!!!Alhambra, Granada

by Stas Sedov and Dmitry Moiseenko,
members of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

29 November 2016

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

In the eastern part of the Spanish city Granada [{GoogleMap location='Granada'}]there is an
architectural palace complex called Alhambra. Initially built as a
fortress it later became a royal residence and nowadays it functions as
a museum.

Alhambra was constructed on a hilly terrace in the place of a former
dilapidated Arabic fortress, the first mention of which is dated the 9th
century. In 1238 Granada was conquered by Mohammed I ibn Nasr and became
the capital of the Emirate of Granada. The settlement with such
significant status needed its own citadel, so it was the reason for the
creation of the fortifying complex Alhambra. The name itself is Arabic
for "The Red One", referring to the colour of the stone used for the
construction of the fortress and extracted right here, on the Sabika
hill.

[{Image src='01_Alhambra, Granada, Spain.jpg' caption='Alhambra, Granada, Spain' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='574'}]

The first building constructed in Alhambra was the 27-meter high Torre
de la Vela, the watchtower. The next one was the six storey tower Torre
del Homenaje having the height of 26 meters. It is believed that
Mohammed I himself lived here and the first floor was used as a
provision store and a prison.

Successors of the first emir of Granada Mohammed II and Mohammed III
followed the course of the residence extension; but during the first
couple of centuries Alhambra was basically used for military purposes,
so all the constructions of the complex were created for the defence of
the city. All of it changed in the 14th century, when Yusuf I and his
successor Mohammed V initiated a global reconstruction of the complex so
that it began turning into a luxurious palace. For the next several
centuries Alhambra has been extending and developing, and now its total
length is 740 meters, the maximum width is 205 meters, and its total
area is 142,000 sq. meters.

[{Image src='02_Alhambra, Granada, Spain.jpg' caption='Alhambra, Granada, Spain' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='356'}]

The heart of Alhambra is the Alcazaba ("citadel"): the place where the
first fortifying constructions appeared. In addition to the towers of
Torre de la Vela and Torre del Homenaje, some other towers have also
remained till nowadays: Torre del Cubo, Torre de Armas, Torre de la
Pólvora. Palaces of the Nasrid (Palacios Nazaríes) are located nearby:
they served as residences for the rulers of the Emirate of Granada at
different periods.

[{Image src='03_Patio of the Palace of Charles V.jpg' caption='Patio of the Palace of Charles V' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='692'}]

The oldest part of the complex is named "Mexuar" (rooms used for the
purposes of ministers' meetings). The palace of Comares (the name refers
to the Arabic word meaning "stained-glass"), built in the middle of the
14th century, was an official residence of the emir, and the 45-meters
high tower of Torre de Comares is the highest one in the complex. The
legend states that it is the very place where Christopher Columbus was
received by the royals and got the endorsement for his expedition which
resulted in the discovery of America. And, finally, in the end of the
14th century the complex of Nasrid Palaces was completed by the
magnificent Palace of the Lions, private rooms of the emir Mohammed V.

[{Image src='04_Comares Palace.jpg' caption='Comares Palace' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='291'}]

In 1492 Granada was conquered by catholic kings and a couple of decades
later Charles V stated his willingness to have his own residence in
Alhambra. However, he didn't have the opportunity to live in his own
residence; moreover, the construction works were paused every now and
then, and as a result, the Palace of Charles V had remained roofless
until the 20th century. Today this Renaissance building serves as a
museum of fine arts.

The complex of Alhambra also includes Medina (residential area, which
included private houses, markets, public baths, mosques, monasteries and
temples). Another residential palace of the Nasrid Emirs — Generalife,
which design had been forming in between the 13th century and the 19th
century; the gardens, the most famous one is the Forest of Alhambra
(Bosque de la Alhambra). It was planted in the 17th century: adversary's
attacks had stopped by then, but till that time all the trees had been
cut down for a better view and in order to see the enemy's approach.

[{Image src='05_Alhambra, Granada, Spain.jpg' caption='Alhambra, Granada, Spain' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='574'}]

The complex of Alhambra located in the midst of thick vegetation is a
truly outstanding monument, interesting for both great monumental
buildings and constructions and smallest details of carvings and
paintings. Sometimes Alhambra is referred as the greatest achievement of
the Moorish art in the western Europe. In 1984 the complex was declared
a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And now AirPano gives you the opportunity
to have a better look at this great sight of Spain.

\\ \\
[12 Panoramas of Alhambra, Granada|Geography/Europe/Spain/Pictures/Panoramas_of_Alhambra_Granada]










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