La Alhambra
Nasrid palace-fortress of the kingdom of al-Andalus, taken by the Reyes Católicos in 1492 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
Who built it and when
The complex began in 1238, when Muhammad I ibn al-Ahmar, founder of the Nasrid dynasty, moved his court to the hill of the Sabika and raised the first fortress. The palaces we admire today are fourteenth-century works: Yusuf I (1333–1354) built the Tower and the Palacio de Comares, and his son Muhammad V completed the celebrated Patio de los Leones between 1362 and 1391, the pinnacle of Andalusian art. In 1492 the Reyes Católicos received the keys after Boabdil's surrender, and in the sixteenth century Carlos V added his Renaissance palace — square in plan with a circular courtyard — alongside the Nasrid halls.
What there is to see inside the complex
The visit is divided into four zones. The Alcazaba is the oldest military bastion, with the Torre de la Vela and views across the Albaicín and Sierra Nevada. The Palacios Nazaríes link the Mexuar, the Patio de Comares with its pool of myrtle reflections, and the Patio de los Leones, with its twelve-lion marble fountain and honeycomb muqarnas ceilings. The Partal offers terraced gardens and a portico mirrored in water. Beyond the main perimeter, the Generalife was the sultans' country retreat, with the Patio de la Acequia and its jets of water. Allow a good three hours to take it all in at a leisurely pace.
How to book tickets
The general admission ticket costs 22,27 € and covers the Alcazaba, Palacios Nazaríes and Generalife. When you buy, you choose a 30-minute entry window for the Palacios Nazaríes: this is the only strictly timed moment in the complex, and if you miss it you will be turned away without a refund. Tickets sell out weeks in advance, especially in spring and summer, so book ahead on the official site tickets.alhambra-patronato.es. Bring the ID or passport you used when purchasing, and arrive at the complex at least an hour before your allocated slot. The early morning hours offer better light and fewer crowds.
Frequently asked questions
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