The Alhambra
Palace and fortress complex in Granada, Spain.
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Where it is

Coordinates: 37°10′41″N 3°35′24″W (37.1780, -3.5900) · Open in OpenStreetMap
Coordinates and connected clubs: the infobox of Wikipedia: Alhambra (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map: drawn by Codexery from OpenStreetMap tiles.
In Granada, Spain, one finds the Alhambra, a complex that served as both a palace and a fortress.[1] This site is a highly renowned example of Islamic architecture and stands as the sole well-kept palace from the medieval Islamic era, also featuring significant instances of Spanish Renaissance architecture.[1]
Quick Facts
- Location
- Granada, Spain
Facts from the source article.
Key facts and history
The most significant construction campaigns took place in the 14th century during the reigns of Yusuf I and Muhammad V.[2] After the Christian Reconquista in 1492, the site became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella.[2] During the Nasrid era, the Alhambra was a self-contained city with amenities including a Friday mosque, hammams, and a sophisticated water supply system.[3] Muhammad I Ibn al-Ahmar, the initial Nasrid emir, started building the complex in 1238 CE.[4]
The location chosen for construction was Sabika hill, a site that previously held fortresses and an 11th-century palace.[4] A new Renaissance-style palace was ordered by Charles V in 1526, built right next to the Nasrid palaces.[5] Parts of the Alhambra were destroyed in 1812 by Napoleon's troops.[5] International attention was drawn to the site by Washington Irving's 1832 work, Tales of the Alhambra.[6]
The Alhambra was among the initial Islamic monuments to undergo modern scientific study.[6] Currently, it holds the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a key tourist destination in Spain.[6]
What the cited sources add
The AirPano account states that the Alhambra was constructed on a hilly terrace in the place of a former dilapidated Arabic fortress first mentioned in the 9th century.[7] The AirPano account also notes that the first building constructed was the 27-meter high Torre de la Vela watchtower.[7]
References
- Wikipedia, "Alhambra" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bloom 2020, p. 151; Cabanelas Rodríguez 1992, p. 131–132; Arnold 2017, p. 234; "Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada", World Heritage List (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Alhambra" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bloom 2020, p. 151; Arnold 2017, p. 234 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Alhambra" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bloom 2020, p. 151; López 2011, p. 295–297; Ruggles 2008; Bloom 2020, p. 151 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Alhambra" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Arnold 2017, p. 234; García-Arenal, "Encyclopaedia of Islam, Three", Brill, 2014; García-Arenal, "Encyclopaedia of Islam, Three", Brill, 2014; "The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture", Oxford University Press, 2009 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Alhambra" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: López 2011, p. 295–297 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Alhambra" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: López 2011, p. 295–297; Arnold 2017, p. 234; Bloom 2020, p. 151; "Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada", World Heritage List (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- "Alhambra, Granada, Spain", AirPano. facts only, no text reused. airpano.com
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Alhambra (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in World Wonders
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Alhambra (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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