The Alhambra, Granada, Spain

The Alhambra, Granada, Spain

The Alhambra – Arabic: literally means “the red one”; the complete name is “Qal’at al-Hambra”, which means “The red fortress”) is a palace and fortress complex of the Moorish rulers of Granada in southern Spain occupying a hilly terrace on the southeastern border of the city of Granada. Once the residence of the Muslim rulers of Granada and their court, the Alhambra is now one of Spain’s major tourist attractions exhibiting the country’s most famous Islamic architecture, together with Christian 16th century and later interventions in buildings and gardens that marked its image as it can be seen today. Its most westerly feature is the alcazaba (citadel); a strongly fortified position. The rest of the plateau comprises a number of palaces, enclosed by a relatively weak fortified wall, with thirteen towers, some defensive and some providing vistas for the inhabitants.