Granada’s Majestic Alhambra

Larger than life: Art that inspires us through the ages

The majestic Alhambra palace, on top of the hill al-Sabika, overlooks the city of Granada. In Arabic, “Alhambra” means “ the red”, and the name is thought to be derived from the reddish color of the outer walls, built out of tapia (rammed earth). The complex has 26 acres, one mile of walls, four main gates, and 30 towers, creating a city within a city. Botond Horvath/Shutterstock

In the historic city of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain, the charming streets and steep hills are filled with the scent of tapas and the sound of flamenco music, all of which rise to the Alhambra palace, a majestic Moorish fortress above the city.

What American author Washington Irving called “the abode of beauty” in his “Tales of the Alhambra” (1832) is a magnificent complex of medieval and Renaissance residential palaces and courtyards within a walled fortress. Built between 1238 and 1358, the fortress is composed of three restored palaces, all constructed in the 14th century: the Partal Palace, the Palace of the Lions, and the Comares Palace, which are all connected by paths, gardens, and courtyards.