The Alhambra

📖 In short

The Alhambra is a wonderful palace and fortress in Granada, Spain, built by the Muslims of al-Andalus more than seven hundred years ago. It's one of the most beautiful Islamic buildings in the world, with its courtyards, fountains and fine decoration.

🤩 Did you know?

The palace is surrounded by a wall with 13 towers.
The land inside the walls covers about 14 hectares.
Granada was the last city ruled by Muslims in al-Andalus, until 1492.
Millions of tourists visit the Alhambra every year.

🔎 Find out more

🌟 Why is it called the Alhambra?

The palace is called “al-Hamra” (the Red One) because of the reddish color of its walls and towers, built of red earth and stone, which glow at sunset.

🔍 Amazing decoration

The palace's walls and ceilings are covered with carved plaster decoration of leaves and geometric shapes, and beautiful Arabic writing of poems and verses.

💡 The Court of the Lions

One of the most famous parts of the palace is the Court of the Lions, with a fountain in the middle held up by twelve marble lions, with water flowing from their mouths.

🎯 Water everywhere

The Alhambra's builders loved water, so they filled it with pools, fountains and little channels running between the gardens, keeping the place cool and refreshing.