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Alhambra
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

UNESCOWorldHeritageSite
Alhamra
(/lhmbr/
Alhamra,GeneralifeandAlbayzn,Granada
Spanish:[a
NameasinscribedontheWorldHeritageList(http://whc.unesco.org/en/list)
lamba]

Arabic:

,
[lm
],Al
amr',lit.
"thered
one"),[a]the
completeform
ofwhichwas
Calat
Alhamra,[b]is
apalaceand
fortress
Type
Cultural
complex
locatedin
Criteria
i,iii,iv
Granada,
Reference
314bis
Andalusia,
(http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/314)
Spain.Itwas
originally
UNESCOregion(http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/?
EuropeandNorthAmerica
constructedas
search=&search_by_country=&type=&media=&region=&order=region)
asmallfortress
Inscriptionhistory
in889and
thenlargely
Inscription
1984(Extension:1994) (Unknown
ignoreduntil
Session)
itsruinswere
renovatedand
rebuiltinthemid11thcenturybytheMoorishemirMohammedbenAlAhmaroftheEmirateof
Granada,whobuiltitscurrentpalaceandwalls.Itwasconvertedintoaroyalpalacein1333byYusufI,
SultanofGranada.[1]

Alhamra'sIslamicpalaces,asweknowthemtoday,werebuiltforthelastMuslimemirsinSpainandthe
courtoftheNasriddynasty.AftertheconquestofGranadabytheReyesCatlicos("Catholic
Monarchs")in1492,someportionswereusedbyChristianrulers.ThePalaceofCharlesV,builtby
CharlesV,HolyRomanEmperorin1527,wasinsertedintheAlhambrawithintheNasridfortifications.
Afterbeingallowedtofallintodisrepairforcenturies,thebuildingsbeingoccupiedbysquatters,
Alhambrawasrediscoveredinthe19thcenturybyEuropeanscholarsandtravelers,withrestorations
commencing.ItisnowoneofSpain'smajortouristattractions,exhibitingthecountry'smostsignificant
andwellknownIslamicarchitecture,togetherwith16thcenturyandlaterChristianbuildingandgarden
interventions.AlhambraisaUNESCOWorldHeritageSiteandtheinspirationformanysongsand
stories.[2]

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Moorishpoetsdescribeditas"apearlsetinemeralds,"anallusiontothecolourofitsbuildingsandthe
woodsaroundthem.[3]Thepalacecomplexwasdesignedwiththemountainoussiteinmindandmany
formsoftechnologywereconsidered.Thepark(AlamedadelaAlhambra),whichisovergrownwith
wildflowersandgrassinthespring,wasplantedbytheMoorswithroses,oranges,andmyrtlesitsmost
characteristicfeature,however,isthedensewoodofEnglishelmsbroughtbytheDukeofWellingtonin
1812.Theparkhasamultitudeofnightingalesandisusuallyfilledwiththesoundofrunningwaterfrom
severalfountainsandcascades.Thesearesuppliedthroughaconduit8km(5.0mi)long,whichis
connectedwiththeDarroatthemonasteryofJesusdelValleaboveGranada.[4]
Despitelongneglect,willfulvandalism,andsomeilljudgedrestoration,Alhambraenduresasan
atypicalexampleofMuslimartinitsfinalEuropeanstages,relativelyuninfluencedbythedirect
ByzantineinfluencesfoundintheMezquitaofCrdoba.Themajorityofthepalacebuildingsare
quadrangularinplan,withalltheroomsopeningontoacentralcourt,andthewholereacheditspresent
sizesimplybythegradualadditionofnewquadrangles,designedonthesameprinciple,thoughvarying
indimensions,andconnectedwitheachotherbysmallerroomsandpassages.Alhambrawasextended
bythedifferentMuslimrulerswholivedinthecomplex.However,eachnewsectionthatwasadded
followedtheconsistentthemeof"paradiseonearth".Columnarcades,fountainswithrunningwater,and
reflectingpoolswereusedtoaddtotheaestheticandfunctionalcomplexity.Ineverycase,theexterior
wasleftplainandaustere.Sunandwindwerefreelyadmitted.Blue,red,andagoldenyellow,all
somewhatfadedthroughlapseoftimeandexposure,arethecolorschieflyemployed.[4]
Thedecorationconsists,asarule,ofArabicinscriptionsthataremanipulatedintogeometricalpatterns
wroughtintoarabesques.Paintedtilesarelargelyusedaspanellingforthewalls.[4]Thepalacecomplex
isdesignedintheMudjarstyle,whichischaracteristicofwesternelementsreinterpretedintoIslamic
formsandwidelypopularduringthesocalledReconquista,the"reconquest"oftheIberianPeninsula
fromtheMuslimsbytheChristiankingdoms.

Contents
1Layout
2Architecturaldetails
3History
4Overview
4.1Royalcomplex
4.2CourtoftheMyrtles
4.3HalloftheAmbassadors
4.4CourtoftheLionsandfountain
4.4.1FountainofLions
4.5HalloftheAbencerrajes
4.6Generalife
4.7Otherfeatures
5Influence
5.1Inliterature
5.2Inmusic
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5.3Inmathematics
5.4Infilm
5.5Invideogames
5.6Inastronomy
5.7Media
5.7.1Image
5.7.2Video
6Seealso
7Footnotes
8References
9Furtherreading
10Externallinks

Layout
Alhambradidnothaveamasterplanforthetotalsitedesign,soits
overalllayoutisnotorthogonalnororganized.Asaresultofthesite's
manyconstructionphases:fromtheoriginal9thcenturycitadel,through
the14thcenturyMuslimpalaces,tothe16thcenturypalaceofCharles
Vsomebuildingsareatoddpositioningtoeachother.[5]Theterraceor
plateauwheretheAlhambrasitsmeasuresabout740metres(2,430ft)in
lengthby205metres(670ft)atitsgreatestwidth.Itextendsfromwest
northwesttoeastsoutheastandcoversanareaofabout142,000square
metres(1,530,000sqft).TheAlhambra'smostwesterlyfeatureisthe
alcazaba(citadel),astronglyfortifiedposition.Therestoftheplateau
comprisesanumberofMoorishpalaces,enclosedbyafortifiedwall,
withthirteentowers,somedefensiveandsomeprovidingvistasforthe
PlanofthePalacioArabe
inhabitants.TheriverDarropassesthrougharavineonthenorthand
1889
dividestheplateaufromtheAlbaicndistrictofGranada.Similarly,the
Assabicavalley,containingtheAlhambraParkonthewestandsouth,
and,beyondthisvalley,thealmostparallelridgeofMonteMauror,separateitfromtheAntequeruela
district.AnotherravineseparatesitfromtheGeneralife.

PanoramaoftheAlhambrafromMiradordeSanNicolas.Fromlefttoright:
Generalife,PicodelVeleta(mountain),PalaciosNazares,PalaceofCharlesV,
Alcazaba.

Architecturaldetails
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Thedecorationswithinthepalacestypifiedtheremainsof
MoorishdominionwithinSpainandusheredinthelastgreat
periodofAndalusianartinGranada.WithlittleoftheByzantine
influenceofcontemporaryAbassidarchitecture,[3]artists
endlesslyreproducedthesameformsandtrends,creatinganew
stylethatdevelopedoverthecourseoftheNasridDynasty.The
Nasridsusedfreelyallthestylisticelementsthathadbeen
createdanddevelopedduringeightcenturiesofMuslimrulein
thePeninsula,includingtheCalliphalhorseshoearch,the
Almohadsebka(agridofrhombuses),theAlmoravidpalm,and
CeilinginAlhambra
uniquecombinationsofthem,aswellasinnovationssuchas
stiltedarchesandmuqarnas(stalactiteceilingdecorations).The
isolationfromtherestofIslamplusthecommercialandpoliticalrelationshipwiththeChristian
kingdomsalsoinfluencedbuildingstyles.
Columnsandmuqarnasappearinseveralchambers,andtheinteriorsof
numerouspalacesaredecoratedwitharabesquesandcalligraphy.The
arabesquesoftheinteriorareascribedto,amongothersultans,YusufI,
MohammedV,andIsmailI,SultanofGranada.
AftertheChristianconquestofthecityin1492,theconquerorsbeganto
altertheAlhambra.Theopenworkwasfilledupwithwhitewash,the
paintingandgildingeffaced,andthefurnituresoiled,torn,orremoved.[3]
CharlesI(15161556)rebuiltportionsintheRenaissancestyleofthe
periodanddestroyedthegreaterpartofthewinterpalacetomakeroom
foraRenaissancestylestructurewhichwasnevercompleted.PhilipV
(17001746)Italianisedtheroomsandcompletedhispalaceinthe
middleofwhathadbeentheMoorishbuildinghehadpartitions
constructedwhichblockedupwholeapartments.[4]

Arabesquesaroundoneof
thewindows.

OversubsequentcenturiestheMoorishartwasfurtherdamaged,
andin1812someofthetowersweredestroyedbytheFrench
underCountSebastiani.[4]In1821,anearthquakecausedfurther
damage.Restorationworkwasundertakenin1828bythe
architectJosContreras,endowedin1830byFerdinandVII.
AfterthedeathofContrerasin1847,itwascontinuedwithfair
successbyhissonRafael(died1890)andhisgrandson.[4]

History

Onedetailofthearabesques.

CompletedtowardstheendofMuslimruleofSpainbyYusufI
(13331353)andMuhammedV,SultanofGranada(13531391),theAlhambraisareflectionofthe
cultureofthelastcenturiesoftheMoorishruleofAlAndalus,reducedtotheNasridEmirateof
Granada.ItisaplacewhereartistsandintellectualshadtakenrefugeastheReconquistabySpanish
ChristianswonvictoriesoverAlAndalus.TheAlhambraintegratesnaturalsitequalitieswith
constructedstructuresandgardens,andisatestamenttoMoorishcultureinSpainandtheskillsof
Muslim,Jewish,andChristianartisans,craftsmen,andbuildersoftheirera.Theliteraltranslationof
Alhambra,"thered(female),"reflectsthecoloroftheredclayofthesurroundingsofwhichthefortis
made.ThebuildingsoftheAlhambrawereoriginallywhitewashedhowever,thebuildingsasseentoday
arereddish.AnotherpossibleoriginofthenameisthetribaldesignationoftheNasridDynasty,known
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astheBanualAhmarArabic:SonsoftheRed(male),asubtribeoftheQahtaniteBanuKhazrajtribe.
OneoftheearlyNasridancestorswasnicknamedYusufAlAhmar(YusuftheRed)andhencethe
(Nasrid)fractionoftheBanuKhazrajtookupthenameofBanualAhmar.

Detailofthescriptofthewallofthe
MexuarHall:"Godistheonly
Victor.".

ThefirstreferencetotheQalatalamrawasduringthebattles
betweentheArabsandtheMuladies(peopleofmixedAraband
Europeandescent)duringtheruleoftheAbdullahibn
Muhammad(r.888912).Inoneparticularlyfierceandbloody
skirmish,theMuladiessoundlydefeatedtheArabs,whowere
thenforcedtotakeshelterinaprimitiveredcastlelocatedinthe
provinceofElvira,presentlylocatedinGranada.Accordingto
survivingdocumentsfromtheera,theredcastlewasquitesmall,
anditswallswerenotcapableofdeterringanarmyintenton
conquering.Thecastlewasthenlargelyignoreduntilthe
eleventhcentury,whenitsruinswererenovatedandrebuiltby
SamuelibnNaghrela,viziertotheemirBadisbenHabusofthe
ZiridDynastyofAlAndalus,inanattempttopreservethesmall
Jewishsettlementalsolocatedonthenaturalplateau,Sabikah

Hill.
IbnNasr,thefounderoftheNasridDynasty,wasforcedtofleetoJanto
avoidpersecutionbyKingFerdinandIIIofCastileandtheReconquista
supportersworkingtoendSpain'sMoorishrule.Afterretreatingto
Granada,IbnNasrtookupresidenceatthePalaceofBadisbenHabusin
theAlhambra.Afewmonthslater,heembarkedontheconstructionofa
newAlhambrafitfortheresidenceofasultan.AccordingtoanArab
manuscriptsincepublishedastheAnnimodeGranadayCopenhague,
Thisyear,1238AbdallahibnalAhmarclimbedtotheplacecalled
"theAlhambra"inspectedit,laidoutthefoundationsofacastle
andleftsomeoneinchargeofitsconstruction...
Thedesignincludedplansforsixpalaces,fiveofwhichweregroupedin
Aroomofthepalaceanda
thenortheastquadrantformingaroyalquarter,twocircuittowers,and
viewoftheCourtofthe
numerousbathhouses.DuringthereignoftheNasridDynasty,the
Lions.
Alhambrawastransformedintoapalatinecity,completewithan
irrigationsystemcomposedofacequiasforthegardensoftheGeneralife
locatedoutsidethefortress.Previously,theoldAlhambrastructurehadbeendependentuponrainwater
collectedfromacisternandfromwhatcouldbebroughtupfromtheAlbaicn.Thecreationofthe
Sultan'sCanalsolidifiedtheidentityoftheAlhambraasapalacecityratherthanadefensiveandascetic
structure.
TheMuslimrulerMuhammadXIIofGranadasurrenderedtheEmirateofGranadain1492withoutthe
AlhambraitselfbeingattackedwhentheforcesoftheReyesCatlicos,KingFerdinandIIofAragonand
QueenIsabellaIofCastile,tookthesurroundingterritorywithaforceofoverwhelmingnumbers.

Overview

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TheAlhambraresemblesmanymedievalChristianstrongholdsinitsthreefoldarrangementasacastle,a
palaceandaresidentialannexforsubordinates.Thealcazabaorcitadel,
itsoldestpart,isbuiltontheisolatedandprecipitousforelandwhich
terminatestheplateauonthenorthwest.Allthatremainsareitsmassive
outerwalls,towersandramparts.Onitswatchtower,the25m(85ft)
highTorredelaVela,theflagofFerdinandandIsabellawasfirstraised
asasymboloftheSpanishconquestofGranadaon2January1492.[3]A
turretcontainingalargebellwasaddedinthe18thcenturyandrestored
afterbeingdamagedbylightningin1881.BeyondtheAlcazabaisthe
palaceoftheMoorishrulers,TheNasridPalacesorAlhambraproper,
andbeyondthisistheAlhambraAlta(UpperAlhambra),originally
occupiedbyofficialsandcourtiers.
AccessfromthecitytotheAlhambraParkisaffordedbythePuertade
lasGranadas(GateofPomegranates),atriumphalarchdatingfromthe
15thcentury.AsteepascentleadspastthePillarofCharlesV,afountain
erectedin1554,tothemainentranceoftheAlhambra.ThisisthePuerta
TheTowerofJustice
delaJusticia(GateofJudgment),amassivehorseshoearchway
(PuertadelaJusticia)isthe
surmountedbyasquaretowerandusedbytheMoorsasaninformal
originalentrancegatetothe
courtofjustice.ThehandofFatima,withfingersoutstretchedasa
Alhambra,builtbyYusufI
talismanagainsttheevileye,iscarvedabovethisgateontheexteriora
in1348.
key,thesymbolofauthority,occupiesthecorrespondingplaceonthe
interior.AnarrowpassageleadsinwardtothePlazadelosAljibes(Place
oftheCisterns),abroadopenspacewhichdividestheAlcazabafromtheMoorishpalace.Totheleftof
thepassagerisestheTorredelVino(WineTower),builtin1345andusedinthe16thcenturyasacellar.
OntherightisthepalaceofCharlesV,asmallerRenaissancebuilding,toconstructwhichpartofthe
Alhambra,includingtheoriginalmainentrance,wastorndown.

Royalcomplex
TheRoyalComplexconsistsofthreemainparts:Mexuar,Serallo,and
theHarem.TheMexuarismodestindecorandhousesthefunctional
areasforconductingbusinessandadministration.Strapworkisusedto
decoratethesurfacesinMexuar.Theceilings,floors,andtrimaremade
ofdarkwoodandareinsharpcontrasttowhite,plasterwalls.Serallo,
builtduringthereignofYusufIinthe14thcentury,containsthePatiode
losArrayanes(CourtoftheMyrtles).Brightlycoloredinteriorsfeatured
dadopanels,yesera,azulejo,cedar,andartesonado.Artesonadoare
highlydecorativeceilingsandotherwoodwork.Lastly,theHaremisalso
elaboratelydecoratedandcontainsthelivingquartersforthewivesand
mistressesoftheBerbermonarchs.Thisareacontainsabathroomwith
runningwater(coldandhot),baths,andpressurizedwaterforshowering.
Thebathroomswereopentotheelementsinordertoallowinlightand
air.

Canopywithstonework

CourtoftheMyrtles
ThepresententrancetothePalaciorabe,orCasaReal(Moorishpalace),isbyasmalldoorfrom
whichacorridorconnectstothePatiodelosArrayanes(CourtoftheMyrtles),alsocalledthePatiode
laAlberca(CourtoftheBlessingorCourtofthePond),fromtheArabicbirka,"pool".Thebirkahelped
tocoolthepalaceandactedasasymbolofpower.Becausewaterwasusuallyinshortsupply,the
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technologyrequiredtokeepthesepoolsfullwasexpensiveanddifficult.Thiscourtis42m(140ft)long
by22m(74ft)broad,andinthecentrethereisalargepondsetinthemarblepavement,fullofgoldfish,
andwithmyrtlesgrowingalongitssides.Therearegalleriesonthenorthandsouthsidesthesouthern
galleryis7m(23ft)highandsupportedbyamarblecolonnade.
Underneathit,totheright,wastheprincipalentrance,andoveritare
threewindowswitharchesandminiaturepillars.Fromthiscourt,the
wallsoftheTorredeComaresareseenrisingovertherooftothenorth
andreflectedinthepond.[6]

HalloftheAmbassadors
TheSalndelosEmbajadores(HalloftheAmbassadors)isthelargest
intheAlhambraandoccupiesalltheTorredeComares.Itisasquare
room,thesidesbeing12m(37ft)inlength,whilethecentreofthedome
is23m(75ft)high.Thiswasthegrandreceptionroom,andthethrone
ofthesultanwasplacedoppositetheentrance.Thegrandhallprojects
fromthewallsofthepalace,providingviewsinthreedirections.Inthis
Alhambra
sense,itwasa"mirador"fromwhichthepalace'sinhabitantscouldgaze
outwardtothesurroundinglandscape.[7]Itwasinthissettingthat
ChristopherColumbusreceivedIsabelandFerdinand'ssupporttosailtotheNewWorld.Thetilesare
nearly4ft(1.2m)highallround,andthecoloursvaryatintervals.Overthemisaseriesofoval
medallionswithinscriptions,interwovenwithflowersandleaves.Thereareninewindows,threeoneach
facade,andtheceilingisdecoratedwithwhite,blueandgoldinlaysintheshapeofcircles,crownsand
stars.Thewallsarecoveredwithvariedstuccoworks,surroundingmanyancientescutcheons.[6]

CourtoftheLionsandfountain

TheCourtoftheLions,aexampleofIslamic
Moorisharchitectureandgardendesign.

TheCourtoftheLions(PatiodelosLeones)isan
oblongcourtyard,116ft(35m)inlengthby66ft
(20m)inwidth,surroundedbyalowgallery
supportedon124whitemarblecolumns.Apavilion
projectsintothecourtateachextremity,with
filigreewallsandalightdomedroof.Thesquareis
pavedwithcolouredtilesandthecolonnadewith
whitemarble,whilethewallsarecovered5ft(1.5
m)upfromthegroundwithblueandyellowtiles,
withaborderaboveandbelowofenamelledblue
andgold.Thecolumnssupportingtheroofand
galleryareirregularlyplaced.Theyareadornedby
varietiesoffoliage,etc.abouteacharchthereisa
largesquareofstuccoarabesquesandoverthe

pillarsisanotherstuccosquareoffiligreework.
FountainofLions
InthecentreofthecourtistheFountainofLions,analabasterbasinsupportedbythefiguresoftwelve
lionsinwhitemarble,notdesignedwithsculpturalaccuracybutassymbolsofstrength,power,and
sovereignty.Eachhouronelionwouldproducewaterfromitsmouth.[8]Attheedgeofthegreatfountain

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thereisapoemwrittenbyIbnZamrak.Thispraisesthebeautyofthefountainandthepowerofthe
lions,butitalsodescribestheiringenioushydraulicsystemsandhowtheyactuallyworked,which
baffledallthosewhosawthem.[9]

HalloftheAbencerrajes
TheSaladelosAbencerrajes(HalloftheAbencerrages)derives
itsnamefromalegendaccordingtowhichthefatherofBoabdil,
thelastsultanofGranada,havinginvitedthechiefsofthatlineto
abanquet,massacredthemhere.Thisroomisaperfectsquare,
withaloftydomeandtrellisedwindowsatitsbase.Theroofis
decoratedinblue,brown,redandgold,andthecolumns
supportingitspringoutintothearchforminaremarkably
beautifulmanner.OppositetothishallistheSaladelasdos
Hermanas(HallofthetwoSisters),socalledfromtwowhite
marbleslabslaidaspartofthepavement.Theseslabsmeasure
500by220cm(15by7ft).Thereisafountaininthemiddleof
thishall,andtheroofadomehoneycombedwithtinycells,all
different,andsaidtonumber5000isanexampleofthe
"stalactitevaulting"oftheMoors.

"Honeycomb,""stalactite,"or
"mocrabe"vaultingintheHallof
theAbencerrajes

Generalife
OftheoutlyingbuildingsconnectedtotheAlhambra,the
foremostininterestisthePalaciodeGeneralifeorGineralife(the
MuslimJennatalArif,"GardenofArif,"or"Gardenofthe
Architect").Thisvilladatesfromthebeginningofthe14th
centurybuthasbeenrestoredseveraltimes.TheVilladelos
Martires(Martyrs'Villa),onthesummitofMonteMauror,
commemoratesbyitsnametheChristianslaveswhowereforced
tobuildtheAlhambraandconfinedhereinsubterraneancells.[10]
TheTorresBermejas(VermilionTowers),alsoonMonte
Mauror,areawellpreservedMoorishfortification,with
undergroundcisterns,stables,andaccommodationforagarrison
of200men.SeveralRomantombswerediscoveredin1829and
1857atthebaseofMonteMauror.[6][10]

Otherfeatures
AmongtheotherfeaturesoftheAlhambraaretheSaladela
Justicia(HallofJustice),thePatiodelMexuar(Courtofthe
Porticoandpooloftheearly14th
CouncilChamber),thePatiodeDaraxa(CourtoftheVestibule),
centuryPartal,intheAltaAlhambra
andthePeinadordelaReina(Queen'sRobingRoom),inwhich
ofthecomplex.
thereissimilararchitectureanddecoration.Thepalaceandthe
UpperAlhambraalsocontainbaths,rowsofbedroomsand
summerrooms,awhisperinggalleryandlabyrinth,andvaultedsepulchres.
TheoriginalfurnitureofthepalaceisrepresentedbythefamousAlhambravase,oneoftheverylarge
vasesmadetostandinniches,anexampleofHispanoMoresquewaredatingfrom1320andbelonging
tothefirstperiodofMoorishpottery.Itis1.3m(4ft3in)highthebackgroundiswhite,andthe
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decorationisblue,whiteandgold.[6]

Influence
Inliterature
PartsofthefollowingnovelsaresetintheAlhambra:
WashingtonIrving'sTalesoftheAlhambra.Thisisa
collectionofessays,verbalsketches,andstories.Irving
livedinthepalacewhilewritingthebookandwas
instrumentalinreintroducingthesitetoWestern
audiences.
SalmanRushdie'sTheMoor'sLastSigh
AminMaalouf'sLeoAfricanus,depictingthereconquestof

WestsideofPalaceofCharlesVin
theAlhambra.

GranadabytheCatholicMonarchs.
PhilippaGregory'sTheConstantPrincess,depictingCatalinathe
InfantaofSpainasshelivedintheAlhambraafterherparentstook
Granada.
FedericoGarciaLorca'splayDoaRositatheSpinster,mentioned
bytitlecharacterDonaRositainhersong/speechtotheManola
sisters.
PauloCoelho'snovelTheAlchemist
AliSmith'sTheAccidental

Inmusic
TheplotoftheBallethroqueentitledZade,ReineDeGrenade,bythe
FrenchBaroquecomposerJosephNicolasPancraceRoyer(c.1705
1755),takesplaceattheAlhambra.
AlhambrahasdirectlyinspiredmusicalcompositionsasFrancisco
Trrega'sfamoustremolostudyforguitarRecuerdosDeLaAlhambra.

Whilstfountainsandflowing
waterareacommonfeature
aroundtheAlhambra,they
areparticularlyprevalentin
thePalaciodeGeneralife.

ClaudeDebussy'spiecefortwopianoscomposedin1901,
Lindaraja,andtheprelude,LaPuertaDelVino,fromthesecond
bookofpreludescomposedfrom1912to1913.
IsaacAlbnizwroteapianosuiteRecuerdosDeviaje,which
includedapiececalled"EnLaAlhambra",whilehissuiteIberia
containedapiececalled"ElAlbacin".Albnizalsocomposeda
SuiteAlhambra,butwasuncompleted.
"EnLosJardinesDelGeneralife",thefirstmovementofManuel
deFalla'sNochesEnLosJardinesDeEspaa,andotherpieces
bycomposerssuchasRupertoChap(LosGnomosDeLa
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Alhambra,1891),TomsBretn,andmanyothersareincluded
inastreamreferredtobyscholarsasAlhambrismo.[11][12][13]
In1976,filmmakerChristopherNupenfilmedTheSongOfThe
GuitarattheAlhambrawhichwasanhourlongprogram
featuringthelegendarySpanishguitarist,AndrsSegovia.
BritishcomposerJulianAndersonwroteanorchestralpiece,
AlhambraFantasy.
ViewoftheAlhambrafromthe
Inpopandfolkmusic,AlhambraisthesubjectoftheGhymes
MiradordeSanNicolsinthe
songofthesamename.TherockbandTheGratefulDead
AlbayzinofGranada.
releasedasongcalled"TerrapinStation"onthe1977albumof
thesamename.Itconsistedofaseriesofsmallcompositions
pennedbyRobertHunterandputtomusicbyJerryGarciaalyricalsectionofthissuitewascalled
"Alhambra".

InSeptember2006,Canadiansinger/composerLoreenaMcKennittperformedliveattheAlhambra.The
resultingvideorecordingspremieredonPBSandwerelaterreleasedasa3discDVD/CDsetcalled
NightsFromTheAlhambra.
TheBasquepopgroupMocedadesperformedasongcalled"JuntosEnLaAlhambra".
AlhambraisthetitleofanEPrecordingbyCanadianrockband,TheTeaParty,containingacoustic
versionsofafewoftheirsongs.
AlhambraandAlbaicnarementionedintheMagodeOzsongnamed"ElPaseoDeLosTristes"from
thealbumentitledGaiaII.

Inmathematics
TheAlhambratilesareremarkableinthattheycontainnearlyall,
ifnotall,oftheseventeenmathematicallypossiblewallpaper
groups.[14]Thisisauniqueaccomplishmentinworld
architecture.M.C.Escher'svisitin1922andstudyofthe
MoorishuseofsymmetryintheAlhambratilesinspiredhis
subsequentworkonregulardivisionsoftheplane.

Infilm
TessellationslikethisinspiredM.C.

MarcelL'Herbier's1921film'ElDorado'featuresmanyscenes
Escher'swork.
shotinandaroundtheAlhambrapalace.Thiswasthefirsttime
permissionhadbeengrantedforafilmcompanytoshootinside
theAlhambrapalaceandL'Herbiergaveprominentplacetoitsgardens,fountainsandgeometric
architecturalpatterns,whichbecamesomeofthefilm'smostmemorableimages.

AnimatedfilmsbySpanishdirectorJuanBautistaBerasateguisuchasAhmed,ElPrincipeDeLa
AlhambraandElEmbrujoDelSurarebasedonstoriesinWashingtonIrving'sTalesOfTheAlhambra.

Invideogames
It'samultiplayerlocationforAssassin'sCreedBrotherhood'sfinalDLC.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra

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ThisservesasalocationfortheSpainstageinTheKingofFighters(1998).Alhambraisawonderin
CivilizationV:Gods&Kings.

Inastronomy
ThereisamainbeltasteroidnamedAlhambra.

Media
Image

Patioofthepalaceof
CharlesV

LionsFontain

CourtoftheLions

Alhambrailluminated
atnight

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra

Panoramicview,
illuminatedatnight

Panoramicview

Mocrabesor
honeycombworks

CourtoftheLions

ThepooloftheEl
PartalPalace

Detaillookingupwall,
GoldenRoompatio

Lighteffectsinthe
CourtofLions

GuestsintheComares
Palace

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Detailofawallofthe
palaciosnazaries

Video

Alhambra(2010)

Seealso
12TreasuresofSpain
AlhambraDecree
Islamicgardens

Footnotes

a. Arabic:

,trans.alamrliterally"theredone",feminineincolloquialArabic:elamra

b. Arabic:

,trans.alQalatalamr,"theredfortress"

References
Alhassani,S.T.S.,Woodcock,E.,&Saoud,R.(2007).1001Inventions:Muslimheritageinourworld.
FoundationforScienceTechnologyandCivilisation.

Notes
1. "Alhambrahistoricalintroduction"(http://www.alhambradegranada.org/en/info/historicalintroduction.asp).
Retrieved2January2013.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra

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19/03/2015

Retrieved2January2013.

AlhambraWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

2. "Alhambra,GeneralifeandAlbayzn,Granada"(http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/314).WorldHeritageList.
UNESCO.RetrievedJanuary13,2013.
3. EncyclopdiaBritannica11thEdition1,TheEncyclopdiaBritannica,1910,p.657.
4. Chisholm1911.
5. Irwin2004,pp.56.
6. Mirmobiny,Shadieh."TheAlhambra"(http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/alhambra.html).Smarthistoryat
KhanAcademy.Retrieved26February2013.
7. D.FairchildRuggles,"TheGardensoftheAlhambraandtheConceptoftheGardeninIslamicSpain,"inAl
Andalus:TheArtsofIslamicSpain,ed.JerrilynnDodds.NewYork:MetropolitanMuseum,1992,pp.162
71.
8. Alhassani,S.T.S.,Woodcock,E.,&Saoud,R.(2007).1001Inventions:Muslimheritageinourworld.
FoundationforScienceTechnologyandCivilisation.
9. AlHassani,Woodcock&Saud,2007:233.
10. EncyclopdiaBritannica11thEdition1,TheEncyclopdiaBritannica,1910,p.658.
11. AlhambradeGranada(http://www.alhambraentradas.com/alhambragranada.html)
12. "CVC.Rinconete.Acordes"(http://cvc.cervantes.es/el_rinconete/anteriores/septiembre_00/07092000_02.htm).
Cvc.cervantes.es.Retrieved20120404.
13. "ElalhambrismoenlamsicaespaolahastalapocadeManueldeFallaDialnet"
(http://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=618223).Dialnet.unirioja.es.Retrieved20120404.
14. "MathematicsinArtandArchitecture"(http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/teaching/mathart
arch.shtml#Symmetry).Math.nus.edu.sg.Retrieved20120404.

Bibliography
Irwin,Robert.TheAlhambra.Massachusetts:HarvardUniversityPress,2004.
Thisarticleincorporatestextfromapublicationnowinthepublicdomain:Chisholm,Hugh,ed.(1911).
"Alhambra,The".EncyclopdiaBritannica(11thed.).CambridgeUniversityPress.

Furtherreading
Jacobs,MichaelFernndez,Francisco(2009),Alhambra,FrancesLincoln,ISBN9780711225183
FernndezPuertas,Antonio(1997),TheAlhambra.Vol1:FromtheNinthCenturytoYusufI(1354),Saqi
Books,ISBN0863564666
FernndezPuertas,Antonio(1998),TheAlhambra.Vol2:(13541391),SaqiBooks,ISBN0863564674
FernndezPuertas,Antonio(1999),TheAlhambra.Vol3:From1391tothePresentDay,SaqiBooks,
ISBN9780863565892
Grabar,Oleg.TheAlhambra.Massachusetts:HarvardUniversityPress,1978.
Jacobs,MichaelandFranciscoFernandez.Alhambra.NewYork:RizzoliInternationalPublications,2000.
Lowney,Chris.AVanishedWorld:MedievalSpainsGoldenAgeofEnlightenment.NewYork:Simonand
Schuster,Inc.,2005.
Menocal,Maria,Rosa.TheOrnamentoftheWorld.Boston:Little,BrownandCompany,2002.
Read,Jan.TheMoorsinSpainandPortugal.London:FaberandFaber,1974.
D.FairchildRuggles,Alhambra,inEncyclopaediaofIslam,thirdedition.Leiden:E.J.Brill,2008.
D.FairchildRuggles,Gardens,Landscape,andVisioninthePalacesofIslamicSpain,Philadelphia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra

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PennsylvaniaStateUniversityPress,2000.
D.FairchildRuggles,TheGardensoftheAlhambraandtheConceptoftheGardeninIslamicSpain,inAl
Andalus:TheArtsofIslamicSpain,ed.JerrilynnDodds.NewYork:MetropolitanMuseum,1992,pp.162
71.
D.FairchildRuggles,IslamicGardensandLandscapes,UniversityofPennsylvaniaPress,2008.
Steves,Rick(2004).SpainandPortugal2004,pp.204205.AvalonTravelPublishing.ISBN156691529
5.
lexicorient.com(http://lexicorient.com/spain/alhambra.htm)
Stewart,Desmond.TheAlhambra.NewsweekPublishing,1974.ISBN0882250884.
TheWorldHeritage.IstanbulandCordoba,Vol.#15.FilmIdeas,2008.ISBN1575577151.

Externallinks
Alhambrainturgranada.es
(http://www.turgranada.es/culturalmonumental/cultural

WikimediaCommonshas
mediarelatedtoAlhambra.

monumentalnivel3.php?
id_seccion=509&tipo=secciones&id_idioma=2)Officialsitefortourismoftheprovinceof
Granada.
TheAlhambrainGranada,Spain
(http://www.ne.jp/asahi/arc/ind/2_meisaku/08_alhambra/alh_eng.htm)MasterpiecesofIslamic
Architecture.
InFocus:LaAlhambra&Generalife(Granada,Spain)
(http://hitchhikershandbook.com/2013/05/30/infocuslaalhambrageneralifegranadaspain/)at
HitchHikersHandbook(http://www.hitchhikershandbook.com)
OfficialwebsiteofPatronatoofAlhambraandGeneralife(http://www.alhambrapatronato.es)
PaulF.Hoye,1967,TheAlhambra
(http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/196703/the.alhambra.htm),SaudiAramcoWorld
Murphy,JamesCavanah,1816,TheAlhamra(Alhambra)atGranada(http://islamic
arts.org/2012/thealhamraatgranada/),islamicarts.org
AlAndalus:theartofIslamicSpain
(http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15324coll10/id/45966/rec/1),
anexhibitioncatalogfromTheMetropolitanMuseumofArt(fullyavailableonlineasPDF),
whichcontainsmaterialonAlhambra(seeindex)
Retrievedfrom"http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alhambra&oldid=651752236"
Categories: Alhambra(Spain) Granada BuildingsandstructuresinGranada CastlesinAndalusia
GardensinSpain MoorisharchitectureinSpain PalacesinSpain RoyalresidencesinSpain
OpenairmuseumsinSpain AlAndalus Arabicarchitecture Islamicarchitecture Islamicgardens
Spanishgardens LandscapedesignhistoryofSpain Nasriddynasty 1240sarchitecture
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1350sarchitecture Visionaryenvironments
BiendeIntersCulturallandmarksintheProvinceofGranada WorldHeritageSitesinSpain
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