View of the Alhambra from the Mirador de San Nicolás in the Albayzin of Granada.
The Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage site is a palace and fortress complex located in the classical Andalucían city of Granada, Spain. It was originally constructed as a fortress in the year 889 and later converted into a royal palace in 1333 by Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada.
La Alhambra’s Islamic palaces were built for the last Muslim emirs in Spain and its court of the Nasrid dynasty. After the Reconquest by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492, some portions were used by Christian rulers. The Palace of Charles V, built by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in 1527, was inserted in the Alhambra within the Nasrid fortifications.
After being allowed to fall into disrepair for centuries, the Alhambra* was rediscovered in the 19th century by European scholars and travellers, when restorations commenced.
It is now one of Spain’s major tourist attractions, exhibiting the country’s most significant and well known Arab-Islamic architecture.
The Palace of Charles V – within the Alhambra, as viewed from the Mirador de San Nicolás in the Albayzin of Granada.
View of the Alhambra from the Mirador de San Nicolás in the Albayzin of Granada.
My final three shots were taken on Monday afternoon as we were having lunch in one of the wisteria-covered restaurants in Paseo de los Tristes. Perched above the Rio Darro at the end of Carrera del Darro, this plaza was once one of the busiest gathering spots in Granada, positioned along a curve of the river between the Alhambra and the Albayzin. These days, Paseo de los Tristes is a popular place to eat, with restaurants lining the north side of the square and magnificent views of the Alhambra soaring above.
View of the Alhambra from the Paseo de Los Tristes, Granada.
View of the Alhambra through the Wisteria, from the Paseo de Los Tristes, Granada.
View of La Alhambra viewed through my particularly delicious glass of Rioja, as I was having lunch – CHEERS!
* Information about the Alhambra retrieved from Wikipedia
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Beautiful and nothing like it’s namesake the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford!
Hahahaha I know exactly where you mean. When I lived in Lytham St Annes, we used to drive to Bradford for a curry!! 180 mile round-trip!
I have to say that Bradford does serve some of the finest curries and I’m not sure whether it is still there by one of the best curry houses used to be the portaabin right opposite the theatre. Btw one of my best friends lives in Lytham and works at the Chadwick hotel there
I used to live just around the corner on Riley Avenue 🙂
This is still on my list of places to visit – great photos!
The Alhambra is a fantastic place to visit, just make sure you have reserved your tickets online beforehand!
God my fingers get a good workout scrolling through your comments Marianne! Fabulous pictures so unsurprising that so many people feel compelled to comment!
Looks like you had a great time, and that the weather was kind to you. It’s very unpredictable at the moment…
Great improv with the wisteria too 😉
…but with such a wonderful subject as the Alhambra, why would people NOT comment, Josh? 🙂
Yes, the weather was excellent – just need it to finally settle down now – which will be later this week, I believe 🙂
We used to live in the Albayzín across from the Alhambra, I had a complete view of the Alhambra from my roof-top terrace…………. but I like living in Malaga soooooooooooooo much better! Original view through your wine glass.
Love the white wisteria. I had one in my old garden, must grow another one here. 🙂 That glass of wine looks like the perfect way to end the day. 🙂
The wisteria was absolutely gorgeous, Veronica 🙂
I was very privileged to be sitting underneath it, enjoying a delicious lunch … and yes, the wine, too!
Great shots as always 🙂 I love the one through the wine glass – how clever.
I went to the Alambra way back in the 90’s and would love to go again one day.
Thanks Diana, it’s very kind of you to say so.
I hope you will let me know if you intend to return to Andalucía 🙂
Will do! I am always dreaming of returning to Europe. Asia is unique, but Europe is my true love 😉
Great shots, Marianne! One day I will visit Alhambra too, I just have to. And your photo through the wine glass says it all 😀
Have a delightful weekend.
Thanks Marion – your comments are much appreciated 🙂
I hope you get to see the Alhambra – just dont forget to view it from afar as well as the interior!
Inspired that last shot, Marianne! The view through my wine glass is nothing like that good right now, but I’m hoping for better. 🙂
Never mind, Jo – I’m sure you are enjoying your wine anyway 🙂
Loved loved Alhambra! Plus I have wonderful memories of a jamon bocadillo enjoyed sitting on the pavement waiting to get in!
Glad you enjoyed it – but seriously, how could you not!?
Granada is a great city, isn’t it?
Ahhhh … Granada … the Alhambra … a mi me gusta! Truly among my favourite places on the planet. The city is beautiful with an electricity in the air but when you step inside the Alhambra magic begins. Must. go. back. soon.
Thanks for those stunning shots … what a day you were having! And that last shot? Brilliant! Perhaps one day we will meet over a glass of rioja there too!
I’d like that, Patricia 🙂
LOVE Granada!
It’s got to eb one of the most beautiful places in the world! Incredible shot through the wine glass 🙂
Thanks Tanya 🙂
It looks beautiful… and fantastic photos, as always 🙂
Yes, it really is a beautiful city, full of history.
Thanks, Richard.
SUN AND WINE..WHATS BETTER OTHER THAN GREAT COMPANY.. oops, disregard the caps !
….great food? 🙂
Yes thats up there as well. Are you an excellent chef too? I bet you are!
Yes, I do enjoy cooking, Kathryn 🙂
I am not surprised!
The Alhambra is definitely on my itinerary for Spain. Beautiful pictures, Marianne! And I can’t wait to sit in a “wisteria-covered restaurant in Paseo de los Tristes!” 🙂
You’ll have such a great time in Granada, Cathy 🙂
I’m sure I will! 🙂
I`ve had loud complaints on my blog about the price of saffron in this neck of the woods. Any idea how much it is in Spain? Before we all start our own crocus farms here!
Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world, taking an area about two football pitches of crocuses to glean a kilo, with each stigma collected by hand. So I guess it’s no wonder it’s so costly!
Mmmmm off the top of my head, I don’t know the exact cost here in Spain, but I’ll make it my business to find out and let you know 🙂
What a wonderful post Marianne , Thanks for sharing my friend 🙂
Thanks Jake, and welcome back 🙂
I live Granada! It is one of my favorite cities in Southern Spain. Love the diverse culture and feel of the city.
Me too, Nicole – in some places it’s like walking back in time over a thousand years 🙂
Yes indeed! Where do you live?
As and from this very post, Granada is on my bucket list of places to see.
You wont regret it, I’m sure!
I’ll be following this post up soon with more information on visiting the Alhambra 🙂
I`ll look forward to that!
Thank you so much for the pingback! I love to see La Alhambra in the very near future. Beautiful photos, Love the last one 🙂
You’re welcome, Amy.
I hope you get to see La Alhambra very soon, too!
That last shot, through your wine glass? That’s the one that makes me want to skip work and head straight to the airport with nothing more than my passport and credit card. You are a fortunate woman, Marianne!
Well, if you decide to do it, Sally, let me know and I would love to take you to recreate that very shot!
You never know, I might also be able to introduce you to “el hombre de tus sueños” 😉
Okay, now I’m definitely getting on that plane! Seriously, I would love to see the Alhambra…
Just do it!
Great post, just been there again and the blossom, trees and flowers were amazing all over Andalusia!
Greetings, Ron.
You’re right – the flowers, trees and blossom is wonderful here at the moment.
Sounds like you had a great time, Ron. Thanks for taking the time to comment – much appreciated 🙂
Lovely shots of a breathtaking place in a beautiful city. You make me wanna go back there! 🙂
x
Thanks – it is a very special city, isn’t it?
You should return, Clavinna 🙂
What a fabulous lunch view – or anytime view! The last two shots are particularly gorgeous. (And the last yummy, of course.)
…and the view was free, of course (unlike the lunch)!
I think what is one of the great things about Granada is that you can spend virtually nothing and yet still see some fabulous sights 🙂
Cheers, Gemma!
It’s a beautiful world, Marianne. Cheers 😉
What gorgeous views of the Alhambra! Happy birthday to your hubby 🙂
Thanks very much, Madhu:)
Great photos, especially the last one 😉
Hehehe yes, of course 😉
Ahh Rioja wines are really great… 😉
So beautiful photos, very very well captured, Marianne… 😉
Salud!
Thanks for your very kind comments – much appreciated.
The old castles and fortresses often seem to grow out of the vegetation – so beautiful. My favourite photo is the 2nd to last. It has everything – flowers, greenery, an ancient structure… I can almost feel the delight of it all.
Thanks Trish – I’m very pleased how that photo has turned out. We had a wonderful lunch at that very spot 🙂
Looks fantastic, we intend to go there when we are over in June. Thanks for sharing these excellent photographs.
You’ll love it, Roy 🙂
If you want to tour the Alhambra during your visit (which takes a good 4 hours), I would recommend an early entry (8.30am) rather than a 2.30pm much hotter (because it’s later in the day) June visit. You also need to be sure to buy your tickets in advance – don’t just turn up on the day as you will probably be disappointed.
If you don’t want to tour around the Alhambra Palace itself, you can catch any of the magnificent views I have photographed just by visiting the Mirador de San Nicolas or the Paseo de los Tristes. You can walk to either (or both) easily enough, though there are buses from Plaza Nueva too for only €1.20 🙂
Have a wonderful time!
I can’t believe I haven’t been there yet… it’s so on my list!!!
I can’t believe you haven’t either – it’s a “must visit” city!
a fantastic view for eating lunch … i an sure your food and wine was up to the grandeur of the palace!
Yes, lunch was delightful, Christine – and all the more special because it was my hubby’s birthday 🙂
excellent … we will be celebrating out 42nd wedding anniversary when we are travelling up north …might be able to find somewhere good to eat around kununurra 🙂
I’m sure you will 🙂
Excellent photos, Marianne – reckon I could be tempted !!
OH I would absolutely recommend a visit to Granada, Alec. I’m sure you would love it!
I love how the first images evoke a touristy feel, but the last 2 viewed through the wisteria and the wine glass have the feels of someone at home… and of course you can be wonderfully both 🙂
Yes, I can – and I’m always appreciative of that 🙂
We live about a 75 minute drive from the city of Granada and each time we visit, we usually try to have a wander around somewhere new, instead of treading the same-old tourist trail. We have visited the Alhambra Palace itself on at least a couple of occasions, but it was only last year that we viewed it from the Mirador San Nicolas.
Our visit on Monday (for my hubby’s birthday) brought us the added delights of Sacramonte (the gypsy quarter) as well as a wander along the Carrera del Darro – which was how we discovered the Paseo de los Tristes.
I’m sure we will be adding these highlights to the itinerary we take our visitors to, when they come to stay 🙂
Thanks for your continued support of my blog, EllaDee. Your comments are always thoughtful and much appreciated 🙂
Nice shots Marianne.. I must go again and take some photos.
I was talking about you when we drove past Salobreña – must visit there soon 🙂
Now, this I’ve seen. Such a wondrous place, Marianne, and your photos captured its setting perfectly.
Yes, totally magical 🙂
Thanks – very kind.
i loved the view through the white wisteria, and then i smiled when i saw the final view! salud! z
Thanks Z – salad!