The Alhambra and the Generalife. Official guide

Description

The Alhambra, one of the most-visited places in Spain, was declared a Monument in 1870, shortly after the enactment of Spain's first Monuments Law. Long before that, however, it was the subject of interest of all the travellers visiting the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula. In 1984 it was named a UNESCO World Heritage site, a well-deserved recognition of its interesting historical, aesthetic and natural treasures. The Monumental Complex - which comprises the area enclosed by its walls, the land where the Generalife is located, and the large surrounding area where there are buildings as well as the remains of other constructions historically associated with the Alhambra - is a unique place in the world. Not only does the Monument never disappoint those who visit it, visitors take away with them the feeling of needing to visit it again and again.. NOTA: El libro no está en español, sino en inglés. Frontispiece Introduction The Alhambra and the Generalife Monumental Complex New Official Guide to the Alhambra Index 1. Granada and the Alhambra Geographical environment Surrounding areas 2. How to reach the Alhambra Public transport Access roads for vehicles and parking Historic routes to the Alhambra Cuesta de Gomérez Puerta de las Granadas Cuesta del Realejo Cuesta del Rey Chico The Alhambra Woods Torres Bermejas Peñapartida Pilar de Carlos V Puerta de Bibrambla Ángel Ganivet Monument Washington Irving Monument 3. The Alhambra The Alhambra Palace-City The organisation of the complex The towers The streets The gates Puerta de los Siete Suelos Puerta de los Carros Puerta de la Justicia Puerta de las Armas Puerta del Arrabal Puerta de Hierro Visiting the Alhambra compound The itinerary presented in this guide The Alhambra Atrium Entrance via the Puerta de la Justicia Entrance via the Atrium 4. Access to the walled compound Las placetas Map of the access to the walled compound Puerta del Vino Plaza de los Aljibes 5. Palacio de Carlos V Map of the Palacio de Carlos V The façades The portals The courtyard Cultural uses Alhambra Museum Fine Arts Museum of Granada 6. The Alcazaba: the Kasbah Structure of the Alcazaba Map of the Alcazaba Visiting the Alcazaba Torre del Homenaje and Torre del Cubo Military district Puerta de las Armas Torre de la Vela Torre de la Pólvora Jardín de los Adarves 7. The Nasrid Palaces The Alhambra Palace or Dar al-Sultán The Royal Palace Map of the Nasrid Palaces 7.1. The Mexuar Patio de la Mezquita Map of the Mexuar Patio de Machuca Sala del Mexuar Court and Portico of the Cuarto Dorado 7.2. Palacio de Comares The façade of the Palacio de Comares Map of the Palacio de Comares Patio de los Arrayanes or Patio de Comares Sala de la Barca Salón del Trono Southern Pavilion The Hammam or Baths of the Palacio de Comares 7.3. Palacio de los Leones Map of the Palacio de los Leones Sala de los Mocárabes Patio de los Leones Sala de los Abencejjare Complementary spaces: Patio del Harén and Puerta de la Rauda Sala de los Reyes Sala de Dos Hermanas Sala de los Ajimeces Mirador de Lindaraja 7.4. The palace converted into the Christian Royal Palace Map of the palace converted into the Christian Royal Palace Despacho del Emperador Habitaciones imperiales Salas de las Frutas Peinador de la Reina Patio de la Reja Patio de Lindaraja Sala de los Secretos 7.5. The Partal Map of the Partal Moorish houses Palacio del Pórtico The Oratory The Paratas Puerta de la Rauda Jardines del Partal Two options: the Torres and the Medina The Rauda, cemetery of the sultans 7.6. Other Alhambra palaces Palacio de los Abencerrajes Map of the other Alhambra palaces Palacio de los Infantes (Convento de San Francisco, Parador Nacional) Palacio de Yusuf III 8. Paseo de las Torres Map of the Paseo de las Torres Torre de los Picos Torre del Qadí Torre de la Cautiva Torre de las Infantas Torre del Cabo de la Carrera Torre del Agua The Acequia Real or Acequia del Sultán 9. The Medina Calle Real Alta Map of the Medina The Upper Medina Secano Tannery Two Nasrid houses Alhambra Mosque Iglesia de Santa María de la Alhambra Baths of the Mosque The Ángel Barrios Museum House next to the baths Archaeological map of the Nasrid Alhambra 10. The Generalife Legal dispute over property ownership Map of the Generalife Jardines Nuevos Las Huertas Access Palacio del Generalife Patio de la Acequia Salón Regio Pabellón Sur Patio del Ciprés de la Sultana Jardines Altos Escalera del Agua Casa de los Amigos Paseo de las Adelfas 11. The Acequia del Sultán and the lost palaces Acequia Real or del Sultán Hydraulic innovations. Los Albercones The Dehesa Generalife and Cerro del Sol Archaeological Site The hydraulic innovation of the Pozos Altos Aljibe de la Lluvia Albercón del Negro Palacio de los Alijares Palacio de Dar al-Arusa La Silla del Moro 12. Some keys to understanding the Alhambra The Diwán al-Insáʿ The proportional system Spatial multifunctionality Façades and entrances The partitioning of space Dungeons Taqas Latticework shutters Patios, porticoes and general atmosphere Decoration Geometry Epigraphic decoration Plant-based decoration Stalactite ceilings Water Water tanks Water basin and fountains Gardens Construction materials and methods used in the Alhambra Rammed earth Lime-based concrete Brick Plaster Lime Stone Wood The “Alhambra formation” The Alhambra’s plasterwork Restoration in the Alhambra The Alhambra Manifesto 13. The Alhambra’s historical stages The Alhambra before the Alhambra The Banu Nasr or Nasrids The Alhambra as a royal palace A separate chapter in the story: the Tendilla-Mondéjar, governors of the Alhambra The governors’ Alhambra (the saddest century in its history) Napoleon’s troops and their occupation of the Alhambra Orientalism and romanticism: Alhambrism Architect-led management A council for the Alhambra Sultans of the Nasrid dynasty Historical events during the Nasrid reign Genealogical chart of the Nasrid dynasty Comparative table of the rulers of Granada, Castile, Aragon and the Maghreb Al-Aqsa (Marrakech and Fez) Islamic dynasties 14. Appendices