Gardens of the Alhambra

The gardens of the Alhambra are located in Granada

If there is a place in Spain where you can see a wonderful Arab garden, it is in Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. In an area of ​​105 thousand square meters you can see a garden in which one color predominates: green. Green is, as we know, the color of hope, and although we do not know if this was taken into account by its original owners, it is undoubtedly something that intensifies the meaning that their particular paradise had for them.

Arab culture has always been closely linked to religion. For this reason, visiting the Gardens of the Alhambra is to enjoy what they believed would be an imitation of the place where they would rest after their death. Nowadays, whether you are a believer, agnostic or atheist, it is almost certain that if you love gardening and plants, you are going to marvel when you travel to this corner of Granada.. Let us know its history.

History of the Alhambra Gardens

The Alhambra has one of the most beautiful gardens in the world

Image - Wikimedia / Leronich

To talk about the Gardens, it is inevitable to first talk about the Alhambra. What is the Alhambra? Sometimes it is presented to us as a palace surrounded by trees and bushes, but for those who have visited it, they will know that in reality there is more than one palace, more than one garden and if that were not enough it also has a fortress. This whole ensemble was designed to be close to the city, but a little out of the way.

The Alhambra was also called and still is called "La Roja", but it is not clear if it is because of the color of the façade of the buildings, or if it derives from the name of its founder, Abu al-Ahmar, who lived between 1238 and 1273, and of which it is known that he was red-haired. In any case, the Alhambra was built to house the emir and his court, and it certainly served its purpose as evidenced by the many rooms and residential spaces it has.

And of all of them, the gardens are one of the most important. For the Nasrid Kingdom, a house could not be conceived without gardens or orchards. They wanted to be able to go somewhere to relax, and protect themselves from the high temperatures that can be reached in summer (35-40ºC, sometimes more). Sitting on a ladder, in the shade of trees and near fountains or ponds, must certainly have been one of the best moments of the day.

Water, a precious and cared for element in the Alhambra

The Arabs have always taken great care of the water; not in vain, they live in places where it is quite scarce. In fact, many words we use today are actually Arabic, such as aljibe (which comes from al-Gubb) or tree grate (rent). The first is a large water reservoir, usually built underground; the second is a kind of barrier or low wall that is made with earth or other materials placed around the plants so that the water concentrates there.

In Granada an average of 536 millimeters of precipitation falls per year, summer being the driest season, therefore, when designing a garden it is important to take this into account. For this reason, we will see a series of fountains and canals throughout the garden. Some of them are used for irrigation, others for consumption, and others to cool off..

What are the Alhambra gardens called?

In the Alhambra, the Alcazaba, the Partal Gardens and the Generalife Gardens stand out. Let's talk a little about each one:

Alcazaba

The Alcazaba is one of the gardens of the Alhambra

The Alcazaba is one of the oldest parts of the Alhambra. It was built during the time of Mohamed I, who protected the castle with a wall, and had three towers built: the Quebrada, the Tribute and the Vela. With the arrival of the Christians, it was reformed, and later it was used as a prison.

Later it would be abandoned, although of course towards the end of the XNUMXth century and the beginning of the XNUMXth a series of works would be carried out to restore it and beautify it with cypresses and shrubs that would revitalize it.

Gardens of the Partal

The Partal is part of the Alhambra

Image - Wikimedia / AdriPozuelo

Leaving the north wall of the Alhambra on our left, we find a large pool in the center of what they call the Partal. Bordered by a series of buildings, the most important of which is the Palacio del Partal built presumably around 1300, during the time of Sultan Muhammad III, some palm trees, cypresses, and a magnificent low hedge.

The gardens that we see today, however, have been renovated in a more recent time: around the 1930s. However, the original arabic design has been respected, since in fact it is believed that in this area, specifically near the Darro River, the Nasrids built their first palatial settlement.

The Generalife

The Generalife is one of the gardens of the Alhambra

Generalife is a villa with gardens where the Nasrid kings would rest. Here, there is an orchard, and a series of patios designed following the guidelines of Nasrid art. A large canal, known as the Acequia Real, is in charge of bringing water to the garden plants and, later, to the Alhambra.

Another emblematic place in this area is the Patio del Ciprés de la Sultana, which can be accessed from the Sala Regia. It was built between the late XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, and has been the protagonist of mysteries in the Granada tradition. For many, it is one of the most beautiful gardens in the world.

How much does the entrance to the Alhambra in Granada cost?

The Gardens of the Alhambra are an incredible place. For this reason, if you want to go you have to know that the hours are from Monday to Sunday from 8,30 to 20 in the afternoon, and that there are six types of tickets, depending on what you want to visit:

  • General: 14,85 euros.
  • Generalife and Alcazaba: 7,42 euros.
  • Night visit to the Nasrid palaces: 8,48 euros.
  • Night visit to Generalife: 5,30 euros.
  • Combined visit of the Alhambra and Rodríguez-Acosta Foundation: 18,03 euros.
  • Alhambra experiences: 14,85 euros.

Anyway, before going, we recommend you visit the official website to know exactly how much it costs and what the hours are.

So nothing, if you want to have an unforgettable day, walking through the gardens of the Alhambra, do not hesitate to visit them as soon as you have a chance. You will not regret it.


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