Route: The Alhambra
Area: Spain, Andalusia
Date of walk: 20th March 2019
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 5.0 miles
Ascent: 400 feet
Weather: Mostly sunny
Today’s visit to the world famous Alhambra was the climax of a wonderful holiday booked via Inntravel, ‘A Trail of Three Cities’, incorporating walks in the Spanish Moorish cities of Seville, Cordoba and Granada
The Alhambra is a huge complex, and essentially comprises the Alcazaba or fortress, the Alcazar consisting of three Nazrid Palaces, and the garden area of Generalife
We’d previously booked our tickets online. The ticketing process isn’t straightforward, and there are various options on offer. There are also numerous rules and regulations and it’s essential to visit the website in advance in order to avoid disappointment
Our hotel was a short walk away from the entrance, and in order to avoid the inevitable crowds we arrived at opening time, 8.30am. The Nazrid Palaces are a must see ingredient of the visit, and it’s necessary to book a time slot. If the allotted time is missed admission won’t be granted, nor is it possible to revisit the Palaces for a second look later in the day. We’d booked an early time at 9.30am and this gave us an hour or so to visit the Alcazaba
This was a fascinating area, and there were some wonderful views over Granada from the towers, but we couldn’t linger as we didn’t want to miss the Palaces. Unfortunately, we hadn’t realised that the Alcazaba is a once only visit, so were unable to return for a better look once we’d left it
The Nazrid Palaces were stupendous, one of the most wonderful sights I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ll let the photos tell the story of our walk through this area
It might be thought that the rest of the visit would be an anti-climax after that, but the Generalife garden area didn’t disappoint, and from here there were some excellent views back to the Alhambra
It had been five hours well spent, and a fitting end to a great walking holiday
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Entrance to the Alhambra, a 10 minute walk from our hotel. We arrived at opening time - 8.30am - in order to avoid the crowds
Our timed ticket to visit the Nazaries Palaces was for 9.30am, so this gave us an hour to explore the Alcazaba
The Alcazaba is the fortress area of the Alhambra complex with a clearly defensive function, and it housed the military personnel
The circular courtyard in the Palace of Carlos V...
We follow a path around the fortifications, heading for the Torre de la Vela, or Watchtower
Torre de la Vela on the left
We climb the steps within the tower
Views over Granada from the tower...
By now it's almost 9.30am and time to visit the Nazaries Palace - the highlight of the Alhambra
Inside the first room of the Palaces - the Mexuar
The facade of the Comares Palace
We walk through the Palace gazing in awe at the decorative carvings...
The Court of the Myrtles, with its pool lined with myrtle hedging
Entering the Lion Courtyard in the Palace of the Lions
The Lion Fountain, sculpted on site from a single block of white marble
The Lion Courtyard
The incredible roof in the Hall of the Abencerrages...
The Lion Fountain again
The Hall of the Kings, at the side of the Lion Courtyard
Still in the Palace of the Lions, the roof of the Hall of the Two Sisters
Back in the Lion Courtyard...
The Mirador de Lindaraja
Views from the Mirador...
We pass through the Court of the Grated Window...
View of Granada as we enter The Partal - this was private property until it was sold to the Spanish state by its owner
Gardens of the Partal...
The Palace of the Portico...
...and the view from it
Looking across to the Generalife area, which we'll be visiting later
More photos of the Partal gardens...
We reach the end of the Nazaries Palaces and head towards the Generalife area, passing through the Jardines de San Francisco...
View across to the Generalife Gardens
We leave the Jardines de San Francisco to enter The Generalife...
...this area consists of a series of terraced gardens with a summer palace at the far end
There are some wonderful views back to the main Alhambra complex as we wander along the first terrace...
The lower gardens near the entrance to the palace
View of the Alhambra from the north pavilion
The South Pavilion
The North Pavilion
The Alhambra from the North Pavilion
We walk along one of the higher terraces, with more wonderful views over Granada and the Alhambra...
The end of our visit as we leave the Alhambra
Before returning to our hotel, there's time for a quick walk around the streets of Granada...
...some of them very narrow
The Convent of Saint Inés
We follow this stepped street in the Moroccan area
The Cathedral of Granada, built in the 16th century...
Later that day, sunset as we revisited the Mirador of St Nicholas for a final view of the Alhambra...
The end of a wonderful short stay in Granada
