Top Things to do in Alhambra
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The 5 Best Sights & Landmarks in Alhambra, Andalucia
Discover the best top things to do in Alhambra, Spain including Sala De Los Abencerrajes, Salon de los Embajadores, Puerta de la Justicia, Palacio El Partal, Palacio de Comares.
1. Sala De Los Abencerrajes
2. Salon de los Embajadores
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
This is probably the largest and most imposing room of the Nasrid Palaces that make up the Alhambra complex. It is the main hall inside the Comares Palace, where the king received visiting dignitaries. You enter through the Sala de la Barca (Hall of the Boat) which has an impressive cedar ceiling that looks like the inverted hull of a boat. Most likely, this was reception room. However, the Boat Hall is really just a warm-up routine. It’s the next ceiling in the Ambassador’s Hall that is the absolute highlight. Over 8,000 pieces of interlocking wood makes the roof look like a galaxy of shooting stars. It represents the 7 heavens of Islamic faith and and the stars of paradise. Underneath this celestial ceiling, the king would sit to receive visiting dignitaries. If they weren’t already suitably intimidated, then you have to think this room would leave them speechless. Once you manage to drag your eyes away from the ceiling, you can notice the rest of the room. The lower parts of the walls are covered in geometrically patterned, multi-coloured azulejos (tiles) and higher up, they are covered with an ivory coloured stucco mix of plaster and marble powder. Rows and rows of poetic Arabic inscriptions, quotes from the Koran, and praises to God were carved into the stucco while it was wet. Small, deeply recessed windows, allow you to peer out across the ancient whitewashed Albaicín area and you realise how high up the Alhambra sits. Historically, this room has been the stage for some pretty major, turning-point moments. Fly on a wall, as they say. In this room, Columbus persuaded the Catholic monarchs to support and pay for the expeditions that led to the discovery of America. It is also the room in which Boabdil surrendered the Alhambra to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, handing over the last Spanish stronghold of a Muslim empire on January 2, 1492. As he did so, he famously said “These are the keys to paradise”. Boabdil’s mother, a fearsome woman, equally famously said, “You do well, my son, to cry like a woman for what you couldn’t defend like a man.” TICKETS – Tickets for the Nasrid palaces are timed. If you miss your time slot, you risk missing out altogether. We pre-booked an early time slot and saw the Nasrid palaces first. We spent a lot longer there than we’d imagined but because the other areas (Generalife, museum, Alcazabar) don’t have timed entry slots, we could see them afterwards, at our leisure.
3. Puerta de la Justicia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 126 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
There are 2 main entry points to the Alhambra but this is the best one if you already have a ticket and you are walking. We walked up from Plaza Nueva, following the Cuesta de Gomerez uphill, through the Alhambra Forests. This brought us right to this gateway. The walk was lovely. It was a steep but steady walk through shaded greenery and took about 15 minutes. By using this gate, you also avoid the crowds because the buses drop people off at the other main entrance. This imposing gateway is one of the original gates, built in 1348 by Yusuf I (who built the beautiful Court of Lions built around the same time). It consists of a set of keyhole shaped arches, built into a defensive tower. Above the arch you see the Hand of Fatima (Mohammed's daughter) carved into the keystone. The key to the Islamic paradise is on the other side. There are numerous conflicting stories about the symbolism of this but most agree that the 5 fingers represent the 5 pillars of Islam and that it was likely to be placed there as a charm against the evil eye. The Virgin and Child were of course a much later addition, placed there by the catholic monarchs. As you pass through the arch, you'll be forced to do a couple of strange L-shaped kinks. This was a security measure to slow down any potential invaders and prevent a flood of attackers from storming straight through. It’s surprisingly exciting to pass through such an ancient gateway. It's strange to be following in the footsteps of those who used it more than 670 years ago. The keyhole arch gives you the sense of passing through a secret door and because we were there very early and there was hardly anyone else around, there was a sense of timelessness as we passed through the darkened passageway under the arches.
4. Palacio El Partal
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By LuizDutraNeto - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Built in the 14th century by Sultan Muhammend III, "Palacio del Partal" (Palace of Partal) is a small construction located right in front of a scenic pond and surrounded by lush gardens. A lovely small balcony, in the Nasrid architectural style, resembles similar ones found at "Palacio de Comares" (Palace of Comares) and at "Generalife". Be ready for lovely pictures, as the palace reflects beautifully on the pond waters. More fond memories to take home. Enjoy!
5. Palacio de Comares
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
This is one of the 3 Nasrid palaces that make up the Alhambra complex. The Comares Palace was built in the 1300s as the official residence of the Sultan. This was where the throne room was located and where he received guests and dignitaries. It was designed to impress. Once you enter, you follow a one-way path through the palaces. First you pass through the the darkened passageways of the Mexuar, before coming to the Comares palace, where you will see: 1. the Patio de los Arrayanes (Courtyard of Myrtles) - a bright, open and serenely beautiful space with a long reflection pool running down the middle 2. the Sala de la Barca (Hall of the Boat), a reception area leading through to the Ambassadors’ Hall. 3. The Hall of Ambassadors & the stunning celestial ceiling. It is an incredible star-scape that recreates the heavens. 4. Comares Tower Throughout the palace, the walls are covered with geometrically patterned, multi-coloured tiles (azulejos) and ivory coloured stucco plaster with rows and rows of poetic Arabic inscriptions, quotes from the Koran, and praises to God. It’s easy to be overwhelmed. It really is as beautiful as it sounds. TICKETS – Tickets for the Nasrid palaces are timed. We booked an early time slot and went here first. This worked really well because we spent so much more time there than we’d imagined. The other areas (Generalife, museum, Alcazabar) don’t have timed entry slots, so once we’d seen the Nasrid palaces, we were free to see them at our leisure, with no time constraints. Whatever you do, don’t miss your time slot or you risk missing out altogether.
