The Alhambra Palace, Granada, Spain-September 2009

[David Nicholson]

I had forgotten about these but have re-sized a few.

The Alhambra Palace is perhaps one of the most famous buildings in Europe and highly likely most of you will have heard of it. I will not bore you with the history but if anyone would like a "potted" version I will prepare one. The palace is on the outskirts of the City of Granada in the Province (not sure if this is the correct word!) of Andalucia in Southern Spain. It is well worth seeing and I am sure that a little earlier in the year the gardens surrounding the palce would be a delight.

Some pics.

The first three are views looking out from the Palace grounds over Granada.
The second batch of two are views of the Palace from the gardens.
The third batch of five shows some of the detail of the buildings.



More to follow when I have prepared them, probably tomorrow.

[Ewelina Wajgert]

Very beautiful historic town

[Paddy Tobin]

Enjoyed a visit there a few years ago, David. Looking forward to the rest of your photographs.

Did you have a guide who spoke of "The General Life"? 

Paddy

[mark smyth]

I want to go but for a different reason. It has a huge swift colony nesting.

[David Nicholson]

.............Did you have a guide who spoke of "The General Life"? 

Paddy

Hi Paddy, No, no guide. I prefer to get a good guidebook, read up beforehand, and make my own way round at my own pace. When said in Spanish "Generalife" sound quite different, and was a retreat where the Granadian monarchs could relax, away from the bustle of the court. Some scholars believe that Generalife derives from the Arab words "djennat" meaning garden, or orchard, or paradise, and "al-ariff" meaning architect or master builder. Others translate it as "Principal orchard" or "The most noble and highest of all orchards". Suppose you pays yer money and takes yer choice!

[David Nicholson]

Alhambra Palace continued.

Wooden ceiling detail
Tile detail
Window detail
Floor tile detail
The biggest door bolt I've ever seen.
Shots 6-9 General garden shots.

[David Nicholson]

Alhambra Palace- final batch

Cockscomb- Celosia cristata 1
       "             "          "      2
Nearest I got to alpines
Pomegranate
Fountain

[mark smyth]

David did you drive from the airport?

[David Nicholson]

Mark, I drove past it (Granada airport), we were staying in Malaga and drove to Granada from there. It's quite a small airport bearing in mind that Granada is quite a large (and beautiful) city.

[Brian Ellis]

Most interesting photos David, always been intrigued by the name - since childhood - and re-awakened when we did a course on "The Paradise Garden" which touched on several historical gardens like this, but never so many photos, Cheers

[Luc Gilgemyn]

You seem to have had an excellent trip escaping from the rain David !!  I know of worse places to go to... 
Thanks for showing !

[Ragged Robin]

David, what a wonderful atmospheric place - fantastic detail photos of the architecture and I love the water arch and fountain - has an elegant Italianate garden feeling.  Thanks for posting photos of your trip.

[cohan]

nice trip, david..
there is an Alhambra just up the road from me, but its just a little hamlet, no palace; really not nearly as charming

[Anthony Darby]

Vivienne an I visited this place on our way back from the Sierra Nevada one October holiday, when we had to turn back due to snow blocking the road. We spent the rest of the week south of Malaga, in temperatures in the high twenties (Celsius).