sited on a natural plateau, on Sabikah hill, in Andalucia Spain.


Below that hill, there was a significant Jewish quarter: Jewish refugees who settled from the time of Nebuchadnezzar 586 BC. That Jewish quarter was called the Albayzin, it was a suburb of the city of Gárnata, in the province of Elvira: Medina Elvira was the capital of Granada - until the fall of the Cordovan Caliphate.

Moorish Invasion of Spain

The Albayzin Jews aided the Moors during the invasion of the Iberian peninsula and helped them to take Granada. The Moors took possession of the city: 711 - 713 AD.

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The Albayzin

The Albayzin grew.
Jewish Samuel ibn-Nahgralla was the Vizier to King Habbus of Granada. Samuel ibn-Nahgralla built himself a palace on the ruins of the red castle. Its plot was that of the Alhambra's Alcazaba.

Overtime the city of Granada evolved around the Albayzin.
From 1055 to 1066 AD, local Muslims grew to resent the Jews. 30th December 1066,, there was a massive revolt instigated by the Berber Muslims against the Jewish community. The mob seized and murdered Joseph ibn-Naggralla by crucifiction (the following vizier after Samuel: Joseph was his son). The castle was smashed to ruins and 4,000 Spanish Jews lost their lives.

The Alcazaba and the Patio de Armas

Do theses names sound familiar?

Yes, the construction of The Alhambra AND Malaga Alcazaba had similar names and were identical in some details, they were built and designed by the same people.

The Alcazaba palace was built several times. Alhambra history is more detailed in Alhambra Granada Spain Palaces

Etymology of Alcazaba (from the Arabic word al-qasba): fortress

Various Etymologies of Granada

• Gárnata, Granada of the Jews: a small Jewish district
• Moorish name: Ilbiria
• Christian name: Elvira
• Roman name: Illiberis
• Greek name: Elibyrge

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What does "Granada" mean?

Granada in Spanish means: a pomegranate.
After the city of Granada was established as province's capital. The Moors chose the "pomegranate" as a city crest symbol. To this day the pomegranate symbol remains.
Significances of Sacred Geometric patterns islamic art and architecture 1

Pomegranates represented on the entrance paving of Mexuar Palace.

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Taifa (petty Kingdom) of Granada 1013 to 1091

The Zihrids were a Berber tribe.
After the civil war, of the Cordovan Caliphate and complete destruction of the Cordovan palatine city of Madinat-az-Zahra, the Zirid clan, moved from Cordoba and set up their residence in Granada.

Medina Elvira during the 8th to 11th century was the ancient city of the Cordovan Caliphate (and during the Emirate). It was also destroyed being part of the Cordovan Caliphate. However, Elvira's roots, belong to previous civilizations.
The Christians effaced Elvira completely during the reconquista. Granada's Archaeological and Ethynological museum, has remnants of its existence.
Zawi ben-Ziri, the Zirid clan chief, created an Independent Kingdom - from this point - Granada became capital of the Granada province.

Etymology of the Word Alhambra

Alhambra in Arabic signifies "the red one."

Fortress walls of the Alhambra Granada Spain were constructed with locally-made bricks. The sundried bricks were composed of clay and gravel from the surrounding area. Naturally high iron levels, in the soil-content, cause a red-hue reflection.

The Alhambra Symbolized

Identical to the Madinat az-Zahra, the Alhambra, primarily, glorified Islam, the Sultan and God by means of its spectacular Hispano-Moorish and islamic art and architecture. The Alhambra also represented the power of the Sultan in both religion and political matters. And the Alhambra was "home" to its inhabitants.

Model of the Alhambra Granada Spain
Model in Torre de la Calahorra, Cordoba

The Alhambra Plateau

The Alhambra site is on a singular landscape, carved by a fast-flowing river: the river Darro. The above natural plateau was sheared off from the below Albayzin district by a deep ravine.

The plateau area covers 142,000 m2, sweeping W.N.W. to E.N.E.
View ranges are panoramic, spanning to the heights of the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada, over the city, over the Alpujarras in the south and towards the Antequeran vegas in the west.
There were thirteen watch-towers (until Napoleon's troops blew-up a couple of the watch-towers in 1812 AD, during the war of Independence) and fortified walls protected the Alhambra site, which eventually, overspread the entire plateau.

The Alhambra was a City within a Fortress

Highlights of the Alhambra - Alhambra Granada Palaces Gems

Discover details of the Old Royal Palaces: the Nazrid Palaces the best features of Alhambra's Islamic complex Alhambra-Granada-Spain-1





Detail of Taracea Craftsmanship, Mexuar Palace Alhambra


There are four distinct zones:

• The Alhambra Palaces: Los Palacios Nazaries
• The Alcazaba - or military zone
• The Medina - where the city lay
• The Generalife - the summer palace

The Alhambra park is situated in the Assabica valley sweeping from the south to the west. Moorish Water Gardens, parks and flower areas were generously distributed. Unseen to visitors were vast vegetable gardens and fruit orchards which supplied the Alhambra inhabitants. Excellence in Water Technology, farming and gardening remained a scientific project in Moorish Agriculture.

Places That Require Alhambra Tickets

To gain the most benefit from your visit to the Alhambra, you need at least half-a-day and preferably, a whole day. Don't forget to carry water.