On Thursday, we spent most of the day in Alhambra, the majority of that in the Palacio Nazaríes. Knowing we would be going back on Friday, we spent most of our time marveling at the columns, arches, pools, gardens, orchards, and other defined spaces that make up the Palacio and grounds. We also spent time in the Alcazaba, the fort that protected Moorish Granada from invaders, and in the Palacio de Charles V, a beautiful Renaissance palace that houses an excellent museum or artifacts from the Alhambra.

On Friday, after processing what we saw, we went back to pay closer attention to the visual elegance and meticulous detail that was the hallmark of the Moorish architects and craftsmen who built the Palacio Nazarês. See Alhambra: The infinite for more details.

This post will be mostly images.  Bear with me.

Palacio Nazaríes

The Palacio Nazaríes was the royal palace for the Moorish sultans. Life among the pomegranates, jasmine, rosemary, and lemons that populate the many gardens and courts must have been a sensual delight. Fortunately, the Christians did not destroy the Palacio during the Reconquista in the 1200s, although it was expanded and altered to an extent. The architecture and detail are distinctly Moorish, as you can see.

Alcazaba

The Moorish fort that protected the Alhambra complex.

 

Palacio de Charles V

Renaissance palace, largely bare of furniture or trappings but including an excellent museum of Alhambra artifacts.