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Alhambra 阿罕布拉宮
Granada, Andalusia, Spain
The jewel of Moorish Spain and still one of the country’s national treasures, the palace of Alhambra is the reason that most visitors come to Granada. Built during the Moorish occupation of Spain, the stunning beauty of the palace is a reminder that while Christian Europe stumbled through the Dark Ages, the Moors of Andalusia reached unrivaled pinnacles of beauty and culture. It is an oasis of splendor set against the backdrop of mountains and the city of Granada.
Alhambra is one of 851 sites worldwide on UNESCO’s World Heritage preservation list. The stunning palace and gardens are seen by only 8,000 people daily, and admission to the Nasrid Palace areas, which include the Lion Court is limited to 300 people per half hour block. Because tickets to see the Alhambra are in such high demand, it’s highly recommended that you reserve your tickets when you make your travel plans rather than risk being unable to get in. It would be an enormous pity to travel to Granada only to be unable to visit the Alhambra because the tickets for the day are sold out.
 The Alhambra is divided into four main sections, each of them unique and unforgettable. Within each section there are beautiful sights to see.
The Charles V Palace was built by Charles V after the reconquest of Andalusia by Spain. Its most striking features are the round courtyard and the view of the Alhambra. Inside the palace, visitors can tour two museums, the Museo de Bellas Artes and the Museo de la Alhambra.
Alcazaba is the original fort, the “red castle” for which the castle is named. The Alcazaba stands mostly in ruins, but is still impressive, and the views of Granada below are incomparable.
 The Nasrid Palaces are the true gem of the Alhambra. Built over the course of centuries by the Moorish sultans and kings, the royal palaces are ornately designed and intricate, offering a taste of the luxurious extravagances of Moorish royalty. The walls and ceilings are intricately carved and painted, and everywhere you look there are fountains, pools and cascading walls of water. You’ll be allowed to enter the Nasrid palaces during the thirty minute time window stamped on your entry tickets, but you don’t have to complete your tour in thirty minutes – which is a very good thing, since there is so much to see within the walls of the sultans.
The Generalife is a less formal palace, replete with vegetable and fruit gardens, fountains and beautiful pathways. The exquisite gardens are still as lovely as they must have been when the sultans and their wives and daughters enjoyed their respite from the formalities of court life here. The flowers, herbs, fruits – and most importantly, the fountains – all represented the Moorish depiction of Paradise, a fruitful oasis where everything was in flower and fruit.
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