Granada was first settled by native tribes in the prehistoric period, and was known as Ilbyr. When the Romans colonized southern Spain, they built their own city here and called it Illibris. The Arabs, invading the peninsula in the 8th century and gave it its current name of Granada.

It was the last Muslim city to fall to the Christians in 1492, during the reign of Queen Isabel of Castile and her husband Ferdinand of Aragon. One of the most brilliant architectural wonders is the Alhambra of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th C.

This mighty compound of buildings - including the summer palace called Generalife, with its fountains and gardens - stands at the foot of Spain's highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada.

At the centre of the Alhambra stands the massive Palace of Charles V, an outstanding example of Spanish Renaissance architecture. Close by you can find the Cathedral, including the Royal Chapel where Isabel and Ferdinand lie buried, Close by stands La Capilla Real - The Royal Chapel, the mausoleum of the Catholic Kings Isabel and Ferdinand, who chose to be buried in Granada because they saw its conquest as the crowning achievement of their reign (they had no way of knowing that this would soon prove to be their sponsorship of Columbus' journey). Isabel of Castille was at heart a woman of the Middle Ages, as illustrated by her precious collection of Flemish masters on view in the Sacristy. She wanted a small, humble mausoleum for her and all her descendants, befitting the follower of Saint Francis that she was. But she died before the chapel could be built, and spent some twenty years in a provisional tomb in the Franciscan convent that was built in the Alhambra in the shell of the palace mosque (and is now an elegant hotel, the Parador San Francisco, well worth visiting even if you can't afford to stay there). The architects, out of deference for her importance rather than her dying wishes, made the chapel larger and more luxurious than planned, with the result that it is neither humble nor truly grand; in any case, her successor and grandson Carlos V - the master of the new Empire which she had founded - judged it too unassuming for the masters of a reign on which the sun never set, and the Royal Mausoleum, for all of Spain's subsequent monarchs, was eventually moved to the blockbuster Escorial Monastery outside Madrid, built by his son, Felipe II.

The hill facing the Alhambra is the old Moorish casbah or "medina", called the Albaicin, a fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and whitewashed houses with secluded inner gardens, known as "cármenes". The Plaza de San Nicolas, at the highest point of the Albaicin, is famous for its magnificent view of the Moorish palace.

The Sacromonte hill, which overlooks the city from the North, is famous for its cave dwellings, once the home of Granada's large gypsy community.

The name Granada is ancient and mysterious. It may mean "great castle", for the Roman fortress, which once stood on the Albaicin Hill. When the Moorish came here, the town was largely inhabited by Jews, for which they called it Garnat-al-Yahud - Granada of the Jews. The Jews are said to have been one of the first peoples to settle in Spain, even before the Romans.

History of the Alhambra The name Alhambra comes from an Arabic root which means "red or crimson castle", perhaps due to the hue of the towers and walls that surround the entire hill of La Sabica which by starlight is silver but by sunlight is transformed into gold. However, there is another more poetic version, evoked by the Moslem analysts who speak of the construction of the Alhambra fortress "by the light of torches", the reflections of which gave the walls their particular coloration. Created originally for military purposes, the Alhambra was an alcazaba (fortress), an alcázar (palace) and a small medina (city), all in one. This triple character helps to explain many distinctive features of the monument.

There is no reference to the Alhambra as being a residence of kings until the 13th century, even though the fortress had existed since the 9th century. The Nasrites were probably the emirs who built the Alhambra, starting in 1238.
The Alhambra became a Christian court in 1492 when the Catholic Monarchs (Ferdinand and Isabel) conquered the city of Granada. Later, various structures were built for prominent civilians also military garrisons, a church and a Franciscan monastery. Emperor Charles V, who spent several months in Granada, began the construction of the palace, which bears his name and altered the interior buildings. These measures were to cause interminable controversy often motivated by political agendas. The remaining Austrian kings did not forget the monument and have left their own more discreet impressions on it.

During the 18th century and part of the 19th, the Alhambra fell into neglect and was to see its salons converted into dung heaps and taverns, occupied by thieves and beggars. As the crowning blow, Napoleon's troops, masters of Granada from 1808 until 1812, were to convert the palaces into barracks. Therefore, the incredible neglect continued, until 1870 when the Alhambra was declared a national monument. Travelers and romantic artists of all countries had railed against those who scorned the most beautiful of their monuments. Since that date and up to now, the Alhambra, protected, restored, cared for and even improved, has been preserved for the pleasure and admiration of all.

Visiting the Alhambra

Upon entry to the Alhambra you will have been assigned a time slot for the Palace Nazaries. If you fail to enter during this half hour time slot, you will be denied entry to this stunning complex. It therefore makes sense to enter the Alhambra well before you assigned time. You can then visit other sections of the Alhambra beforehand. Logically it is best to visit first the Alcazaba then the Palace of Carlos V (with museums) before the Palace Nazaries. Then you can walk along the North wall towards the Generalife (gardens). To visit everything at a leisurely pace will require at least 3 hours.

Tickets for the Alhambra

The number of admissions per day is limited to protect the monument. Therefore, if you have not booked in advance it is imperative to turn up early in the day, especially during high season, to guarantee entry. Queues will start well before the 8.30 opening time. There are two ways to book in advance - in a BBV bank, or online or by phone.

BBV (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya)

All branches of this large bank provide a reservation system. You can sometimes choose your time slot for the Palacio Nazaries (see above). This reservation system must be used at least one day in advance. Tel 902 22 44 60

Online

The above service is available online at http://w3.grupobbva.com/ALHAMBRA/alhambra/home.html
Visit the Alhambra's website for more details www.alhambra-patronato.es

Telephone

Tickets can be reserved by phoning 902 22 44 60

If you have reserved a ticket, you will have to collect your ticket from the Western entrance. This is a long uphill walk from the city center so leave plenty of time to make sure you do not miss your time slot for the Palace Nazaries. Alternatively, jump on the No. 32 bus, which runs regularly from the center and will drop you right in front of the ticket office.