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.
Author(s): Aa.Vv.
Publisher: Tf Editores S.L.
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: 350
Tags: Alhambra, Granada, Andalusia, Moorish art, Nasrid art
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
