Al Alhambra and Generalife, Granada

Al Alhambra, "The Red One" (Qalat Al-Hamra in Arabic), was once the centre of the Nazari Kingdom of Granada- the last part of the Iberian Peninsula to be held by the Muslims.  The Nazari kingdom lasted for more than two centuries, from 1238 to 1492.
A true Arabian Nights fairytale set, Al Alhambra was a citadel, within the city of Granada, with palaces, gardens and a fortress.  After the reconquest, it became the Royal Court of Fernando and Isabel, the Christian Monarchs.
Al Alhambra has inspired many songs and tales and one of its most notable inhabitants was writer Washington Irving. At some point US ambassador to Spain, Irving wrote a few books on Spain and Granada, including the "Tales of the Alhambra". If you want to get into Al Alhambra's ambience I suggest reading the short story "Legend of the Arabian Astrologer" from this book.
The Generalife, adjacent to Al Alhambra, but out of the walls that protected the citadel, was a villa with gardens, used as a place to rest by the Muslim kings of Granada.
To visit Al Alhambra and Generalife I strongly advise buying tickets in advance, as they are usually sold out at the ticket office. You can buy your tickets here (I did) and pick them up at the ticket office. There are several options depending on what you want to visit. 
In 2015 Al Alhambra was the most visited site in Spain, slightly short of 2.5 million visitors!

More detailed:

 Generalife

 Nazaries Palaces

View from the Generalife

Washington Irving statue, on the way up.




Santa Maria de La Alhambra.

Charles V Palace (museum).

Alcazaba

Local: Realejo-San Matias, Granada, Espanha

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